permaculture

[<darren@permaculture.biz>]

G'day,

I trust that this greets you and all well.

It most cases one doesn't go far above the the keyline before the it is too
steep to traverse along or "off" the contour. When this happens we simply
don't plow. Yeomans used to say, "you can plow anywhere a tractor will take
you". I think he meant traversing a slope parallel to the keyline of the
primary valley. 

In my designs this is where I would zone my closed or wide spaced
revegetation, forestry or tree crop systems (often to or covering the ridge
depending on the slope index on the main ridge). These would be established
using human power - ie in situ mattock work - little net formation for water
retention/harvesting - perhaps a biscuit of hay the year before planting or
a commercial hessian/coir weed mat. 

 

Yours and Growing,

 

Hooroo,

Darren Doherty
www.permaculture.biz

Yahoo Voice: +1 310.237.6970
Cell: 805.455.8914


-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Lawrence F.
London, Jr.
Sent: Thursday, 10 May 2007 3:09 PM
To: permaculture
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Keyline Books

darren@permaculture.biz wrote:
Thanks much for these links. I will avail myself of the opportunioty to d/l
these works.
I need to see photos and diagrams but am still beginning to get the Keyline
concept.

I used my own Yeomans plow
(http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1972/907063824599259/1600/Yeomans-Plow-
2.jpg)
this Spring and did it ever bring up some hefty chunks of hard dirt
to the surface to become homogenized with the upper layers. This is a
tillage tool to use as
frequently as soil conditions permit.

Obvious question: How is Yeomans plowing accomplished on steep slopes along
contours?
Only when therer is enough flat ground for the tractor to traverse safely?
Or are teams of
big draft mountain goats used :-)

LL
-- 
Lawrence F. London, Jr.
Venaura Farm
lfl@intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://market-farming.com/venaurafarm
http://venaurafarm.blogspot.com/
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech

_______________________________________________
permaculture mailing list
permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
-go to the above link to subscribe to or unsubscribe from this list-

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.6/795 - Release Date: 9/05/2007
3:07 PM
 

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.6/795 - Release Date: 9/05/2007
3:07 PM