Author Archives: Justin Tilson

Actinidia Kolomikta – Super Hardy Kiwi

Hardy up to zone 4, super hardy kiwis (or kiwiberries) are vines that produce small tasty berries the size of large grapes. You can expect a yield within 3 – 8 years. They can tolerate a range of soils as long as the area is well-drained but still moist. While less vigorous than the hardy kiwi (actinidia aruguta), they still require a substantial trellis to support their growth. They require a male pollinator, 1 for every 6 – 8 female vines. As wind is the primary pollinator, plant the male to the West or the direction of the prevailing wind.

WARNING: Cats like to eat them and may destroy young vines!

Lycium Barbarum – Goji Berry

Also known as Wolfberry, Gojo berries can grow is sandy, loamy or clay soils. They require watering during the first year but are drought tolerant after that. They require good drainage and require full sun. They can be grown in zones 2 – 7.

The goji berry grows into a large shrub reaching heights of 7-10 feet with vines that can reach 10 feet. Pruning of the main stem and branches will keep the plant shorter, thicker and help with increased flowering and fruit production.

Rubus Fruticosus – Black Satin Thornless Blackberry

Black Satin BlackberryThornless. Vigorous grower that establishes itself quickly with heavy yields, excellent for home gardens. Semi–erect growth habit, but they require trellising or plant them along a fence. Very disease resistant.

Lighting: sun
Plant Height: 5-7′
Ground Condition: Well drained
Spread: 3-5′

ZONE: I’ve seen 3a – 11 posted online. Most references are zone 5 and up. Winter protection in colder climates seems like it may be necessary.

Ripens in early August.

La Crescent Plum

La Crescent PlumLa Crescent (Japanese-American) is a hardy fast growing tree that produces a freestone plum that is yellow skinned with a slight red blush. Its yellow flesh is aromatic and sweet making it an ideal plum for fresh eating, preserves, drying or canning. It requires a pollinator.

ZONE: I’m not entirely sure. The tag says 5 but other online sources say 3 & 4. Zone 4 seems to be the mostly commonly referenced number.

HARVEST: Early (End of August)

Moderate susceptibility to black knot. Aphids can be a common problem to all plum trees.

Hippophae Rhamnoides – Seabuckthorn

Functions/Characteristics

  • roots distribute rapidly and extensively, providing a non-leguminous nitrogen fixation role in surrounding soils
  • tolerant of salt in the air and soil
  • demand full sunlight for good growth/do not tolerate shady conditions
  • typically grow in dry, sandy areas
  • male produces brownish flowers which produce wind-distributed pollen
  • female plants produce orange berry-like fruit (6 – 9 millimeters) in diameter, soft, juicy and rich in oils

For a more exhaustive explanation see: Sea-Buckthorn – A Promising Multi-Purpose Crop For Saskatchewan

Knautia Macedonica – Dwarf Crimson Scabious

Functions/Qualities

  • Blooms all summer
  • Attractive to butterflies
  • Drought tolerant

PET (Permaculture Energy Transfer) Day – Sunday May 29

The mother load of manure arrives tomorrow!

Let’s kick off Manitoulin’s first PET day starting at: 11 am this Sunday May 29th (or when you can make it). I hope this is a good day for folks as there is a bike rally on Saturday that I and others are going to. Please RSVP if you can so I know roughly how much food to prepare.

Lunch and snacks will be provided (any restrictions? I know a couple folks are herbivores)

On the List:

  • pick most appropriate homes for plants:
    • 2 plum trees
    • 1 apple tree
    • gooseberries (lots!)
    • blueberries (need to lower the PH of the soil. Any suggestions? (Rotting pine needles? Peat moss?))
    • rosemary
    • lupins
    • olallieberries
    • elderberries
    • mulberry
    • perennial sunflowers
    • does anyone have any dewberries, loganberries, youngberries or marionberries that can be transplanted?
    • does anyone have any other surplus, multi-functional perennials that could add to the diversity here?
  • build up some terraces
  • eat together!
  • shuttle manure around
  • move sauna to new home (maybe)
  • top up raised beds and plant Ruta’s lovingly raised heritage tomatoes
  • plant, plant, plant (perennials and some annuals)
  • prune fruit trees (can someone skilled in the art teach this?)
  • talk about who wants a PET day next

Tools Required:

  • We only have 1 good wheelbarrow. Can someone supply a second, or third?
  • Whatever is required to move a small building (the sauna). I think we can pull it with the tractor, perhaps on logs or something else round (open to suggestions here)

I think that is it. If you have any thoughts, suggestions or relevant things to toss in the mix, please do. Feel free to invite anyone you think would enjoy participating.

see you Sunday
smiling
Justin

UMass Permaculture Documentary Series

A few minutes of inspiration:

4 Season Growing in the North

I’ve been pondering ways to substantially extend the growing season on Manitoulin. My first thought was to build a 2-story earthship across the front of our property. Earthships are typically built for people but I think they would work equally well or perhaps better for aquaculture and agriculture. A 2 story one would have enough space for fish, mushrooms, perennials, annuals and trees and would be passively heated or perhaps require minor supplemental heating. I’m still stoked on this idea but just stumbled into another option with a considerably lighter footprint: geodesic biodomes. I don’t think a dome would extend the season quite as far as an earthship but being (relatively) quick to erect, it could be a good place to start. The aesthetics are quite nice as well which would serve to draw people in which has implicit educational benefits as well.

Photos From the 2010 Intro to Permaculture Course

Laura kindly shared her photos from the intro course. They are available on Picasa:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lglbalance/ManitoulinPermacultureCourse