Developing our Tree Hay System - Why and How

[@GriffenNaif]

Awesome.... Update please

[@stephenharper6638]

We had a stand of locust and while fixing fence one day, we ran out of posts. As it was quicker- we cut a dozen trees and used them in the fence. Amazing thing, like 8 of them grew! Western NY, 50 inches of precipitation per year.

[@Adnancorner]

I think if you are in dry area, You need legume trees such as luecaena tree - white lead tree, acacia, moringa for heavy chop and feeding, Sweet potatoes, Mulberries. white lead tree is native to the mexico California but adopted to many sub tropics around the world. These trees are easy to grow and create a good shade for the ground to keep moisture, and is a good fodder. Some bushes are also great. to stop the wind blowing in your feed lots. if you are planting sweet potatoes try adding dead rotting wood under ground so you have that dead wood as a water battery in the ground. Sweet potatoes are fantastic for your goats and really fast growing if you are adding goat poop regularly as fertilizer. I am pretty sure your area is not as dry as here in Dubai, UAE. We are full desert and the sweet potatoes thrive here, as well as white lead tree. However once established you can water them once every three days but need couple of years to have that carbon to store the water.

[@BriansPermacultureProject]

I had been learning about lucaena a bit before you left this message. And I just got some seed in the mail!

[@DPJE1234]

What about sweet potatoes? I grow them in socal with barely any water. They are wonderful for covering the ground, and eating

[@BriansPermacultureProject]

I hadn't thought of that before. I didn't realize they were so drought tolerant - that could be a game changer! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@naturgehöft-sieghexe]

any update on how this turned out? does the spacing between the trees work for wind shield as you planned? how is the management working out?

[@BriansPermacultureProject]

Hi there, these trees have seen some phenomenal growth. They're over 10' at this point, big and full. Unfortunately, they're my babies at this point, and I find it hard to start cutting them for fodder :) I plan to do an update video on this in the near future (once I find the time...).

[@DTA-me3kv]

Hybrid willow works great.

[@mlindsay527]

What are the trees growing on the hillside in the distance? What about the big one by the house?

[@BriansPermacultureProject]

The trees in the background are coast live oak. They're supremely drought tolerant, but also somewhat slow growing and not highly palatable for the animals. The large trees by the house are birch, but they are/were diseased. The largest one has succumbed at this point - had to cut it down - and the smaller one has many dying limbs. I've been cutting off the dead wood, but I fear it's days are numbered :(

[@mlindsay527]

@@BriansPermacultureProject Do the oaks produce big acorn crops? If so, they might present an opportunity to grow some mighty fine pork. If you haven’t already check out Spain’s Dhesa region. Reminds me a bit of what you are working with.

[@mlindsay527]

Dehesa is the correct spelling.