[Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?

[Owen Dell]

Grass is a very poor way to protect slopes against erosion. The large  
number of stem penetrations results in a very effective transmission  
of water into the soil, which can lead to supersaturation and slope  
failure. No offense to anyone, but I recommend that people not  
speculate about what is going to work. There are accepted standards  
for this kind of activity. Permaculture is a great thing, but it  
doesn't always address real-world issues and it isn't always right.  
Slope failures can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix, and  
the cost is not covered by insurance. I say again, PLEASE consult a  
professional before you go off implementing half-cocked ideas.

Owen

Owen E. Dell, ASLA
Owen Dell & Associates
Landscape Architect • Educator • Author
P.O. Box 30433 • Santa Barbara, CA 93130
805 962-3253
owen at owendell.com
www.owendell.com


QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You take a number of small steps which you believe are right,
thinking maybe tomorrow somebody will treat this as a dangerous
provocation. And then you wait. If there is no reaction, you take
another step: courage is only an accumulation of small steps."
			George Konrad
			Hungarian novelist & essayist





On Sep 6, 2010, at 10:23 AM, John Calvert wrote:

>
> I was gonna say grass... the bunch grass sounds like a very good idea.
>
> lfunkhouser at juno.com wrote:
>> Kevin,
>>
>> You might also want to talk to Mary Scaran, who is an acupuncturist  
>> in SB (she's in the phone book) and has a very steep slope running  
>> the entire length of her oak wooded and desert upland property that  
>> is permeated by a spring. She has planted lots of things to  
>> stabilize, including Persian mulberry trees (edible!) and some kind  
>> of grass -- can't remember which -- but a type of bunch grass that  
>> she selected for its very specific properties of soil  
>> stabilization. Mary practices permaculture, studies horticulture,  
>> and is a very fine acupuncturist.
>>
>> Good luck.
>>
>> --Laura
>>
>> ---------- Original Message ----------
>> From: Kevin Gleason <kevin at kevingleasonart.com>
>> To: John Calvert <jcalvert at crystal3.com>
>> Cc: scpg at arashi.com
>> Subject: Re: [Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?
>> Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 07:14:15 -0700
>>
>> Thanks, John, and all others who have replied.  This is such a  
>> helpful  community.  I am going to look into the "net and pan"  
>> technique Susan  recommended and am trying to find some good  
>> "pinning" shrubs and trees  per Dan's advice.  I need to pay good  
>> attention to the plants that  seem to be holding up west facing  
>> slopes next time I'm out hiking.  It  is okay with me if this  
>> really steep section doesn't grow food....  Maybe I'll just grow  
>> food for the birds there.
>> I appreciate eveyone's help.
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>> On Sep 5, 2010, at 9:22 PM, John Calvert wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> > I started out writing a response to this, looking in the  
>> direction  > of what grows native on our steep coastal mountain  
>> canyons.
>> >
>> > But I realize that there isn't much edible on the really steep  >  
>> slopes.  It seems the more fruit-bearing types are more likely to   
>> > appear where there's better soil and moisture.
>> >
>> > So, that leaves the plants that do well in poor soil and least  >  
>> moisture...
>> >
>> > nopal cactus, various wild sages, maybe fit in a hollyleaf  
>> cherry,  > chia ?, maybe some kind of mulberry, wild golden currant  
>> (?).
>> >
>> > so, mostly natives, and then some select fruit-bearing plantings  
>> w/  > drip irrigation.  ?
>> >
>> > JC
>> >
>> >
>> > Kevin Gleason wrote:
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> I was wondering if anyone has good advice for creating a garden  
>> on  >> a VERY steep slope (more than 45 degrees.)  I'd love some  
>> feedback  >> on alternative terracing methods, whether this is too  
>> steep for  >> small swales, good soil-holding, drought-tolerant   
>> ground covers  >> and other plants that would be useful and other  
>> ideas.  I remember  >> hearing Brock Dolman talking about making  
>> retaining walls with  >> burlap tubes filled with soil and a little  
>> cement.  Anybody tried it?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for your help!
>> >> Kevin
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