As we continue looking for one or two people to share our property – creating a land-share coop community – we continue to change the shape and mix of the landscape. Our neighbour Rod came down the hill with his excavator to begin cutting through a large sand berm in order to move the access driveway from the waterfront area to the back of the property. At the same time this would leave a large and beautiful part that could then be used for fruit and nut trees, berry production, and one or two sites to build a modest home or cottage. Unfortunately, after the initial flurry of activity with the excavator, the transmission in Rod’s gravel truck collapsed as he was bringing it to the property to have me drive it while he loaded the road material in the back.
That happened about two weeks ago, and we’re still waiting for the truck to be repaired and restart the road project. The fortunate part is that it allowed me time to begin working on the hill slope behind our house using a chainsaw and machete rather than working it first with the machine. As I began clearing, one tree at a time, I found good patches of salal berries, elderberries, huckleberries perched on rotting stumps, and a winter run-off that might be good with cranberries mixed in with the existing ferns. Rather than having the machine rip out the trees and stack them on a burn pile, I was able to look at each one and decide which ones I would leave to cast some thin shade to certain zones, or to use their root systems to maintain an open slope.
It also meant that I could cut up and haul more of the wood for firewood, and machete off all the branches to be put in a separate pile to be chipped into mulch later on. Slowing down gave me the chance to look at the natural rolls and curves and then imagine how we might be able to utilize them as we start creating a mix of fruit trees, berry patches, native plants, and ground cover that will help build the soil and provide feed for whatever animals we decide to raise next spring (rabbits, chickens, sheep??)
We sowed our clover/oats/perennial rye mix just before and during a good rain. Following the advice of another neighbour, we gave the ground a light raking, then covered as much of that area as possible with thin tarps in order to prevent birds from eating all of the loose seeds. As well, since there isn’t much rain predicted for the near future, and our gravity feed water doesn’t have enough pressure for a sprinkler system, the tarps trapped the moisture and raised the ground temperatures. Within two or three days the seeds began to germinate.
I think that we should have left the tarps on for another few days, even if the plants began to look white and limp, before taking off the tarps. This would have allowed more of the slow seeds to germinate as well. It also would have given us another couple days before we had to start the time consuming task of watering with a hose and nozzle for a couple hours each morning and evening.
But it is beautiful to see the new green carpet of clover and rye beginning to take root. And the scare crows spread around the hillside look like they are enjoying themselves in the breeze. I even gave each one a solar light to help them through the few short-night hours.
