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Commenced:
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01/04/2010 |
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Submitted:
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06/02/2011 |
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Last updated:
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07/10/2015 |
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Location:
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425 White Oak Rd., Lawton, MI, US |
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Website:
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjchmiel/sets/72157625632422511/ |
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Climate zone:
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Cold Temperate |
A 4-acre forest garden on sandy, mostly-open, neglected land on the edge of small town in southwest Michigan.
In 2010 I moved back to my hometown area in Michigan and wanted to do something with an unused field that my grandparents owned. The land, near the edge of a village of 2,000 people, is flat, mostly treeless, with dry, sandy soil. An adjacent oldfield which was abandoned 10-15 years prior is reverting to oaks and pines. Major weed challenges are 2+ acres of spotted knapweed and non-fruiting, but pervasive and thorny dewberries. :(
I bought the oddly-shaped 3 acres and began planting various trees and shrubs in the front acre of "lawn" in the spring of 2010.
In the first year I planted 30+ trees with sheet mulches and some perennial understory plants, planted two beds of native plants/flowers for insects/wildlife, and put down thick layers of leaves in the autumn for planting into the following spring. I also worked on establishing several no-till sheet mulch garden beds, added an 8x20' shed to the middle of the property with a metal roof for rainwater catchment (~1,000 gallons capacity currently), and worked on propagating some herbaceous perennials. The first winter I worked on a planting map for the add'l 2 acres (zones 4/5 when I eventually have a dwelling there).
Since I'm within the Village limits, I have access to some nice resources: municipal leaves, yard waste, cardboard for sheet mulches, etc. I also have good sources for woodchips, horse manure, and I'm only 2 miles away from the wonderful nursery Oikos Tree Crops.
The project is still in its infancy, but I hope that after some years it will become a demonstration site as well as producing some excess food to sell/trade/share. The early years will have a lot of problem weeds, with less of that as the canopy expands and shades some areas out and I'm able to sow a more desirable understory. By that time I hope to have a lot more fruit, nuts and perennial vegetables.
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5th-Year Blues
Going into its fifth season, I have mixed feelings about the forest garden—there are moments of real beauty and satisfaction, but there are just as many feelings of being overwhelmed...
Mid-Drought Update, Summer of 2012
The combination of weather and pests has made me wonder why I even bother on several occasions, but so far I still get enough joy from the things that are living to continue.
Spring Plantings
An overview of what I've been planting in the last couple of months.