Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Polyculture Pattern Language: Nitrogen Fixation Patterns - The Permaculture Research Institute | January 21, 2016 by Eric Toensmeier

permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: permaculture

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Marsha Howe <marshahowe@gmail.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Polyculture Pattern Language: Nitrogen Fixation Patterns - The Permaculture Research Institute | January 21, 2016 by Eric Toensmeier
  • Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 06:53:11 -0400

Thank you for this! I also needed the pond plant info! Perfect timing!

In grateful service,

Marsha Howe
marshahowe@gmail.com
619-807-6839

Sustainable Neighbors
Farm-A-Yard
Urban Farming Education, Training & Events
www.sustainableneighborsnc.com
www.farm-a-yard.com

NC Director of Food Education
Guiding Wellness Institute
www.guidingwellness.com

> On Aug 3, 2016, at 4:54 AM, Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Polyculture Pattern Language: Nitrogen Fixation Patterns - The Permaculture
> Research Institute
> January 21, 2016 by Eric Toensmeier
> <http://permaculturenews.org/author/erictoensmeier/>
> http://permaculturenews.org/2016/01/21/polyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns/
>
> (this is quite an article and the comments are wonderful, thought provoking)
>
> These comments in particular:
>
> Edgar Phillips-Jones <https://www.facebook.com/edgar.phillipsjones> ·
> Carlisle, Massachusetts
> <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlisle-Massachusetts/104020146302653>
> Implementation Pattern/understory pattern: It seems this likely has a
> competitive advantage when innoculated seed is sown into carbon-rich,
> slightly decomposed media (clover sown in woodchips). Later it is overrun
> by species that are taller once the conditions change and it's advantage
> slips away. Perhaps this is widely understood..haven't heard it mentioned
> and think it's cool...belongs on Oikos wiki. Curious if this pattern is
> observed outside New England.
> Like
> <https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FLcj5EtQ5qmD.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df26936cb3ca7844%26domain%3Dpermaculturenews.org%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpermaculturenews.org%252Ff1c111ab315b34a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&href=http%3A%2F%2Fpermaculturenews.org%2F2016%2F01%2F21%2Fpolyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns%2F&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&version=v2.5&width=100%25#>
> · Reply
> <https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FLcj5EtQ5qmD.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df26936cb3ca7844%26domain%3Dpermaculturenews.org%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpermaculturenews.org%252Ff1c111ab315b34a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&href=http%3A%2F%2Fpermaculturenews.org%2F2016%2F01%2F21%2Fpolyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns%2F&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&version=v2.5&width=100%25#>
> · 3 · Jan 21, 2016 7:42am
> <http://permaculturenews.org/2016/01/21/polyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns/?fb_comment_id=865643483552421_865929713523798>
> Mike Hoag <https://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Hoag/100010704363250> ·
> Managing Director
> <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Managing-Director/183861164967987> at Lillie
> House <https://www.facebook.com/Lillie-House-978392448898973/>
> Very good... Interesting work as always.
>
> How about two common systems where nitrogen fixers are somewhat
> externalized to the prime growing environment:
>
> Fertilizing borders. This is essentially the old "garden in clearings"
> pattern identified by Mollison, related to traditional patterns of swidden
> agriculture and hedgerows. It almost seems to go without saying that such
> systems of deriving fertility from contiguous or bordering forest systems
> includes nitrogen fixers. Organizations like Grow Biodynamic (and others)
> have recommended hedgerows as means of fulfilling ecological functions such
> as
> nitrogen fixation and production of carbonaceous material. I've also seen
> recommendations of alder and sea buckthorn in many older sources on French
> and English hedgerows, without mention of nitrogen fixation. However, it
> was understood that hedgerows provided services to farmers. We designed our
> forest gardens with surrounding hedgerows with a large percentage of
> eleagnus, with this in mind, then used irregular intercropping as well
> where appropriate.
>
> Nitrogen upland: Another traditional pattern recognized by Mollison is the
> upland fertility forest which seeps downhill to fertile cropland or water
> systems - a system widely documented. Such forests again could be
> established or maintained with a percentage of nitrogen fixers. I'd be
> somewhat surprised to learn that this was not an evoloved part of how such
> systems were established/maintained.
> Like
> <https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FLcj5EtQ5qmD.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df26936cb3ca7844%26domain%3Dpermaculturenews.org%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpermaculturenews.org%252Ff1c111ab315b34a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&href=http%3A%2F%2Fpermaculturenews.org%2F2016%2F01%2F21%2Fpolyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns%2F&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&version=v2.5&width=100%25#>
> · Reply
> <https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FLcj5EtQ5qmD.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df26936cb3ca7844%26domain%3Dpermaculturenews.org%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpermaculturenews.org%252Ff1c111ab315b34a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&href=http%3A%2F%2Fpermaculturenews.org%2F2016%2F01%2F21%2Fpolyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns%2F&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&version=v2.5&width=100%25#>
> · 1 · Jan 21, 2016 7:51am
> <http://permaculturenews.org/2016/01/21/polyculture-pattern-language-nitrogen-fixation-patterns/?fb_comment_id=865643483552421_865933803523389>
> Mike Hoag <https://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Hoag/100010704363250> ·
> Managing Director
> <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Managing-Director/183861164967987> at Lillie
> House <https://www.facebook.com/Lillie-House-978392448898973/>
> Could also mention the "woodland tapestry" patterns of Eastern Europe with
> both of those two externalized nitrogen fixing systems.
>
> -
> I would like to add that eleagnus is very hardy and contributes
> significantly to a forest ecosystem and as "nitrogen upland"
> and lespedeza (if I have ID's it right, serecea lespedeza), also extremely
> hardy, may also be a valuable component of a "nitrogen upland" system.
> In the 1980's I bought a bag of serecea lespedeza seed and sowed it into a
> fallow field. Years later it nearly covered half the field and had spread
> to other locations on my property, where I wanted it anyway. The other day
> I noticed a large healthy stand at the dge of my driveway. Soil conditions
> were compacted ABC rock aggregate. These were large vigouous plants
> (bushes).
> that should be used in any xeriscape plantings in areas prone to drought,.
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> subscribe/unsubscribe|user config|list info:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page