[Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?

[John Calvert]

yeah, don't cover the slope with grass.  duh!

Owen, you sound like the landscape police.  This is a community discussion.

JC


Owen Dell wrote:
> 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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>>> >> Scpg at arashi.com
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>>> >>
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