Our Forest Garden (part 2) I've tried to write this piece a couple of times and it keeps being a tedious history. So, rather than dig up history i'll just throw out some thoughts that are not mentioned in the articles i've read on Forest Gardening. ---- Feedback from nature has been very important in my attempts to design a forest garden. I think the ability to gather and understand this feedback is an essential tool. Before we begin thinking about a design this tool needs to become part of our life, things like knowing how to recognize the native/local plants and what growing conditions they like. Animals and their needs is another good form of feedback. If something is out of balance then we need to be able to recognize what it is an be able to make a guess as to why. These skills are not just for natural areas and creation of local habitat, they are also useful in intensive gardens and orchard gardens also. ---- Creating an initial model of what is intended gives us something to compare against and think about. For me this was more an educational tool at first, then eventually it provided a framework to document and organize ideas. The initial quality of this model was low but i think a good design is still possible if we learn quickly, act cautiously, and adjust the model. ---- Driven by curiosity and wonder we started growing a large number of plants and expirmenting. We are still doing this and i'm now convinced it is a great idea. Many of the plants which looked suitable were not, and our micro-climates were soon indicated by the various plants. The same plant did well in one area and not in others. This plant experimenting also developed some propagation skills which were useful. ---- A few days ago i was checking some recently planted hemlocks. Walking along we came upon a deer in the path. This was a new experience for the dog, so it began to chase the surprised deer. After about twenty yards it looked back. I ignored the deer and this puzzled the dog. I found something else interesting and called the dog. It came back understanding that a deer in the path is normal. When i first began to develop property i was like that dog. It was exciting and power tools were available to create my fantasies. The dog learned faster than i did. ---------- Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7 Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV
