permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

johnny gregory wrote:
> Thanks, Treesa and Lawrence for your insights into Paulownias. I have many
> poplars in my forest- I don't know whether or not they're 'tulip' poplars. I
> guess I can get a book and go out into the woods and see.

In Piedmont NC they are Tulip Poplars.

>   Would you permaculture experts and enthusiasts think these big tall trees
> about 30' apart would be of any help amidst about 5-10 acres of vegetable

You could Poplars 20' apart, even less and they would do well. Plant a windrow 
in an EW line North of growing beds that need shelter from N or NW winds and to 
extend Fall growing season; and use the South side of them for shade/cool crops 
in Summer for the same purpose. Interplant them with eleagnus (will provide 
extra N) and roses for wildlife cover and extra wind-protection and shade.
I would plant them near a berm or swale for additional moisture, behind it if 
the terrain is a south-facing slope, in front of it if it is north facing.

Poplars will be good for bees as they provide a lot of nectar in Spring. Very 
dark poplar honey is a rare treat.

> and herb and flower crops? Would some shade help with moisture containment
> or am I 'barking up the wrong tree'? Sounds feasible to me (intercropping)
> although I've never seen it done. We could always prune any trees to get a
> certain amount of shading it seems.
>
> Your friend,
>
> Johnny Gregory
> Greensboro, NC

--
L.F.London
lfl@intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech/pcwiki/index.php/london