Permaculture guilds part 1 - companion planting on steroids

Permaculture guilds part 1 - companion planting on steroids.
Main functions of plants, stacking synergies, filling roles, maximizing solar capture above ground and nutrient capture below ground. Nutrient dredging, aromatic confusers, pest deterrence, drip edge extension, mycelium networks, and building the soil web of life.
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[@3FeathersFarmstead]

I definitely like the longer walkthrough videos. This one helped me understand guilds a bit more and especially the layers of it all...one question though....What is the purpose of the logs and/or limbs that are suspended (or angled down from) the branches of some of your trees? Trellises?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks! The logs laying horizontally on top of logs are to give birds places to perch, hang out and just be free pest security. This is just me thinking "what does a full blown forest have that I dont?", and with many small trees still, the answer is branches for birds. So I try to then replace that function in areas where I do not have branches. So far they are quite popular with the birds. The logs leaning up against trees are either there because I planted grapes or kiwi there, and the log is acting like a trellis. The idea for the first 3-4 years of grapes or kiwi is to let it grow a trunk at a height you want, and then prune back yearly roughly to that point. Typically I will just tie them with twine to the log. After 2 years I can take the log away and the vine trunk will be strong enough on it's own. Also, sometimes I'm carrying a log, run into a rabbit, and quickly put the log on a tree and grab my phone. Then forget what I was out there to do, go grab some peaches and raspberries, get distracted thinking about a new idea where to put a new pond, connect it to a swale, how I want to walk around my land 10 years from now, what paths, where they go, etc. Next thing you know, I have logs leaning on trees everywhere and they are invisible to me, because they have been there so long I think my brain thinks they have always been there. I am a bit of an oddball. I can be extremely focused on one thing and let it possess and take over my entire life. But then a rabbit comes or a bird lands on a branch infront of me, and I become a scatterbrained 5 year old again.

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

Seriously?! That's awesome!!.... life goals right there!! I dream to be able to do that one day soon...we rent and I can only have so much going on at once...but that is going to change in the near future. Thanks for being so quick to answer questions. Watching your kitchen garden video currently and just learned not to plant carrots next to Queen Anne's lace!! You rock!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

@@3FeathersFarmstead no problem, you just caught me while I'm online at lunch (late lunch today, work is busy!). For the queen Anne's lace, that only matters if you are going to save seed from your carrots. I just wanted to make sure that is cleared up, because I often forget to mention it in videos. If you have QAL, and plant carrots those carrots will still be carrots. They may get cross pollinated by QAL, and make seed that is a hybrid of the 2. But the actual carrots that were pollinated will still be carrots. Same thing goes for cross pollination between peppers, squash, etc. You dont need to worry about cross pollination if you don't save seed. It's only if you are planning to save seed and plant THOSE next year, where you could get something "interesting". But that's also fun, because maybe you create some super squash that is resistant to vine borers, or some new pepper that only you have, etc. Genetic experiments are quite fun. My tomatoes for example they started as black krims, but over the last 4 years, selecting the tastiest largest ones, I now have my own variety that is pretty stable. I always plant a few nursery bought tomatoes just to be safe, but it's always fun to see what the black krim babies produce, and how they change from one year to the next.

[@honestlynate7922]

I like the longer walk through videos too.

[@CajunGreenMan]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy Maybe the intensity of focus and then sudden scatterbrain is what they call neurodivergent?

[@elainegranzow9755]

DON'T MAKE IT SHORTER, PLEASE. What would be soooo helpful is lists of plants in a guild and notes on all the wonderful things you have created that we can go back to and even print so we don't forget. This program was wonderful, THANK YOU

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks for the feedback... I can do detailed guild series of videos. I just really want people to understand that they do not need to be overly prescriptive. There are a few plants with alleopathies, (chemical warfare), but for the most part, when thinking about companion planting, anything works. Also, nature is the best teacher of what works and doesn't. There are many moving parts to consider, that it's often best to just start planting, observe and react. I can do some follow up videos, you have given me a lot of great ideas to talk about in more detail.

[@thesoilliberator9154]

Good explanation of a guild and what each plant contributes to the whole. Cant wait to get my hands dirty in my own permaculture guilds.

[@MilesB]

this was brilliant. You cleared so many things up… I also appreciate the encouragement to just get out and start… Stop thinking, start planting. I appreciate this video

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thank you! I'm glad you got something useful out if it.

[@jimmy6535]

Recently moved in to a house (Sweden) with a pretty big lot but from what i could tell when spring set in was that it hadn't been landscaped for years and years so i just assume it's been bewildered and created a permaculture on it's own from what was planted purpously at some point. looking at your video noticing you are in roughly the same biome as me the boreal forest bordering the artic and one things than struck me hang on, all of the weeds and random shrubs groing at random here are the same plants you mentioned. they are infact not just thriving but are also linked in simbioses with one and other which totally made me look at my daily chore of reclaiming the land from the terror root systems and pesky vines in a whole new light. now i'm not just picking weeds, i'm deforesting. My solution is part of the problem. Great video, it's been educational.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Wonderful comment! My mindset definitely has changed over the years.

[@kimanderberg1106]

The problem is the solution. Good for you for looking long and realizing the cultivars available to you.

[@grantog123]

Love the content! People need to see step by step walkthroughs to see how attainable it can be!

[@markpennella]

Thank you...back to basics is always best.

[@debramartell8531]

Excellent video and definitely not to long, all the information was totally awesome and necessary for us students learning to grow food forests. Keep them coming, can’t get enough and thank you for sharing all of your wisdom, very grateful to receive all of your knowledge 🌱🌷🕊

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks! Super kind.

[@DaveToopes]

thank you for the tour. let us see your sea of green after a few months!

[@honestlynate7922]

I mentioned in a prior video about how I moved to Massachusetts after establishing a plot of land in Mississippi. Of course I'm now back in New England where I grew up but I'm intimidated by the daunting task before me. I put in so much work found all the right plants that worked made a lot of mistakes that I don't want to and don't have to make again. Being able to watch people like you in the many others, help keep me motivated

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Awesome! Make sure not to put a burden on yourself. After all, its just planting some plants. That shouldn't be stressful, but relaxing and fun. The only stress is out on ourselves by ourselves because we put timeliness on things. Just chip away and have fun with it. :)

[@gayzion]

super helpful and beautiful to look at!

[@bosquebear1]

Your videos and techniques are great. This format and length were perfect.

[@PrairieJournals]

These vids can never be too long.🇨🇦. Nice job on yr food forest.

[@blacksheep6365]

This is a mind-blowing video for me and some of the comments below are almost as good as the original content itself.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks so much! That bushes video for some reason youtube pushed it out to tons of people, but its one of my more average videos. If you haven't checked out my soil microbiology guide, that's a really good one if you already know a lot about gardening and want to go to the next level.

[@mr.hampton4982]

Excellent video, thanks!

[@ministryofloafing3305]

Great video! I'm learning a ton from you :) one nitpick, though. Stropharia rugosoannulata (king Stropharia) isn't a mycorrhizal fungus. It forms no connections with plants, so nutrient sharing isn't as abundant. It will help a little in dispersing nutrients from the woodchips along it's mycellial network, but very minimally through mycellial exudate (which is only present for many species in the presence of competing bacteria). A little lesson on fungal digestion in saprobic species: it happens entirely outside of the fungus! so most of the released nutrients from the fungus digesting the wood happens right where it's being digested, dropping down into the soil. The Stropharia are great for your plants and soil, though! Spread them as much as possible and your wood mulch will be fertile soil in no time.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Indeed! I've learned so much since this video. There are little mistakes like this splattered about in my earlier stuff. I think somewhere I even said mychorrizal bacteria!! LOL Great comment thanks for adding it. I really like the big about fungal digestion outside of the organism. In situ decomposition.

[@joakadoris]

Loved this!!! I like the long length of your video - plenty of time to explore and explain.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks Jo! Looking back on this video, I think I can do a better job. I plan on doing a fully 7 layer food forest design update video later this year, sometime in the summer when everything is rampant.

[@codeth]

I'm excited to watch this grow, please keep posting!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks, very kind. I absolutely will, this is waaaaay too fun.

[@m.g.3913]

"The birds love elderberries and make delicious syrup and jam". Do you know what kind of bird they are? I would love birds in my garden that make syrup and jam.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Many different types. I'm still learning them as I go

[@heyborttheeditor1608]

Lol

[@eleanorbarsic8065]

😂😂😂

[@tysongibson6941]

Thank you for all of this.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks for watching :)

[@charlesbale8376]

Wonderful information, so much that I can use in my garden...Enjoyed the video.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@debramartell8531]

And very grateful to have a site that grows things we can grow here in Ottawa and down at the cottage in the Kingston area as we get cold here in the winter so very nice to have roughly the same growing seasons 🐞😊🌺

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

For sure. When I started it was so hard to find anyone doing permaculture up north. I found a few eventually, but most didn't produce much content. I'm trying to be a source for all the cold climate folks out there! We can do so much here also.

[@Kay-xi9kv]

I like the detailed information too. Thanks !

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks for watching :)

[@silversprout8974]

Very helpful video, thank you

[@martybartfast1]

It's come along so well since this footage was taken. Thank you. m

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks! It's really fun to look back at how much has changed. Give me another 5 years and it's going to be a jungle here.

[@kendylouwhoo]

This was such great info. Thank you.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks for watching

[@THEEVAAN]

I love it

[@hollybritton7255]

Your a good teacher!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks 😊

[@ALatsiou]

Looking forward to the Juglans guild guide. Walnut does really well in my area but I’m afraid I can’t build a permaculture orchard with walnut as a main crop. Would love to hear your advice on that. Great video!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Paw paws, mulberry, currants, and black cap raspberries.

[@timsworld9875]

not too long at all!..thanks for sharing ...

[@southsidecarly7427]

I like the longer videos, the more information the better!. I would like any information you might have on growing mulberries please

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks. My audience seems pretty split down the middle on people who want 10 min videos max, and those who want hour long videos or longer! I try to do the odd longer video to give to those people who want to just toss it on the background, fold some laundry, make dinner, workout and just have nature in the background. This spring I'll do more longer videos for sure, I always find something to talk about out here. It's like my giant sandbox.

[@williammcduff6531]

Thanks for the info. A heads up on the rhubarb when you pick it make sure to pull the entire stalk and don't break it off otherwise that section won't regrow next season.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks!

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

LOVED the walk thru and your shared knowledge on permaculture. Newbie....just bought land 8weeks ago that came with a 100x50 fenced garden...putting my spin on it with a permaculture approach. Things r clicking each day. Had a private permaculture intro on our property a few weeks ago with a local permaculture fella here in Texas. I get so excited when things click. Hubby helped with tractor today to search our forest land for compost & dirt. I have a new bed set and ready to go....plans r for this new section is lettuce "pick and come again" thru the fall....the previous owner planted 2 pears, 2 plums, 1 mulberry, 7 thornless blackberries, 3 grapevine, 2 brown turkey fig...so she gave me a real good start. I have 2 elderberry to plant, but my lil parti yorkie loves to run in the garden and I hear they are toxic to dogs....so not sure I'll plant them in the fenced area. Anyway, loved your vid...need to get my hands on some comfrey & strawberries. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 🥰🙌💃🌱

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

That's great. Its nice to get a place and already have a bit of a head start. :)

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy Thank you! Yes! It's a great start. All still young (fruit trees) just learning about guilds this week. Going to pamper them soon. 😊

[@marthabradas8873]

fascinating!!!! thank you for this you tube video!!!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks Martha :)

[@melanieallen8980]

nice!!!!

[@abcdefghi20492]

congratulations- intense , but vivid and exciting enough for even the less informed ones to follow. my garden in legrad, croatia, is allmost the same, comfrey all over etc, plus domestic animals occasional contribution

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks :)

[@abcdefghi20492]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy well, i just really enjoy when i meet someone sharing my mission-vizion, and i savour educational work done superbly

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Same! Thanks for watching and commenting. I love experimenting and trying new things. Constantly observing what has decided to germinate and volunteer in the garden each season. There is a lot of information to be gained if we keep our eyes open and are receptive to the feedback that nature is giving us.

[@abcdefghi20492]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy absoluuutely so- fingers crossed!

[@andrewtucker94]

Dude I know squat about nature but that was a relaxing 20 mins, thank you

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Careful, that's how I got started... watched some cool relaxing videos of Edible Acres and Geoff Lawton inside their food forests. The next thing you know, I'm planting 1000 fruit trees.

[@carmilianasfruitpickingfar803]

Very nice video,more info.about Gojiberry please!I tried planting Gojiberry here in Philippines.God bless!!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks. Unfortunately I only have 1 bush and it's not doing great. I've been meaning to try to get more, but I can't find them anywhere local.

[@AustinK2]

-40 Celsius damn that's cold. That's like -40 Fahrenheit!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Yep. My fuel line in my car froze one year. We have block heaters to keep our engines from freezing solid. Once those arctic winds from Hudson Bay comes whistling down here, it gets COLD. Thats why northern windbreaks are so valuable, and why I'm doing "old man trail" whee I'm doing it.

[@melanieallen8980]

good video!!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks for the visit

[@erikjohnson9223]

It was the extreme cold. Kiwi is a heavy liana, like a grape. Actinidia kolomikta is hardier and less rampant than arguta, but has smaller fruit that tends to drop when ripe. Interesting foliage though ( variegation, especially on the male, reminds me of guano).

[@mikeh6172]

Dude has anyone told you you look like the third Franco brother?!? Great videos!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Haha yes I've definitely heard that.

[@ElisandeWalters]

sea buckthorn berries make GREAT emulsifier and acid addition to salad dressing!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Absolutely! What a great flavor they add. Don't get me wrong, they are VERY tart, but I personally really like that about them. They are really great in small quantities as an ingredient in various things. I love them in smoothies, and a bit in a really sweet jam to tart-it-up. Love it mixed with a kombucha that has been left too long and gotten very vinegary. Toss some Seaberries in that, a little oil, and it's an incredible dressing.

[@charlenekociuba7396]

Well, this concept, mixing up the plantings, encouraging wildlife to enjoy is new for me. It is a lot to take in. I just began organizing for an enclosure to keep out the critters but now maybe I should rethink. The critters left me with very little so defensively I thought of an enclosure. to foster production. But did you get a pepper to eat? or a strawberry? I don't like locking out or prevention but your idea emulates more of my personal philosophy. Big questions for me to ponder now. You've pointed out a lot of things. Thank you.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Every year I get more food than I can possibly eat, and the wildlife gets more food also. If you don't fence your stuff in, the wild creatures will eat some. However I just plant more. I save seeds so seeds are free. Strawberries runner and spread for free. I'm sure some of my strawberries were eaten by slugs and birds, but I still could pull in 5 cups a day, and left more on the plants. Keep in mind, in a smaller scale, or for a market gardener, your tolerance for having nature eat your food may be lower than mine. But as far as having deer or rabbits or birds swoop in and eat every last bit? Definitely not my experience, but I do know others who claim that happens to them. I have rabbit poop all throughout my gardens, but I always get more food than I need, so I am okay with that. Heck, I love it. I wouldn't want it any other way.

[@kevinking7860]

This is new to me but i have 3 new trees in my garden 2 are apples I have underplanted with spring bulbs And mulched with shredded bark Planted comfrey all around both Also used monardo bee balm allium One i have seeded with crimson clover And origano

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Sounds great :) Are you in a colder climate? One improvement you could consider is to add a decent sized bush on the south side of the tree. This not only will add a new crop/yield that won't be shaded by the tree, but also will protect the tree trunk/bark from sun in the winter, which can cause cracking.

[@KKeefer]

I love this video. I’ve watched it several times. 🙏We’ve got 40 acres in zone 5B in Pennsylvania USA. This land used to be farmed by my grandparents years ago. I’d love to start a food forest on at least a couple of acres. I also have this crazy idea of starting a Christmas tree Farm - Permaculture culture style. I’d like to plant companions between the trees and utilize copicing for the actual Christmas trees. I’ve found info on the copicing portion but am unsure of the appropriate companion plants (other than blueberry bushes Which I assume would do well with the acidic environment from the needle drop). Do you have any other suggestions?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Most ferns, Rhododendron, Yew, Currant, gooseberry, Blueberry Wild Ginger, Bleeding Heart, Forget-Me-Not, Starflower Trientalis borealis, Wintergreen Gautheria procumbens, Baneberry Actea pachypoda, Redbud Northern Tree Cercis canadensis, Speckled Alder Alnus rugosa, are all plants I've seen that do well in that type of guild.

[@LiliansGardens]

You're always putting the cart before the horse? So how did you becoe so successful? ha. So happy to see this legacy at close to start. I can imagine

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks! I don't know, lots of hard work I guess! I'm always working on something. My wife says I'm like an energizer bunny. I also can't wait for this place to really take off. A 10 year old food forest just has such a different look than a 5 year old one. I just don't want to get any older or wish my time away! I suppose, I will age no matter what, but I will get to enjoy a maturing food forest as the repayment for getting older.

[@gilliandarling9239]

love it ... i would not mulch with sea buckthorn because of the thorns !!!!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Indeed, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with prunings of them. I have been cutting thorns off and mulching with the rest, and burying the thorns under the mulch a bit. I am going to try turning some to biochar and see if the thorns break down and get brittle.

[@gilliandarling9239]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy good idea biochar .!!!

[@justinp7258]

Loved this walk through! Thanks! For the ground cover things like strawberries, are you just seeding? Or do all the strawberries get started as plants and spread out from there? Thanks again for the great videos!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I started as plants and then spread runners. This will get you clones though, so if you want some variety then you need to either save seed or buy different plants and let them runner. So if I ever get one with slug damage on it, i will just plant it in the somewhere that has a bare spot. I'm a big fan of low effort, high volume style planting. Basically, doing my best squirrel impression.

[@justinp7258]

Canadian Permaculture Legacy I was just looking through your videos. Do you have one that shows seed saving? I saw one about starting seeds.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I do, I have a detailed guide, very detailed. I find google goes a good job finding my videos. If you do "canadian permaculture Legacy seed guide" for example it should show up. kzbin.info/www/bejne/epa0m6ytnp2GqdU&app=desktop The production quality of my early videos arent the best (always improving) but the info is top notch.

[@CorvidFriend]

More details please. That you can grow a peach in an environment similar to mine is fascinating. Species? Nursery? Winter protection? Maybe a separate video for each plant! Just a thought.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

These all already exist:)

[@CorvidFriend]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy Fantastic! I will look for them. Thank you.

[@travisdavis1042]

I’d love to see a video zoning in on plants for each layer. 10 plants for the herbaceous layer for instance as a video.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Indeed. I did the bushes one last year. Herbaceous layer is kind of hard because there's just so many plants and so many functions. Instead of doing a herbaceous layer I'm thinking of tackling job functions, such as nutrient accumulators, aromatic confusers, pollinator attractors, etc. I did a pollinator attractor video last year.

[@travisdavis1042]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy awesome! I’ll have to go find the Bush video! Thank you!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Bush video is easy, sort my channel by most popular videos and it will be number 1

[@blacksheep6365]

The bush video just brought me here so it's still doing its thing. Excellent videos so far. Thank you for posting.

[@Epiphalactic]

Just wanted to point out, Matt Powers has a video about these accumulators and he talks about how the guy who originally coined the term biodynamic accumulator has since kinds debunked it. It's a good video I suggest anyone watch it. Kind of explained how pretty much any plant is an accumulator and even plants were very deep roots are not pulling much nutrition up from there.

[@MsK-xm7vw]

You talk about buying trees, bushes, etc. at 'End of Season' auctions; please explain. I live in Alberta Canada and didn't know about this. How and where do you go about finding such sales? I've heard of cattle & livestock auctions, semi-trailer & farm machinery auctions, but never plants, trees or bushes, so I'm very interested in finding out more.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I just called around to nurseries and ask them what they do with inventory that doesn't get sold after their last end of season sales. One of them said they have an auction. I found out about it and have gone every year since. This will obviously depend place to place, but maybe you can suggest they try it out.

[@everettmcdonald2088]

I just discovered your channel. It’s excellent! This video was great but the birdbath is empty! It should always be clean and full of water. The birds it attracts bring all kinds of micro biology to your garden in their droppings and on their feet. “Never underestimate the value of the little things”.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Two reasons that I don't fill it anymore is because it leaks and also I want them drinking aerated water. I used to run a water wiggler in it for that reason. However, last year I put in my ecosystem pond. Now I don't fill the birdbath anymore because I want them drinking out of my pond instead (healthier for them). Have you seen my pond yet in the videos you've seen? It's a bird party there all the time, and it's only 50 feet away.

[@everettmcdonald2088]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy I haven’t yet, but I will. I’m working my way through them one or two each morning with my coffee.. So far your vids on soil biology and guilds are great. You break things down so it’s easy to understand.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thank you 😊

[@myronplatte8354]

I put apple cores and comfrey root cuttings in the same hole. spacing, schmacing.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

They'll sort it all out

[@krisledrew3668]

I believe this is an older video but it would be really interesting to see a little before and after by recording what your food for is looks now as to how it looked in this video

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I try to do one of those each year. If you look through my videos from last August or so, you should find the last one

[@wudangmtn]

The longer, the better!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Thanks! I had a feeling you would say that :)

[@johnandmichelevaughan1638]

Thank you! We’re planting our first fruit trees on a new-to-us property. 12 of them! Yikes! I also have 2 gooseberry and 2 elderberry. I didn’t think of it when I ordered but now I’m wondering if I can just make them part of my orchard landscape?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Absolutely. These are great companions to fruit trees. I like VERY dense plantings (2-3 bushes per tree, trees planted 6-12 feet apart, etc), so a few bushes in a tree orchard is almost not enough for me. Cram those in there! Haha

[@johnandmichelevaughan1638]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy well now that you’ve explained it so well looks like I’ll have to get more plants. Oh, darn! ;-)

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

lol

[@Epiphalactic]

Also I just wanted to clarify, King stropharia is not a mycorrhizal fungi. As you said it is saprophytic, and feeds on dead and dying wood, whereas mycorrhizal fungi makes associations either on or in actively living roots. You are not likely to see my horizal fungi with the naked eye, or even under pretty powerful magnification. A lot of them require stains and very high quality microscopes in order to see. A lot of misconception when it comes to this.

[@kimanderberg1106]

Definitely have a question, what is that Bee house? Are those bamboo stalks? Please describe this lovely thing.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

It is a bee house to attract not honeybees but wild native bees. They don't produce honey, but they actually do more pollinating, and are much more important to save, ecologically. Its very simple to build. My wife got mine for me as a birthday present from Costco. But its nothing more than some plywood and bamboo stalks cut and stacked.

[@eleanorbarsic8065]

Where do you buy your sea buckthorn? I can't find any. (I know many are transplant but you did say you were going to buy some w bigger berries

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I got my seabuckthorn this year from a nursery called whiffletree

[@cookingsherry8784]

I'm trying to learn more about permaculture and fruit guilds. Some resources say not to grow nightshades (like tomato) with fruit trees. Your thoughts? How did yours work out?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Mine turned out fine. One reason I can see why is that they are a leafy grassland ecosystem plant, and will want bacterial dominated soils more typically found in a manure and compost garden. They shouldn't like fungal soils like an established woodchip forest. This is why I typically grow them in the garden, but I always like to experiment. Plus, that season (in this video here), I started 75 tomato plants and was just putting them anywhere I could.

[@TheSoilandGreen]

Long is okay 👌

[@darthvanderh]

How are your clover and strawberry ground covers doing? I would love to plant both and let them go wild but I've been hesitating in case it becomes impossible to plant anything else. I'm guessing the trees and shrubs do fine. Have you been able to plant annuals without the clover strangling them? Does the clover still allow the strawberry runners to root?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Clovers and strawberries are doing well. Where they meet they kind of mix, which is perfect. I will keep an eye on them next year to see how it changes. I actually plant my annuals in a groundcover of clover. It looks like the clover strangles them out but it doesn't. It is a great companion groundcover.

[@darthvanderh]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy thanks so much. I'd love to see how that looks. You've given me the courage to keep seeding.

[@eleanorbarsic8065]

I don't grow clover yet (though my yard fostrs lots of it) but I use strawberries as a cover and it's awesome. No competition issues.

[@drewpeterson2588]

I’m new. Can I add raised planters w tomatoes lettuce broccoli etc in permaculture orchard to keep rabbits out and deer fencing too?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Absolutely. A great solution too. 👍

[@bobmeister4495]

What area of Canada are you in? Also some recommendations for fertilizing hascaps would be great as we have several bushes that haven't produced up to expectations,

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I'm in between London and Ottawa, and between lake Ontario and Hudson Bay. Lol. For fertilizing, I'm not a fertilizer guy. You will see this in more of my videos. The trick is to worry about your soil and not your plants. Focus on building soil always and never on of various plants did well this or last year. This puts you into a long term mindframe. So how does a forest grow soil? Replicate that. Forests have animals that poop and pee. Trees that drop leaves. Trees that die and fall to the floor. Replicate those processes. Animal manures. Attract animals and allow them to exist on your land and fertilize your gardens. Plant plants they like as a sacrificial cathode analogy to materials science. Give them glover and comfrey and perennial greens at the borders of your gardens like red Russian kale.. They will eat that stuff and leave the rest alone (mostly). Then they poop and pee and fertilize and build soil. In the fall get leaf bags, ideally shredded leaves, scatter those. Find a source of woodchips from arborists, or your municipality, etc. Cover the floor with fallen trees (woodchips). Simulate forest fires by making biochar. Check out my biochar videos. Innoculate that in compost and put that on your soils. Nature has this all figured out much better than humans do (and that's coming from an engineer). So try to think how nature does things, then simulate and replicate it.

[@bobmeister4495]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy We could be pretty close to each other then as I'm between Toronto and Moosenee and Lk Huron and the Ottawa River. Deer , moles, mice, and rabbits have been eating my garden for 40 years but some things (like Hascaps) I just can't get to grow. I do use wood chips for mulch, compost and usually collect deer and moose poop from along our snowshoe trails. I'm a new subscriber and will be watching your vids in prep for Spring. Keep up the good work.

[@jeffcrist2977]

Long videos are fine.

[@davidrazo1102]

I have some large tomato plants I wanted to chop and drop. Are tomato plants okay to chop and drop? I have not seen them recommended as a chop and drop plant. Thanks. Newbie to gardening.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I would say to compost them but not chop and drop them. A compost pile can get really hot and can kill any diseases on the tomato plants. Chopping and dropping them will allow any fungal diseases to overwinter in the mulch and soil, and could be a problem the following season.

[@m.z.593]

I was wondering if you had some ideas for a saskatoon berry guild? I am already planning on using comfrey but I was wondering if there was something else easy and useful that comes to mind

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I would say don't overthink it. Saskatoon tends to get 15-20 feet tall, so it's okay as either understory or overstory, depending on what height you wanted in there. You could add a long term major overstory with it, such as say a cherry. A few serviceberries as understory. Then maybe hazelnuts and elderberry as bushes. Various pollinators as herbaceous layer, comfrey as a deep taproot accumulator all over. Clover as the nitrogen fixer, maybe the odd nitrogen fixing bush like goumi, seabuckthorn. That guild there would be an incredible bird and pollinating attractor guild. A wonderful nature guild. The human could take some yield out of if, or just leave it to nature as an anchor point, and build food guilds off the side of it. The birds would help with pests, and would stick mostly to their favorite fruits there (saskatoon, elderberry, etc).

[@m.z.593]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy thanks again. I actually can't plant a tree because it's too close to the property line but I will make sure to find some good pollinators and some clover then

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

I need advice. Please I have Siberian pea bush seals. How do I germinate them?I see a few methods. Which is correct. ?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

You said seals, I'm assuming you mean seeds? To be honest, I've never done them from seed. I have some wild ones growing somewhat nearby and I pulled a few suckers up and replanted those. These being super cold hardy (I believe down to zone TWO) I would have thought they need some serious cold-stratification, but it appears they really don't. Most methods I'm reading are saying to treat these like kind of like peas, with a good long cold water soak, then a temperature based germination in a cold frame (i.e. mini greenhouse). Since I've never done it, I don't know. Is this method not working for you? It could be that you had some dud seeds? Did you try many or just a few? Other places are saying to scarify them, have you tried that?

[@kastironwoman6009]

I am confused by the whole Term "Food Forest". Your "food forest" looks more like long planting beds with paths on either side- which makes sense since you need access to the trees and plants for harvest, and you'll need more access as the trees mature to thin fruit in the spring and harvest in the fall. So are food forests not really a forest but a permaculture garden?? That makes more sense to me. (we hope to start our permaculture garden- food forest soon as the ground thaws out.)

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

It's a broad definition for sure. They can range from an orchard style like Stephan Sobkowiak, to true forests, similar to what Mark Shepard is doing. Mine is in the middle.

[@debbielebovic6573]

Have you ever grown physalis (ground cherry)? They are apparently native here in Ontario but I can’t figure out how to grow them. The seeds are tiny and they’re not perennial, though they will seed around eventually.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Yes, we loved them last year. I didn't plant any this year due to being busy, but my sister in law has tons. I should do a video on her setup.

[@debbielebovic6573]

Please do!

[@kathleenlewis324]

Sorry..I'm late but how do you keep the birds off your berries ?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I don't, I love birds. What I do instead is plant berries they love such as serviceberry. They eat those and leave my other berries alone.

[@cjmcadams4817]

What Peaches do you grow. I have moved to Montana up close to the Canadian boarder and I keep getting told can't grow peaches up here.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

It might be true, you are likely a zone or two colder than me. I grow Reliance, frost and contender. Check out 2 places... whiffletree nursery and hardyfruittrees. Both places only have varieties down to zone 4.

[@cjmcadams4817]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy Thank you very much I will check them out

[@debbielebovic6573]

What part of Canada are you in? I in Toronto

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I am in Cobourg just over an hour east.

[@kescah]

In one of your videos, you pulled a weed, I believe it was Strangling Dogweed? Whereas others you let grow and say they are helpful. I am hoping you have a video or will make one that identifies which weeds need to be pulled. Thanks!

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

It would be a short video. The only things I really pull are strangling dog weed and poison ivy. Every other "weed" I don't mind. I don't have many invasives here, which is really all I would pull. Everything else, something in nature will eat it, so it has value.

[@kescah]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy Thank you!

[@darthvanderh]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy do you leave grasses that spread by rhizome as well?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Unfortunately there isn't much I can do about that than mowing and edging. I did 2 videos on grasses in the garden here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZXFi52ljtemntk And here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4ewk3ZppsyAj6M

[@giancarlorodriguez7276]

Is there a part 2?

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Kinda funny, but I've been meaning to do a part 2, but always get other ideas. I think next season I will do part 2, several parts actually, showing specific guilds and how they are developing.

[@giancarlorodriguez7276]

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy that'd be great. I really like these long in depth videos

[@hansning7924]

Just wanted to say that you mentioned to watch out for juglons, but this may also be one of the old wives tale you mentioned. Check out the podcast Completely Arbortrary which has an episode on Black Walnut.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I've also mentioned this a few times - it's LARGELY a wives tale. It depends a lot on what is chipped and how much of it is juglans species. If it's a mix of a bunch of trees, don't worry about it. If it's mostly black walnut but it's a mix of the whole tree (bark, leaves, branches, twigs, heartwood, sapwood, ramial wood, then you are also probably okay. Just don't go too nuts and try to mix in some other species on your next load. If it's nothing but black walnut, and includes tons of leaves (and husks) mostly, then you may be in for some trouble. If you keep doing that over and over, then you are going to be wishing you didn't do that. All things in moderation. The walnut thing IS blown a bit out of proportion, but there's some truth to it. Leaves/husks are the worst parts. I'm not sure how much of that I mentioned in this video, but I have mentioned it many times before in other ones.

[@JayBeezy31]

Rory macdonald lookin ass nigga !! Lmao HEY MUCH LOVE BRO i saw your comment on the vice video on prison VR. Subbed

[@jasonwetzstein5410]

Miracle grow

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Is bad mmmkay

[@radi2173]

Kiwis are so much winding they will kill your appletree

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

I can prune them. These areas I'm out there all the time. Also apples are all over the place here - I have probably 200+ apple trees on my property if I count all the wild apples also (which are actually quite good!). I'm actually okay with an apple tree turning into a kiwi trellis.

[@noelmuller5755]

I think your stuff is way too spaced out.....with all the landscaping feel of an english garden rather than a permaculture food forest.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

You will like my more recent videos, the gardens are walls of green. I have one section in the front lawn that I keep less dense to keep my wife happy. A happy marriage is all about compromise. I agree though, my favorite (and healthiest) spots are the most dense ones.