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  • From: Keith Morris <earthsurfing AT yahoo.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Clearing Land Cost?
  • Date: Sun, 9 May 2010 18:57:59 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Nan, All,

While clearing land is always a tough decision- with very site-specific answers- there's one touchstone you can use to determine the impact I might recommend.  That is: 'how well represented is that community in your region?'  If the forest community you are considering clearing is 'commonplace'- surrounds your land, is everywhere else throughout the area, etc. then I'd suggest looking up the NRCS Web Soil Survey which will tel you soil type, depth, pH, suitability for ag, etc..  

If you have a community that isn't well represented in the area, is rare, or otherwise special- then I'd think twice.  The way you ask your questions makes me feel like you value the ecological services of this area and find it a special place as is.  While a permaculture class may or may not help you answer these questions- it certainly will help you come up with ways to make your already cleared space (and forested space) more intensive and productive. 

While I have no direct experience with the Permaculture Visions course- I highly recommend taking a physical 'face to face' course if possible.  Ask around and find out others' experience with instructors in your area.  They are not all the same by any means.  But hopefully- any permaculture course should be a valuable and potentially life-changing experience.

Snow in Vermont today!  (Glad I've been slacking on 'getting a head start'!)   Happy Mother's Day to all the momma's on the list!

Best,
Keith

Keith Morris 
Prospect Rock Permaculture 
Design and Education for Ecological Culture
Whole Farm Services * Whole Systems Design *
Presently running Educational Programs through:
UVM * Sterling College * Yestermorrow Design Build School * 
Paul Smiths College * Burlington Permaculture *
 

P.O. Box 426  
Jeffersonville, VT 05464 
earthsurfing AT yahoo.com
(802) 734-1129
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"If we do not do the impossible, we shall be faced with the unthinkable."
Murray Bookchin (1921-2006)
 


Message: 6
Date: Sun, 09 May 2010 18:15:40 -0500
From: Nan Hildreth <NanHildreth AT riseup.net>

Frank, leasing land has its advantages.  If I was shopping now I
might buy a different place.

Yes, Farmer Breck, maybe nobody ever cleared all our place because it
wasn't good enough.  Hmmm.  But folks here only worked on clearing
and farming for about 100 years, from maybe 1850 to 1950, then gave
up when factory farms made food so cheap.  Now, they grow pines.  Our
county is not prime farm-land, like the prairies west of us, but we
have more rain (47 inches) and the record drought of 2007-2008 cost
them millions.  The state climatologist told them to expect 100 year
droughts more frequently in "The Impact of Global Warming In Texas",
a free online report.

Yes, Kathryn, "To clear or not to clear?", is a complex
question.  ?Erosion?  ?Will cutting down habitat of predators = more
rabbits, voles, and mice in our crops? ?Shall I focus on learning how
to grow mushrooms on forest leaf and wood?    ?Shall I grow alliums
under the oaks all winter and harvest when they leaf out?   Would I
understand the complexities better if I take the online permaculture
course from http://www.permaculturevisions.com ?

Nan in the Piney Woods of East Texas




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