permaculture

["Australia Felix Permaculture" <pcorgbgo@bendigo.net.au>]

Hello Frank,

Its been a while and things are as busy as always. I couldn't resist this
latest thread and thought that maybe its time you and I sorted this thing
out as an online remote design exercise as we mooted way back when...

Can you scan a copy of the topographic/feature map (government, surveyor or
similar - <10m contour interval or less preferably) of your property and its
relevant catchment area and post it to the following addresses?
1. pcorgbgo@bendigo.net.au (to my personal email)
2. http://www.ibiblio.org/permaculture/upload-pics.html (as LL suggested
ages ago)

When I get a hold of this info I can then place it on the earth through
MapInfo Professional (www.mapinfo.com) and then work out where the
Keypoint's relative locations are - therefore enabling the scribing of
keylines as a layer on the base plan. Allied with climate information from
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ and some soil information (see upcoming Pc
Activist Article) we can get to work on assessing the possibilities.

Often a problem with Keyline is that you don't own where the keypoint (s)
lies or the keypoint is located in bush etc. Should this be the case then
you can still use the principles - just not in the literal sense - I would't
get too hung up on it though. With dam placement it is important to place a
dam where the storage ratio (ie. Earthworks volume: Water Storage Volume) is
most efficient. Keypoint dams are not necessarily the most efficient or
safest storages, however site permitting,  they do allow high level gravity
feed storage for a variety of uses. Other water storage styles and locations
may be more appropriate.

We use our surveyor (we're very fortunate) to complete a 0.5 metre
contour/feature survey of the property. This info is loaded into the
computer and enables computer aided design (CAD) of all planned features
(dams/ponds, roads, house sites, tree lines, blocks etc.etc.). We can do a
better more accurate job if you have the cleared areas of your block
surveyed by a local surveyor who uses an Electronic Distance Module (EDM -
syn. Total Station) and again send the electronic the data. Our design
software is not xenophobic so we can deal with data from anywhere, provided
its in an acceptable format (ie. .dxf, .dwg, ascii). This sort of data gives
a premium result and allows us to then send it back to your surveyor for the
marking out of the design - too easy. We are doing this already in Australia
with interstate clients and the technique works fine and doesn't take too
much of the work away from the area. I will be teaching a section of a PDC
in May 2001 with Bill Mollison in Tasmania relating to this among other
things.

With respect to pattern cultivation again I wouldn't get too hung about it.
We generally just use what we call the seat of the pants method. We rise up
into the gullies and fall out onto the ridges. For all intents and purposes
this is fine. Its far more important to aerate the soil than to worry too
much about the angle that you steer the plow - although using the keyline
method will certainly enhance the effects. We have had Yeomans Keyline Plows
(we current hire/use 3 different models) for over 7 years now and they are
the ants pants. They aren't cheap but they are quite versatile and durable
and they are getting used all the time.

Anyway the wet spring keeps rolling on and the thunder is getting closer so
I better get off this thing before it stuffs it !!

Yours and Growing,

Darren Doherty

----- Original Message -----
From: <FranksFarm@aol.com>
To: permaculture <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 10:21 PM
Subject: Re:Keylines


> G'day all:)
>
> I've visited Keyline site, and have had several net conversations with
> Darren, whose methods I also embrace.
>
> Problem is trying to actually locate these keylines in the forest. I have
> high forested hills on three sides. On the other, western side are 70
acres
> of good bottom land bordered by a large creek.
>
> In the hills are numerous good sized drainage ways carved out over time.
I'd
> sure like to find a way to harness those spring rains. But it would be
tough
> getting machinery to any possible pond sites...and then it seems it might
be
> expensive to build.
>
> Confluence of hills and hollows seem to be areas where water
flows/drainage
> areas start. Are you saying to find a suitable spot in the course of such
a
> drainage way, widen it and so how impound it? How far up the hill. These
> Kentucky hills are only several hundred feet high but at the tops are
pretty
> steep.
>
> Look forward to the list's comments. Darren, Mr. Yeoman? All the best.
Frank
>
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