“Loghenge” A New Garden

One of my favorite Permaculture advocates and teachers, Mike Hoag, from Transformative Adventures, discusses “Nurse Logs.” LOL I may be taking this to new levels

The Story of a swath of land I wish could go wild.

Many years ago, a young Gnomieo dreamed of a rock crawl along the side of the 900-foot driveway that leads to our home.

In those days, the driveway was nearly impassible in the spring to anything other than the old Jeep trail runners I so loved. And the thought of a few challengingly placed boulders along the already challenging driveway, however silly a thought, brought me a little joy.

Thankfully, those days are long gone, and thankfully, even then, I had the common sense not to build an obstacle course near the neighbors’ house for the 4-wheelers in my life.

I cherish those exciting adventures from the Jeeping days. Many good memories, the company of good friends, and camping along some remote 2-track in northern Michigan. However, today, I’m happy I don’t spend my time wrenching to keep the beasts rolling, and “The Jeep Thing” has faded from glory in my older and wiser age—well, older, anyway!

The landscape in question has had many incarnations.

When we arrived on our new land, a pine-needle-strewn 2-track encased in a rich green canopy led down a narrow easement to the bulk of our property. 60 feet wide, between our neighbors’ land to the east and west, and about 900 feet until it opened to a little over 4 acres of wooded land.

The energy company mandated the most heartbreaking work, forcing me to clear-cut practically the entire space, which was quite a disappointment. Passing through the existing canopy had been quite a visual pleasure.

However, there would be no electrical hookup without it. The easement also required me to maintain the space in a manner that kept the lines clear, or eventually, hired guns would come out and do the maintenance themselves, likely without the care I would offer.

Over the years, the long, narrow easement has endured many disturbances, including many holes to bury tree stumps, borrowed topsoil, and earth shaping to provide better snow runoff. Also, many loads of crushed concrete and an apartment blacktop parking lot were brought to keep our home accessible in the spring; yes, folks, I built my Castle in a swamp—or rather near, as I recently discovered what might have been a vernal pool or a spring at one time.

The space has seen mown grass, an apiary, and gardens. (pre-permaculture design) But for the past eight years or so, it has been left for the wild to try to reclaim. These past efforts are indeed what are called “Type One Errors” in Permaculture Design—a Design System I hadn’t yet discovered. In hindsight, if I had found Permaculture prior. I wouldn’t be here at all.

The Eight Year Fallow/Observation

Quickly, invasive plants common in our local biome moved in. Buckthorn, autumn olive, honeysuckle, and what I believe is Bittersweet- once planted for privacy along one neighbor’s adjacent fence. The Catalpa matriarch that escaped the clear-cut had its way with the area, and her youngsters were nearly as tall as the overhead wires. I had to do something about it this year before the power company did. And this early summer, I did some clearing. Saving a good handful of trees along the way for more appropriate places.

I learned quite a bit over this eight-year fallow and observation period. Not only did the invasive beasties move in, but the area became a sort of nursery for oaks, Basswood, Mulberry, Hickory, and others that would be future canopy in late succession. “Observe and Interact” the very first “Principle of Permaculture.”

So, what did I observe other than the mad rush by Nature to reclaim the space? “Succession”. I learned that invasive plants are part of Mother’s plan in a pinch. Now that we have introduced these tools to her in our local biomes. Now… don’t get me wrong! I do the best I can to promote the reclaiming of Native Biodiversity. But it is what it is, folks! As per the Prime Directive of Permaculture-“The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children.” We must determine whether we work with or obliterate the new tools she wields. Perhaps we can use these tools to advantage along the way.

Also, I learned what native plants will do well in this space.
Crab apple, black cherry, mulberry, raspberry. Mullein, yarrow, motherwort, St. Johns Wort, and others. All potential plants to choose similar cultivars that will suit the needs for the space. And indigenous (including “Invasive”) plants that have a possible function for human use.

I also learned that Catalpa and the renegade olives are very sturdy, readily available, and intrinsically valuable not only to the biome but may serve a needed function in other aspects of my holistic plan. (Popular in certain circles or not). Obviously, there lies a bit of responsibility for using these species of plants. So don’t hate me yet, lol. “The Problem is the Solution,” they say. This is a topic for future writing.

As far as the buckthorn and honeysuckle… the Jury is still out for them.

A few old photos from the area.

So what’s in the plan?

To try and keep this from getting too wordy with descriptions and why-fors, I will touch on a couple of forces affecting this design that dominate the sector and zone as we prepare this new space. We already understand it can’t be left to its own devices.

A quick “Needs and Values” Assessment for the space

Needs

A life of maintenance due to the overhead wires

Low canopies- as to not interfere with the overhead wires

Wildlife corridors – the area sees heavy travel by deer, turkey, and humans

Good access to the home for vehicles- snow removal, emergency, transportation, and delivery access.

Thoughtful wildlife deterrents to browsing.

Minimized labor- the area requires labor input by default. Design to minimize.

Water capture

Aesthetic Beauty- Or some kind of recognizable “Order” to humans

Values

Previous earthworks to handle seasonal rains and snowmelt runoff

Sandy organic loam topsoil- moderately fertile although relatively thin to yellow sand below.

Heavy edge effect with nature and civilization

The heavy population of beneficial, Indigenous trees and plants with low canopies at the property edge.

Road access. Potential human interaction.

Human habitations – To the north and west directly. One desires privacy along our edges, an Elder. The other seems to value privacy, and is an active outdoorsman and a bit younger.

A diverse neighborhood—made up of working-class folks with interests ranging from racecars to hunting, small-scale farmers, hobby farms, musicians, and welders, electricians, autoworkers and the children of these families. It is a population of hard-working, good-hearted people.

Lastly, close proximity to an established “Bank” of perennial food plants to work with to make productive human gardens. (Just a leisurely stroll down the driveway)

A Productive space.

So, with the above in mind, what is Production, and where is the leverage that provides the least amount of effort for the largest result?

“Edge” interactions. With the community’s wildness.
Facilitating the passing of whatever knowledge I have gained while studying this thing called Permaculture.

A place that takes aim at this industrialized, commoditized world and slows it a bit.

To unhinge “Scarcity” in human interactions and in the narrative enabled by industrial civilization that has created a sort of Zone 5 out of a “something” that should, at worst, be Zone 2 in a good Permaculture Design – Community.

And as they say, “The Garden is the Gateway to Permaculture.”

I figure it is time for me to build that Gateway. So… here we go!

A stitch of land that once separated me from the hectic world of modern life, the chaos of, and all its doings (why I wanted to move here) will now be an invitation, an example, and hopefully inspirational for those who might visit, use its offerings, and begin a walk down a different path.

Well, I’ve been tinkering with this post long enough. LOL, I’m not that great of a writer… as you will find out if you visit occasionally. It takes me some time to wrangle words and my head together into an understandable ramble.

Hopefully soon. I will have a bit of a map to show of the plan ahead on my next post.

Be Cheerful
Darren

Mike Hoag has recently released a new book focused on the Keyhole Garden.

This simple garden strategy will be the foundation of our new space. Check out our placeholder here at the Tree Crows Website to learn more about Mike and the good works he is doing. And have a look at his offerings at Transformative Adventures!