permaculture

[Jeffrey Newman <newman@bcinternet.net>]

Dan,

I knew there was a way to make something that would last! Now I have to 
begin. You
will likely hear from me again as I begin something brand new for me. Not 
sure how
much I can do before winter sets in. We're having our first frosts and the 
snow could
be settling within a a month.

Thanks again.

Jeffrey

Elfpermacl@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 9/25/98 3:50:54 AM, newman@bcinternet.net wrote:
>
> <<Dan (that was your name amidst all the other information?),
>
> Thanks for the specific starting points. It's after midnight and I feel like
> starting
> right away!
>
> My trees/logs are Douglas Fir. Will they last in such a wall?
>
> Jeffrey
>
> Elfpermacl@aol.com wrote:>>
>
> Snip
>
> Yes, I'm Dan.
>
> I have no idea about the rot-rate of Dougas fir.  I'm from the East of North
> America.  However I am under the impression that you don't have quite the
> problem of wood melting into the ground where Douglas Fir grows as we do 
> here
> in Florida, where I live.  (Where hickory I cut and stacked just a year ago 
> is
> punk at the top of the pile even!)
>         You have species of poplar, aspen, that grow with douglas fir if I 
> recall
> Ansel Adams photos correctly.  These are stolonaceous sprouters, they send
> underground shoots along that sprout up.  Cut the main shoot to force more
> suckers.  Plant this in the wall as soon as it is constructed and it should
> hold, assuming you have the moisture for aspen.  Westerners may have better
> species suggestions.  You probably want to mix in some tap rooted species to
> act like giant push-pins to hold the wall in place.  I've seen pines in the
> Philippines with the soil eroded around their roots--always an opportunity 
> for
> information--that were like this.  They go straight down like a crow-bar 
> into
> the soil, with an array of powerful radial roots ever yard (meter) or so.  
> You
> need something like that if your wood rots fast.  If you have a dry climate,
> you wood will last longer but it will be h arder to get stuff established.
> Don't neglect the obvious like agave and cactus if  you have a sunny 
> exposure
> on the wall.  These are good barrier plants, limiting traffic.  Depending on
> your minimum temperatures, you might also consider an exotic, Jujube, which
> sends down deep tap roots, forms thickets, is thorny, and produces great 
> food
> (not that there's anything but good to say about nopales).  A little
> observing, reading, and poking around and you can come up with a good match 
> of
> species to make your wall as permanent as anthing can be that is trying to
> simultaneously defy gravity and erosion (*wind AND water).  It should last
> longer than you do.



--

                       *******************************

Jeffrey Newman
My personal web site is at     http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/5759/

My ICQ number is: 9879310