As if you needed proof, I know. Still, I am excited today.
A review of the orchard shows more trees that survived the winter than I had anticipated. The mini kraters and swales have done amazing things. We are set to have a bumper crop of plums this year, so long as we don’t get a late freeze, fierce wind, or some other completely likely weather event.
Why would I say this small 5 acre orchard is proof that permaculture works? It is dry here. Very dry. Made worse by the incredible wind we suffer from. We are high up, cold, besotted with pests. There is no genetic material available from our state to base our plantings on. We have everything going against us, including public opinion.
“You can’t grow _____ in Wyoming!” I hear it every single time I talk to a local about the orchard. When we are open to the public minds are going to be blown!
If I can grow trees here with little to no watering (certainly no irrigation), than permaculture planting techniques are a blazing success.
This winter we harvested so much snow we even created an ideal place for pests to hide.
I do hate those ground animals.
I’ve also been successful at growing garlic and onions for the first time. Ruth Stoute and mulching, a real winner!
I’d highly recommend permaculture planting techniques to everyone and you should too.