permaculture

[Rick Valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

Title: Re: [permaculture] Ailanthus

> From: "Antonio Scotti" <antonio.scotti@tiscali.es>
> does anyone know any permacultural use for the Ailanthus trees
which here in Spain (Barcelonas' area at least) are considered a weed?

They must be called "tree of heaven" for a reason! Besides the coppice making good compost and mulch in summer, It is the primary food plant for the large and showy Ailanthus silk moth, which while never really making it as a commercial silk species could be raised for the esthetic value and as a subject for school  science projects. have been told that it is excellent animal fodder (by a small farm homesteader in semi-arid British Columbia)  I cannot verify that, and more than that I do not know.

btw, Antonio, I am interested in sources for written permaculture material en Espanol, if you have any suggestions.

-Rick Valley

Oregon,  EUA