permaculture

[lbsaltzman@aol.com]

We live in a more Southern Mediterranean climate and have even less rain, 
though the pattern is similar. We are working a much smaller property than 
you have, and it has taken years to build up the soil.  It is deep clay 
subsoil. The top soil had been depleted by bad orchard management back in the 
1930s and 40s before the area had been sub-divided.  We still have patches 
that are only suitable for perennials. Annuals just don't thrive in the heavy 
clay.

I swear that there should be an association of Mediterranean climate farmers 
and gardeners. We are a forgotten minority. I find few books that address our 
needs in general gardening or farming books.  So much more is geared to 
temperate zone climates.

Larry



-----Original Message-----
From: Rain Tenaqiya <raincascadia@yahoo.com>
To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 1:21 pm
Subject: [permaculture] arid soil building


We live in a classic Mediterranean climate, with about 35 inches of rain that 
omes in intense bursts that usually start from the middle of October and 
start 
etering out in April.  I feel there must be a lot of knowledge about this 
limate given its long history in Europe.

 have started to compost in pits because it takes so long above ground.  I 
have 
ven used tarps, as was recommended.  They help, but I really need to irrigate 
he piles to see reasonable results.  We have all sorts of fungi from the 
forest 
earby, so I don't think inoculants are necessary.

art of my problem could be that aside from the first year, when we had record 
loods, we have been in a drought.  Maybe this is the new normal, however.

e collect and use all of our humunure and urine, and I bring in a ton of 
leaves 
nd straw from around our site.  I also have several long-term wood compost 
iles.  I finally broke down and got some rock dust, zinc sulfate, and gypsum, 
or specific areas.  I've also brought in forest soil from nearby for the main 
ood forest and kitchen garden, which also got a layer of horse manure from a 
eighbor.  I'm thinking about spraying seeweed on trees that are doing the 
orse.  In general, however, I really want to minimize off-site inputs.

s far as biochar goes, the soil actually has a fair amount of charcoal from 
ast fires.  I couldn't justify putting all that carbon in the air by burning 
ll the wood around our site.  If I wait long enough, a wildfire might do it 
for 
e, however.  Hmm, interesting.

ain

     
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