permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

> Jean Pain invented his shredder initially to clear underbrush from forest
> to reduce fire risk and used the shedded mulch for gigantic compost heaps.
>
> I wonder if there's a defecit of browsers in forests that get these large
> vegetative build-ups in the understory....
> Robyn
> ________________

Bingo!  Goats are being used extensively to chew down Caperel areas of 
California et al to protect valuable structures.  Nomadic herding, coming 
to a fire hazard near you.

A quick comment on fire...I've burned about 80 A (40 H) this spring, mostly 
in the hill country in SW WI.  Great for prairie restorations and pasture 
renovation.  Burn early to stimulate C3 plants, late to favor C4.   Seed 
germination on burned ground is excellent, lowering the rates needed for 
restorations/renovations.  Slow back fires (burning into the wind work best 
for top killing brush, and are easy to control.  Headfires (with the wind) 
allow burning in marginal fuel conditions, the fire preheats the fuel and 
carries much better.  if you were trying to kill large trees, big head 
fires may do it, but as observed, smaller fires through light fuels 
generally don't harm large trees, especially adapted species.  It is the 
accumulating of large amounts of fuel near the ground (several years grass 
growth, logging slash, thick dead brush) that allows a catastrophic wild 
fire to carry on.  Heat and humidity also play a major factor in 
burns.  For this reason the high humidity and lower temp. evenings are a 
good time to burn if you have less experience or tools to work with.
Mark Ludwig

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Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM