Forest Farming

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Ruby Bee

As we try to figure out what to plant near existing trees we find ourselves learning more about forest farming.

Permaculture Ideas

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Ruby Bee

We haven’t tasted Paw Paws yet, but everything we read suggests they taste wonderful. As an added bonus, they don’t mind black walnuts.

Permaculture design with paw paw and apples.

Swales being built, plus a design on swales.

Hugulcultured swales by Midwest Permaculture.

Chickens for the orchard by Midwest Permaculture.

Idea for orchard design–set up rows by harvest date, not variety.

Northern Nut Growers Association with scion wood exchange and good source of info on varieties.

permies.com

Zone 2 fruit tree guilds with lists of plants and pictures.

Northern Illinois permaculture and B & B with pictures and examples of planting companions.

Cherry tree guild for northern clime.

Permaculture Institute, Santa Fe, NM

Gardening Near Black Walnut

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Ruby Bee

We have several large, beautiful black walnut trees in the area near our house that we will be planting with orchards and gardens. Although these trees are gorgeous, they are toxic to some plants, including apple trees.

Old General

Aside

Using the estimator provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation, we determined that the sycamore tree fondly known as “old general” is about 275 years old, sprouted c. 1740.

Old General, b. 1740(?)

Working Orchard Tree List

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Ruby Bee

linden

Redmond Linden, standard, obtain locally (American linden is used for honey bees)

apples (11) in order of ripening, all disease resistant

William’s Pride, mini-dwarf, early Aug
Pristine, (yellow), dwarf, Aug
Greensleeves (yellow), dwarf, Sept
Dayton, dwarf, late Sept
3 X Honeycrisp, one standard, two dwarf, Sept to mid Oct, good down to -40,
2 X Liberty, one standard, one dwarf, early Oct, highest in antioxidants
Gold Star (yellow), dwarf, late Oct, keeper
Arkansas Black, semi-dwarf, late Oct, keeper (STARK)

apricot (3)

Harglow, dwarf, early July, late blooming
Goldcot, dwarf, early July, zone 4 (STARK)
Moorpark, dwarf, mid July, can be dried (STARK)

plum (6)

Kuban Comet, dwarf, late-July, zone 4
2 X Mount Royal, semi-dwarf, mid Aug, zone 4
Stanley, semi-dwarf, early Sept, heavy bearer
Golden Transparent, semi-dwarf, late Sept, zone 4
Bavay Gage (green), dwarf, Oct, zone 4

cherry (10)

2 X Surefire (tart), dwarf, early June, self-fertile, zone 4
Stella, dwarf, mid-June/July, pollinates Kristin, self-fertile, zone 4
2 X Black Gold, dwarf, mid-June, pollinates Kristin, self-fertile, one for S garden, zone 5
2 X Kristin (sweet), dwarf, mid July, zone 4
Hartland (sweet), dwarf, mid season, pollinates Kristin, zone 4
2 X Evan’s (tart), dwarf, Aug, zone 3

pear (5)

Harrow Delight, semi-dwarf, early Sept, disease resistant
Seckel, semi-dwarf, late Sept, disease resistant
Warren, semi-dwarf, Oct, good keeper, disease resistant
2 X Bosc, semi-dwarf, late Oct, zone 4, good keeper, pollinates HD

paw paw (3, collection from Stark)

Pennsylvania Golden, standard, late Sept
Mango, standard, Oct
Sunflower, standard, late Sept/early Oct

peach (2 Stark)

Blushing Star (white), dwarf, mid Aug, self-pollinating, zone 4, north of house where it will be sheltered from February sun
Contender (yellow), dwarf, late Aug, self-pollinating, zone 4

hazelnut (Arbor Day)

Arbor Day Farm Hazelnut X 3, 15′ with 10′ spread

Helpful Info: Growing Guide for Northern Illinois Whispering Hills, northern Illinois, growing guide Growing Guide for Iowa Growing Peaches in Northern Illinois; they all died in the great winter of 2013. Growing apricots Home Fruit Cultivars for Southern Wisconsin Edible Plants for the Prairies Cold hardy food forest plants, zone 3