Polycultures and Guilds 5 - Chestnut with Allies

[@ocdptda]

Calling grass "micro-hay" is the most genius marketing strategy that I have heard in recent memory

[@edibleacres]

Hehe...

[@thomasreto2997]

Really good stuff. I appreciate the tree guild with names of all components listed. I screenshot that 5 second segment because I want to plant not just trees, but functioning systems...🤙🤙🤙🤙Thank you

[@mycedarridge]

Very nice! Looking forward to seeing the "cherry" guild!

[@shanemillard608]

I've got a lot of trees planted, these Guilds are the kind of things I'm wanting to get added into my system.

[@69juamex]

Another excellent video with lots of information and ideals.

[@gelflingfay]

I have a chestnut that needs planting so this is extremely helpful

[@PermacultureHomestead]

love this series, so much that ive piggybacked and did my own polyculture vid, thx for the motivation

[@edibleacres]

Put up a link so folks can reference to it...

[@rolfskytte]

That is very inspiring! I want a garden with these principles..

[@PermaPen]

Beautiful! I'm guerrilla-planting chestnut trees, currants etc on some neglected land near me - seems facilitating a guild would be a good idea too.

[@edibleacres]

Thats awesome!

[@SpectreTheHorseman]

I always stop mowing around this time to let some volunteer trees pop up. I just saved 8 red oaks and more than I can count Honey Locust. This is my 3rd year. I save some every year as well as continue to plant. I have 2.2 acres to fill in so lots of room. The honey locust I saved from year 1 are now 10 feet tall, lol

[@edibleacres]

Thats wonderful. Believe me, if it were up to me this lawn would not be mowed this way. It is my parents home that they let me farm on. With the amount of tree seed I have floating around the lawn area would be a whole nursery! Someday, but for now its nice to make use of the lawn clippings and there is something to said about having open spaces...

[@SpectreTheHorseman]

I really enjoy your videos, especially the food forest aspect, which I stumbled upon 3 years ago. Have you planted any pecan or almond? My pecans didn't make it so I gotta try again. I did plant 2 sets of chestnut trees, 1 downwind to be pollinated. Nevada and Collosal.

[@milostuart9339]

Great work man.

[@SkotColacicco]

Yes, @edibleacres, every. Single Plant. I imagine it would be a 3ft walk per 20 minute description of the ways Nature plays the game. Seriously though, Darned impressive polyculture. All at once a luscious, steamy chaos, properly aligned with nature, with productivity being the primary design. Plus, you left in the beautiful (strange and poisonous) bits to keep the grand experiment engine rolling. You weren't kidding about that noise, though. It would be easier in the city, with so many competing nose. Streets like yours feel like echo chambers. You could do a decibel measurement at various locations on the property, to compare with the system fully grown. That would make an extra nerdy episode for those of us into that kinda thing.

[@edibleacres]

It does feel as time goes on there is a core audience that wants the deep deep detail so I'll plan to make more videos like that as time allows. Thanks for the interest!

[@SkotColacicco]

"core audience" is a very polite way of saying "mega plant nerd". I appreciate it. ;)

[@in.der.welt.sein.]

I wonder if the Carpathian walnut with its allelopathic roots will adversely affect the other plants in the guild? Keep us updated!

[@edibleacres]

I will make a follow up video in 10 years and let ya know! hehe... But Juglans Regia is supposed to be not very strongly juglone producing. Black Caps are 100% proven to be juglone tolerant so no worries there, mulberry should be fine and Chestnut, we'll see... If it can't handle it then I cut the English Walnut...

[@kerem7546]

@@edibleacres 7 years to go!

[@lubobir]

Please post an update on the development of the chestnut tree.

[@edibleacres]

Can do!

[@travisdavis1042]

I’ve read some research that suggests trees root graft underneath the soil to help synchronize pollination schedules between species and aid in pest/disease control. With that knowledge, I’m wondering if placing plenty of herbaceous plants that show antifungal properties around an American chestnut would aid in blight resistance. Idk I’m just spitballing here and hoping it’ll help.

[@edibleacres]

Neat idea... Who knows! I would think that having a rich and diverse fungal life in the soil would help actually reduce the issues with disease aboveground... Like having a diverse and alive gut health helps with other body issues that woudl seem unrelated. Who knows..

[@TheLastLogicalOne]

You couldve used gooseberries to protect from deer pressure. Thorny vines can be difficult to manage once they are established.

[@edibleacres]

Great point. Gooseberries, cultivar blackberries, sure, there are certainly more options for design. I liked that the birds installed this element, and really enjoy respecting their design work!

[@healingbygrowingfarms8578]

What is the total diameter of your fruit guild? I enjoyed learning from your video and plan on building my own soon for our healing gardens!

[@edibleacres]

The Chestnut guild is perhaps 12' diameter in total. REALLY close and perhaps too close.

[@Rytoast99]

Hey man using your videos for research. Got any plants that I can plant around my nut trees to keep the bears off them

[@edibleacres]

That I don't know!

[@Rytoast99]

EdibleAcres that’s quite alright. I’m sure any efforts I would try to bear proof them would be futile anyway. One of our cabin co-owners got a 546 lb , 23in diameter skull black bear back in 2015 on the property. We also have plenty of game cameras set up. We have even seen bears almost as big climbing 35+ ft up near branchless black cherries. Needless to say if they want one of the trees gone, then they will make them gone. They did this to some oaks that we chicken wire penned. The deer couldn’t browse them but I guess the bear don’t like the metal and it was thrashed to bits

[@ridanuwayhid9494]

Nice. I am in Lebanon (the country) up 3000 ft on Mount Lebanon. I want to try your Guild method on my chestnut and cherry trees. Problem is, although we have a wet and cool to cold winter spring and fall, summer in august and early september can get terribly dry. This may make leaving vegetation around the trees a fire risk. What would you do? Thanks.

[@edibleacres]

I don't have enough experience in that climate to offer advice but I wonder if having healthy and diverse coverings of the earth wouldn't help keep moisture levels higher during dry times?

[@Ultrazaubererger]

I would love to hear your experience/opinion with/on Pests like Aphids. Many people have told me that weak plants or weeds will get infected and spread it to my plants. But my experience was different as the Aphids seemed to stay on the weaker plant (a tomato that was shaded out) leaving the other Plants (basil) completely unaffected while the plants had direct contact. So, do you treat/remove infected plants or do you just let nature do its thing? And what about (powdery) mildew?

[@edibleacres]

I don't worry about aphids at all... Its not an infection, aphids are telling me that the plant has instability and most likely is overfed with nitrogen. I generally let it run its course, if the aphids kill it, then so be it, but they aren't a sign of an impending plague or something. I've only seen them hammer plants already showing weird signs. I consider 'pests' more as signals that I need to keep an eye on soil fertility and spacing, etc. on my plants, not a thing to have to intervene in...

[@kerem7546]

hey Sean! I am interested in making asian varieties of chestnut the main overstory component of my 0.5 acre suburban landscape. I'd like to get Chinese and Japanese Chestnut. Do you know if all species of chestnut are able to hybridize to produce nuts? I Think combining the two may yield quite a resilient combo of seed stock and flavorful nuts!

[@edibleacres]

Great thinking! I believe they should be compatible, but you'd want to look up flowering timing to be sure there is ample overlap...

[@kerem7546]

@@edibleacres thanks Sean! the more I dive into this way of thinking and living, the more I realize the niche that needs to filled for a perme nursery in my community. thanks for the content and for sharing your many years of experience! looking forward to helping others 'grow' with me :)

[@TeemAndreau-Leautes]

Hahahah! Micro hay.

[@VaughnMalecki]

Do you have any free sources of information you can give? I love learning this stuff but it's just not affordable right now. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. Blessings to you and yours.

[@edibleacres]

Here you go... kzbin.info :) I haven't bought a book or paid for a course in 8 years... I just research what I specifically want to know online and then experiment wildly the other 98% of the time. Its the only way I can afford to do all this stuff!

[@someonenew7292]

If you really want/need a book to have in hand in the garden ... try Google searching: 'any book title' PDF I have Mollison's books that way. And Ashley's Book of Knots ... also very helpful to know a few knots. Made a little money crafting some knots. But in the end, curiosity is the best teacher.

[@VaughnMalecki]

I've watched about every video. But they still doesn't give me enough. Maybe a back to the basics series? With basic terms and a basic beginners step to laying out a Homestead?

[@ericcairo657]

Do you Walnut Trees contain juglone which is poisonous to other trees and plants

[@edibleacres]

The one in this video is Juglans Regia. *Should* have less juglone, so we'll see..

[@ceadeses]

Are black caps black berries or black raspberries?

[@MattWilkinsonwilkoteq]

marc sene Yes I wondered that too - blackcaps are birds where I live (UK)

[@MattWilkinsonwilkoteq]

marc sene Great, black raspberry, new one on me thanks!

[@captinbob7]

Where did you learn to do this? Im looking for schooling

[@edibleacres]

Simply by planting and watching and learning. Making TONS of mistakes and continuing to explore. These systems are very willing to teach you!

[@jumanalee3746]

How about wholly designed by God! let's give credit where credit is due.

[@edibleacres]

I guess thats for you to decide. God sure seems to get a whole lot of recognition and credit all over the place, sure seems like a shout out to the wild birds for a great innovation wouldn't be the worst.