I am growing alders in my urban garden. I bought them from Burnt Ridge
Nursery at the suggestion of the nursery's owner and interplanted them with
my fruiting trees and shrubs so that they could provide a nitrogen boost in
the early years of my garden. They are planted near cherry, mulberry,
apple, and filbert trees. Under them I have gooseberry, currant,
thimbleberry, highbush cranberry, and herbs. Last year I grew acorn and
spaghetti squash under them. Everything seemed to do fine. This was an
"instant garden", a la Bill Mollison, so nothing was big enough to shade
out the other stuff yet. This year I am planning to grow sunflowers, corn,
and cucumbers in that area of the garden.
My original intent was to cut the alders down for homegrown firewood and
kindling when they got big enough to shade the fruit trees. I then found
out that you cannot cut down a tree in your own yard without permission
from the city. Makes me want to scream! All the clear-cutting that goes
on around here, yet someone who wants to grow their own firewood and
fertilizer in an environmentally appropriate way has to wrestle with red
tape. Well, here's a modern reason to pollard. Originally pollarding was
used to produce coppice-like shoots above the height that could be browsed
by animals; I might do it so I can say I'm pruning, not cutting down the
alder.
Carol (and Brodie)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Owens [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 1999 9:56 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [ecopath] Alder, Corn, and Sustainability
Alder, Corn, and Sustainability
The Alder tree grows like a weed in this area and is one of
the few trees that can produce its own nitrogen for growth.
A few people grow the alder for lumber or paper, but mostly
it seems to be used for firewood. This has always bothered
me because it looks like the tree has greater potential.
My suspicions were confirmed a few days ago after reading
about farmers in Nagaland, India. They plant alders in
their fields and grow crops between them. After a few years
the alders are pollarded or coppiced. Some of the benefits
of this are:
1. Leaves provide mulch for plants underneath.
2. Leaves can be used as fodder for animals.
3. Cut trees can be used for firewood or lumber
4. Roots provide nitrogen for nearby plants.
5. Trees provide shade and habitat for wildlife.
The alder used in India is Alnus Nepalensis which is allowed to grow
for 6-8 years before cutting. Crops grown under the alders
include: corn, millet, potatoes, wheat, chillies, and pumpkins.
>From reading about India i concluded that that these alders are
growing in a warm area, possibly zone 9-10. The Alders are native
to that area. Here locally the most common alder that might
work is Red Alder (Alnus Oregona) which grows fast and produces
wood suitable for furniture.
Coppice - To cut back to ground level or to a small stump every few
years. The sprouts are harvested for propagation, baskets,
and other uses. The tree is allowed to grow for awhile then
cut back again.
Pollard - To cut tree off at about 6 feet and cut limbs back to 2 inch
stubs. The trimmings have many uses including twig furniture,
firewood, fencing, etc. In both Coppicing and Pollarding the
trees are cut in late winter or early spring.
The questions this raises are: Can we use this alder intercroping
idea in gardens? Can the alder also fit into a mushroom growing
and compost cycle? Can this technique be worked into a landscape
and fit into small gardens?
----------
Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7, http://www.teleport.com/~kowens
Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV
