I didn't have much computer access this spring, and I shamefully admit that
for a couple months I deleted all NAFEXlist postings. Now I've had time to
skim the Archives, and saw a couple strings I might have contributed to.
One, someone was asking about planting currants in a horse pasture, because
his horses avoided them on one occasion. I've seen that deer don't eat any
Ribes here (s.WI) except jostaberry, which they prune hard. Also, did
anyone mention that his horses might avoid currants for part of the grazing
season, but might enjoy them at other times?
Two, someone asked about using native grasses or forbs as orchard
groundcovers. YES! Years ago apple trees were planted into open areas
(postage-stamp prairie remnants & savanna oak-openings) because the site
was, well, open. The groundlayer often wasn't tilled nor herbicided. Part
of orchard management was a mowing or two per year-- beneficial to prairie &
savanna groundlayer, especially for disuading brush growth & for competing
w/ exotic weeds. Another part of mngt was annual burning, to get rid of
the fallen leaves and the pests they harbor, especially apple scab. I
recommend visiting commercial orchards and calculating the sun reaching the
ground and comparing those numbers w/ what's required by savanna species.