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Hi everyone!

In the spirit of permaculture, I am trying to make peace with my neighbor’s mulberry tree which drops literally thousands of fruits all over my roof and driveway every summer. Last year, I laid down tarps in an effort to reduce the mess and allow for ease of cleanup. I also attempted to make some sort of compost tea with the berries collected from the ground. I filled a 5 gallon bucket with berries and water and let it ferment for about 2 weeks, stirring daily until it smelled like manure. Then I diluted it and watered my plants with it. I’m not sure if it was of any benefit, really, and I don’t know enough about fertilizer to know when/ how it would be useful.

So my question is whether or not it’s worth using them in my garden in some capacity (composted, fermented liquid fertilizer, etc). And if so, how do I know when/ where to use them? I’ve heard with compost teas that different plants and parts of plants are beneficial as fertilizer at different stages of plant development. Can anyone point me towards some resources about this?

I eat the berries sometimes as well, but they are difficult to harvest and pretty “meh” flavorwise. I just don’t want all of the berries to go to waste rotting in my driveway and yard.

Thanks everyone!

I have access to free llama wool that was quality reject from a manufacturer, so it’s prepped, clean, and high grade.

I’d like to use it as insulation for a studio within a warehouse. The warehouse, as warehouses go, might have rodents scurrying about.

I’ve sealed off cracks, and been pretty fastidious about cleaning and patching holes and spray foam. I’ll also be using natural spray repellant and never keeping food in the studio. I can just imagine the cozy rats nest of plush llama wool in my walls lol.

I’m in Oregon, it’s cold.

1. Would you advise against it with potential rodent presence?
2. Would adding DE or other natural powders repel permanently?
3. Any tips and tricks to using llama wool as interior wall insulation?

Non native is not invasive

I love native plants to my area I grow a good sized garden full of native plants and I understand their place in the ecosystem and how important they are. And I agree people should grow native plants however I have noticed most people seem to not see a difference between invasive and non native while many non native plants are invasive. Many non native plants really aren’t invasive especially very slow growing ones or moderate pace growing ones. A great example of a plant which is non native to North America but not invasive is the ginkgo tree. Ginkgo trees are the only living member of genus, family, order, class, phylum and they are endangered in the wild in Asia. Ginkgo trees very rarely spread here in the USA and have been here for around 200+ years and have not become a major issue. While it may be argued they don’t support a lot wildlife which is true having a few around here and there won’t hurt especially because they are endangered in the wild so by growing them out of habitat we are giving them a chance to survive the mass extinction happening in the world. Another thing to consider is what if the country the plant is native to is very bad about protecting it sometimes in certain situations plants need to be and should be grown in other places. However I hate plants which are common in the wild and actually invasive and do spread such as Bradford pears here in the USA and Morus alba and European buckthorn and stuff like that those plants are common in the wild and very invasive on other continents such as in North America. But it’s important to remember that not all non native plants are invasive species as I said and some especially endangered ones should be grown. And something like a ginkgo trees is definitely not invasive male trees don’t even make seeds the female ones do but only after 20 years from a seed ginkgo trees grow at a moderate pace and have shown them selves not be invasive and don’t really out compete native plants in anyway.

Hey!

I’m a landscape designer with a Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture and a background in architectural design. Though I’m on the periphery of a full understanding of permaculture practices, what I do know really resonates with me.

I want to dive deeper, not just into the practical side, but also the philosophical and spiritual side of it. I’d love to study in a program that emphasizes indigenous practices, art and sacred geometry. I’ve hit a creative/energetic block in my current career path, but the idea of weaving in permaculture is really exciting and energizing.

I’m in the southern Willamette Valley and looking for a program (doesn’t have to be certified necessarily). I would love recommendations for training or communities to get involved with.

Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know about Open Source Ecology’s CEB builder The Liberator? https://vimeo.com/opensourceecology