permaculture

[rick valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

Larry London responds to my Q about experiences with non-food wetland
plants---

>What about cotton? 
too cool- doesn't like it here

>what about growing Port Orford Cedar and other fine softwoods
>used in joinery (spruce, redwood, cedars or many varieties, fir).
>Maybe you could grow bald cypress there.

Port Orford is dying off in high-human use areas due to Phytophora root rot.
Bald cypress and Dawn Redwood work well here, excellent reminder.

>there must be thousands of uses for bamboo,

well yes! As a bamboo nurseryman for 20 years, I've got that end down! but
*in a wetland* is a tricky one, only a few species do well there- anyone got
observations?

>Field-grown comfrey would be worth gold in quantity for use in compost
>making.

got lots here- and while I've grown it in retention ponds, I'm talking swamps
here.

>How about grapes (on the slopes), at the least, for vinegar.

Grapes don't need wetlands here; and since this is a marginal
 climate as far as ripening goes, I need to locate them where the heat is.

>From: "Yaya Balinci" <yaya@telus.net>
>willow for baskets

yes, that's why it's a target species for me. I have a variety collection and
a local, world-class expert to tap. But she does them as a field crop, not in
wetlands. I've tried em in retention ponds. Got any stories or observations?

I'm not after suggestions but experiences, was I clear?

Rick Valley Northern Groves 
PO Box 1236, Philomath, OR 97370 
Mobile-(541)602-1315, hm.& msg. (541)456-4364  Bamboo catalog $3 or at 
<http://www.teleport.com/~dbrooks/bamboo.html>
"Useful Bamboos and other plants‹ Permaculture education‹ Ecological design &
consultation centering on water,landform and horticultural systems"