permaculture

[paul wheaton <paul@richsoil.com>]

I agree with all of that!

And, I wish to add to it:  I've never heard of black locust being used
as an exclusive fodder crop - only as a supplemental fodder.
Especially with sheep and goats which not only have an ability to deal
with tanins, but appear to require a certain amount of tanins to be
healthy.  I have read reports where up to 50% of the feed for goats
was black locust without any noticable effects (as a comparison, these
same animals should not be fed more than 50% alfalfa).

I think the important thing is that the animals need to have access to
a broad variety of browse/graze.  Then they pick and choose what is
best for them.  To my knowledge, the only time that toxicity becomes
an issue is when the animals choices are limited to either one species
or a selection of toxic species.

As with many things:  this is a really complicated space, and human
knowledge of this space is freaky small.  At the same time,
permaculture makes it easy:  diversity makes everything right as rain.

On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 12:53 PM, Michael Pilarski
<friendsofthetrees@yahoo.com> wrote:
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>
>
> Hi Paul,
>
>
>
> Here is a good report on black locust.
>
> http://www.winrock.org/fnrm/factnet/factpub/FACTSH/R_pseudoacacia.html
>
>
>
> I think highly of black locust and plant it.  However, I think we should be 
> careful
> when promoting it as a fodder crop and do some thorough research on how 
> much to
> feed it, to which animals and at what stage of growth. See following quote 
> from
> above source.
>
>
>
> “Leaves have a crude protein content of 24%. However,
> tannins and lectin proteins found in leaves and inner bark can interfere 
> with
> digestion in ruminants and in nonruminants (Harris et al. 1984). Tannin 
> levels
> are high in young leaves but decrease as leaves mature.”
> And another source says “Robin, a lectin from Robinia
> pseudoacacia, has been reported to cause symptoms of anorexia, ...”
> It should also be duly noted that black locust suckers heavily over time 
> and becomes an invasive, thicket-forming species.  Which is great where you 
> want that characteristic and not so great where you don't.
>
>
>
>
>
> Skeeter
>
>
>
>
> --- On Sun, 2/13/11, paul wheaton <paul@richsoil.com> wrote:
>
> From: paul wheaton <paul@richsoil.com>
> Subject: [permaculture] black locust, one of the best food forest trees
> To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Date: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 9:24 AM
>
> I interview Alexandra King, Brian Kerkvliet and Mark Vander Meer about
> how awesome Black Locusts are.
>
> Good fodder for ruminants, excellent bee nectar, the best wood for
> outdoor furniture, fence posts, pole structures, and the handles for
> many tools.  Fast growing and tolerates all sorts of awful conditions.
>  And one of the very best firewoods.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/du9LeeYX1o8
>
> Please forward to folks that might be interested in this sort of thing.
>
> Many thanks!
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