STOP WASTING TIME using fertilizers & plant THESE Nitrogen Fixing Trees instead!

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Stefan Sobkowiak - The Permaculture Orchard

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 247

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Want to learn even more? Check out my online courses : permaculture.study/courses/

@David-fd9cr Ай бұрын

Nice job! You do a great job expressing the issues in an easy to understand way.

@David-fd9cr Ай бұрын

On the issue of invasives, some locations are more sensitive than others. In Hawaii, invasive species are running over the native ecosystem and destroying watersheds and poisoning ungulates.

@rossbrimmer5895 26 күн бұрын

@StefanSobkowiak yeah it's just tough, between high winds high soil ph, low moisture around 10 to 15 inches a year. Than you add in the cold where you can get down to 60 below zero in some of the worst years it just makes it tough that's also why I have livestock as well.

@gryphonrampant1 Ай бұрын

I have a baby black locust tree that popped up in the deepest part of my corn patch. I'll have to stop by and thank it for doing such good work.

@tammiedyer3225 Ай бұрын

Yes. Just don’t give it a hug or shake a branch. Lol

@slaplapdog 29 күн бұрын

Transplant it immediately or be prepared to live with it where it is 😊

@scotth9828 26 күн бұрын

Thank the Lord who gave you the tree, not the tree.

@doloresreynolds8145 14 күн бұрын

@@scotth9828. Mother Nature provided the tree.

@paulus.tarsensus Ай бұрын

I am so glad you brought Red Bud ( Cercis canadensis ) to the conversation. For years, I've seen my trees produce copious vegetation, which I use for compost and mulch, so I always believed their were nitrogen-fixing like other legumes. Many 'experts' say they don't fix nitrogen, but I do not see how they could produce such amazing vegetal growth and improve soil otherwise.

@melaniemckenzie9282 Ай бұрын

I have just planted redbud this year..so stoked to see your comment..I must learn more about this tree..I am in the southeast UK..thanks for sharing

@lorrainegatanianhits8331 Ай бұрын

Ailanthus altissima, Paulownia tomentosa and many others don't fix nitrogen and grow even more foliage. So a nitrogen-fixing symbiont is not a necessity for good growth.

@paulus.tarsensus Ай бұрын

@@lorrainegatanianhits8331 Paulownia do fix nitrogen. Ailanthus is a weird one. It has been noted that it has the capacity to 'enable' neighbouring leguminous trees ( such as Black Locust ) to fix even more nitrogen and benefit from this. I'm not really sure how this works, but the data is still being crunched on this one. Ailanthus were originally native to North America, but died out after having become established in Eurasia at a later date. Now that it has been reintroduced to North America, it is an exceptionally rank grower and is mostly known as an invasive weed tree. It grows more vigorously here than in Eurasia.

@slaplapdog 29 күн бұрын

If it makes lots of biomass, it can increase your souls fertility. Hardly matters if it fixes nitrogen. I love mulberry because they can be cut back over and over and still come back, they have no thorns and their wood is almost as durable as black locust.

@bbtruth2161 Ай бұрын

I'm fortunate to have a lot of those trees and shrubs as native to my property. I have added some redbud to my orchards for both reasons. My native honey locusts have the most wicked thorns you have ever seen. 2 inches or longer and tough. Had a few go through the sole of my boots. My grass and weeds grow fast and I let them go a bit long. Makes for good green manure and food for pollinators. Will have to check out that next video as I'm a couple years into grape vines and kiwis. They really took off this year. Now time to propagate some more. As usual sir, great info, thanks so much.

@MeanOldLady Ай бұрын

Fortunately the honey locusts where I'm at don't have those wicked, tire-busting thorns like the black locusts. ^^;

@robertdouglas8895 Ай бұрын

They also flatten tractor tires. My dad spent many hours taking them out of our woods.

@bbtruth2161 Ай бұрын

@@robertdouglas8895 have 12 ply tires on mine, no worries. Thankfully I don't have many, but may grow out a few to transplant out on land boundaries. Mix them in on some windbreak plantings.

@angelofamillionyears4599 Ай бұрын

Please post a list of the 20 best nitrogen trees and shrubs.

@lorrainegatanianhits8331 Ай бұрын

All plants help in fixing nitrogen. Most nitrogen fixation is done by soil-dwelling bacteria that don't have any specific symbiosis with any plant. In other words, nitrogen fixing trees and shrubs are not a necessity.

@angelofamillionyears4599 Ай бұрын

@@lorrainegatanianhits8331 Also , rocks are good since they leach minerals into the soil.

@gamesong6600 29 күн бұрын

@@lorrainegatanianhits8331what about legumes?

@simonopen2816 29 күн бұрын

Alder (black alder) is my favorite

@LaineyBug2020 17 күн бұрын

From a simple Google search for nitrogen fixing trees and shrubs: Some nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs native to North America include: Black locust A tree that can grow up to 170 ft tall and is native to North America. It's a great soil improver and can grow in places where others can't. However, it can be thorny. Red alder A tree that's common in the Pacific Northwest. Ceanothus A shrub that's common in the Pacific Northwest, including deerbrush and snowbrush. Lupine A fast-growing perennial shrub with silvery leaves. There are several types of lupine, including silver, tree, miniature, wild, and riverbank. Siberian peashrub A deciduous shrub that can grow up to 10 ft tall and 10 ft wide. It's native to Central Asia and can fit well in orchards. Bayberry A semi-evergreen shrub that can grow up to 5-6 ft tall. It's related to wax myrtle and can create colonies via suckering. Other nitrogen-fixing plants include: Speckled alder Leadplant Groundnut Canada milk vetch New Jersey tea Purple prairie clover Showy tick trefoil Round-headed bush clover Wild senna

@Warrior-In-the-Garden Ай бұрын

Great points I was wondering why a new cherry tree was growing so fast. I realized there's a shagbark hickory nearby. Found it too is a nitrogen fixer. Will have to cut it every yr but a hickory bush might not be a bad thing. 😂

@Psa141 Ай бұрын

Love your talks on the permaculture orchard. Close to our zone. We have sandy soil, a small property that receives daily am mist, and alders naturally here. So good the dark soil. Have followed some of your knowledge, Thank you Mr. Stefan Sobkowiak. Wonderful blessings parallel sowing, never comes back void.

@jamesreid8638 Ай бұрын

Black locust, yellow locust, yellow locust, and American Redbud are all good nitrogen-fixers, and the redbud has beautiful flowers which make great jelly in the, Spring, when few other fruits are yet avalable.

@Cobbmtngirl Ай бұрын

We have native redbud on our property & it is popping up everywhere. I never heard of making jelly with the flowers. They are excellent raw. Native American candy❤

@terryallaway5881 24 күн бұрын

Black Locust can quicly get out of hand here (8 feet in a few months!), so I just keep them pollarded and always have a lot of mulch, same with alders, which are continually planted by the surrounding forest. The locust thorns are not as much as a problem on the soft new growth. The goumis also grow strongly and even provide income from the great fruit. Always good to research general nitrogen fixing shrubs and trees, plant some and see what grows for you. Stefan got me started with this idea of planning space for them when installing my current permaculture orchard, but I was also able to stick other N fixing plants around the established trees with good effect. Many and continual Thanks, Stefan!

@julie-annepineau4022 Ай бұрын

Alders ring my property, they are weedy here. I also find the outer branches fall over and rot quickly. They are supposed to be one of the best wood chips for growing mushrooms. Have you heard of Bayberry? It is a native in Acadian regions. Waist high shrub, produces a berry that is highly prized as winter bird feed, and can be boiled to produce wax for candles.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Yes if they both grow wild nearby USE them.

@andrewsackville-west1609 22 күн бұрын

We have abundant red alder. Dig the soil under a mature alder. So rich! Easy to grow. Seems to tolerate proper hedge laying (so far), and might coppice nicely. All that together, makes me think they're way more valuable than people expect. I'm getting ready to experiment with it as a sacrificial pioneer canopy over young fruit trees. I can cut them back over time to expose the growing fruit trees and shrubs, ultimately sacrificing them completely, into mulch, as a succession strategy. As long as the blackberries can be kept in check ...

@DancingTreetopsFamilyFarm Ай бұрын

Thank you for shouting this from the "mountain top." 🌱 ❤️

@philipdelasson3532 Ай бұрын

Huge fan of your videos. Applying it on my own property. But please consider cutting back on the Stock video clips. I really liked your earlier style without all the interrutions. Now I kinda feel Im getting that tik Tok Vibe instead of the calming flow it used to have. Greetings from Denmark

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Noted!

@johnberry1107 Ай бұрын

WOW! It is fun to watch this fellow. The passion almost overcomes the fanciful thinking. Stay safe.

@findolinfly Күн бұрын

Almost all your suggestions are different types of (Elaeagnaceae). If you like these plant family so much, maybe a video about the similarities and differences of all of them would be good

@Sandwichking-hikes Ай бұрын

I have red clay which is high in minerals but lacks any nitrogen. Sweet gum and autumn olive can take over my landscape because of their ability to fix nitrogen. I am often battlin the sweet gums taking over

@SylviaDevonport Ай бұрын

In NZ the native Kowhai and Kakabeak, tree lucerne all easy to grow from seed and birds love them

@lordcommandersnow1625 Ай бұрын

try planting "newjersey tea shrubs" its a NATIVE shrub that fixes the nitrogen in the soil.

@matthewcain2880 Ай бұрын

Love the video and info, suggestion: cut your video time in half.

@allangaus9761 Ай бұрын

So inspired by all your thoughtful videos. Thanks for all the love and enthusiasm you put into them. Hoping to build up to start my own orchard here in Pennsylvania! Sending good vibes :)

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Go for it! Just start.

@naijacreditcards Ай бұрын

I store my urine in a large gallon for 3 months. Boil it to 90 degree centigrade and allow to cool. I dilute 1 litre urine with 5 litres water and spray on the base and root of my plant or trees that is free Nitrogen that is organic. 50 litres of urine can fertilize a plot of 200 metres by 200 metres. You can do that once every 2 month. It is free Nitrogen. There is also small amount of potassium and phosphorus in it. Boiling to 90 degree centigrade will kill all pathogens in the urine. Ensure you don't take medicine or drug 48 hours before urinating. We don't want and drugs or medicine to interfer with our organic fertilizer. You can add other potassium and phosphorus to boost your yield.

@benjam0 Ай бұрын

Your house must smell interesting.

@paulmd2208 Ай бұрын

Yes, how do you deal with the smell?

@amontodd6483 Ай бұрын

50 liters of urine wont even make much of a difference on 10x10 meters. It wont do anything on 200x200. where did you get that nonsense calculation?

@vlogsohard Ай бұрын

there is absolutely no reason to boil it. that is completely unhinged

@cindyspiess9963 27 күн бұрын

😳🤔

@adequatedrainage6380 Ай бұрын

Seaberries remind me of citrus fruit on a small scale. They are rich in vitamin c & e. Citrus like fruit that can be grown outdoors in Canada (max zone 3 - perhaps 2). But can be tricky to pick especially if the variety is thorny.

@angelofamillionyears4599 Ай бұрын

Please partner with the arbor day foundation and ask them to sell these trees. thanks

@MeanOldLady Ай бұрын

I love thornless honey locusts as shade trees around the house. They don't bother anyone & the leaflets blow away in the fall so you don't have to clean up mess. We've also got a redbud tree right off our patio that's humming with bees every spring. You can also make a delicate jam from the red buds in the spring.

@stianbogevik3805 Ай бұрын

I have a Sea buckthorn / Sea berry that is self fertilizing, it does have thorns however! It does not die back in western Norway, but I basically live right by the coastline north of Bergen. I planted one between two sweet cherries this year :) I've also made tons of air grafts to clone my trees! I've got a lot of peaches and apricot trees grown from seed that I hope will turn out well too :)

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Wow, the Gulf Stream always amazes me how far North you can grow what we can't grow at 45 North.

@OWK000 18 күн бұрын

Urine is approximately 11-1-2 NPK. Nitrogen is the easiest free thing to get! That much nitrogen can become problematic: you need some more P and K. I have started cooking homemade bone meal slurry with the Instant Pot and my 600 watt blender. Best tomatoes ever this year.

@nocapitals9833 Ай бұрын

i was thinking of trying pigeon pea

@motherhubbard6468 Ай бұрын

My husband and I bought a derelict property in the 1990’s. Can’t tell you how many times he had to fix the tractor tires due to the thorned honey locus.❤

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Absolutely, thornless all the way.

@Mulberry792 Ай бұрын

I had a black locust that I cut down because it was growing at a 45 degree angle. 1 year later, dozens of new trees popped up from the roots. I have never seen such fast growing trees! 6 feet of growth in 1 year. I am very interested to see how they impact the surrounding vegetation.

@CMZneu Ай бұрын

Half of the plants he mentions "How well does it fix nitrogen? ... not sure" lol

@Ded-Ede 17 күн бұрын

1:55 I use my own urine. Sometimes dilated. The lease amount of work and expensive is what I use.

@simonopen2816 29 күн бұрын

Black alder is one of my favorites (cause it grows naturally here, and really quick too), but i'm pretty sure chestnut and sycamore would be awesome as well

@MariaGonzalez-qk4tr Ай бұрын

Thank you for this great video! The treasure for me inside this video is to find out which are the Native species where I live, because they will be much easier for growing and get the results the soil needs; customized list for my place🤩🙏✨

@theleefamily6446 Ай бұрын

What about a Mimosa? I have a volunteer in my garden and I've left it because I love the tree, but also wondered since it is a legume. It is only about 1 foot tall now, but I know they are prolific growers.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Great choice, it’s outside our climate zone.

@lifeunderthemic Ай бұрын

Julius Hensel wrote BREAD FROM STONES. It along with his life lessons and wisdom are still used today and show their value in depleted plants. He was at the forefront of opposition for Big Fuel that had influenced the industrial farmers through their nitrogen rich fertilizers. It is disgusting how our lands and waters as well as bodies and minds have been poisoned over time as we are born onto this modern failures of repetition.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Great book.

@dncviorel Ай бұрын

I need some help, Stefan. I have a ton of black locust trees that grow everywhere in my orchard. The more I cut them from the ground, the more they show up next year. How would you recommend dealing with them? I've noticed the thorns are not that large when they're young, I'm fine with that, my soil is poor, so now, that I've learned they improve soil I wouldn't want them out for good. I was thinking of using glyphosate first, but I don't like fighting nature. How should I integrate them in a permaculture approach? Kindly thank you for reading!

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Depends what you want long term. They are preparing the way (you said poor soil) for other tree species to come in. Definitely not the glyphosate route. You can determine where you want to access and just keep them out of those access routes.

@MogiMann Ай бұрын

This is awesome, thank you!

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

You're very welcome!

@centsless1539 Ай бұрын

Have you tried goumi berries? I found a bunch growing under oak trees and I am thinking about moving some in the garden with the other fruit trees

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Just tried some first time this year, will grow more. Very good.

@SalendroShoibam Ай бұрын

Most of leguminaceae family plants can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. They can restore and reclaim the fertility of the soil.

@madeleinesheldon-dante4906 26 күн бұрын

I have watched so many of your videos and learned a ton from you. Thank you for all that you've taught me. However, I wish you would please reconsider encouraging hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe to plant invasive species. These plants may be great on your farm, but when the birds eat the berries and spread them into wilderness that no one is maintaining, these plants are an ecological disaster. Where I live for instance, the autumn olives have taken over acres of my property. I've never seen a hole in the leaf of an Autumn Olive here. The insects here simply can't eat them. These types of plants are the perfect invaders because deer and rabbits won't eat them, birds love to spread their berries for miles around, and they can shade and outcompete every native plant because of their nitrogen fixing abilities. Outcompeting the native plants means no host plants for native insects. Fewer native insects means fewer native amphibians. The effects of these invasive nitrogen fixers displacing native plants ripples throughout the ecosystem, driving native plants and animals extinct. There are so many native nitrogen fixers for every climate, please encourage your viewers to focus on planting nitrogen fixers that are native to their region. Or direct them towards male nitrogen fixers that don't produce seeds without a female companion. People may think they're doing a good thing by using less chemical fertilizers, when in fact they may be having devastating unintended consequences for wilderness areas near their farm.

@SheilaMink-c2t 26 күн бұрын

Thank you for the wonderful video. I hope everyone is having a great day. Sheila Mink in New Mexico

@StefanSobkowiak 26 күн бұрын

You are so welcome!

@MrToad-actual Ай бұрын

Thank you, Stefan. I planted eastern redbuds in my trio’s for the beautiful blossoms and I have lots of black locusts on the property. Question: Any recommendations on where to buy Somerset grape vines from? Thanks.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Just look up fruit nurseries or grape nurseries

@rossbrimmer5895 Ай бұрын

Yep notheast wyoming is definitely a tough area to grown things with our high ph lay lol im getting ready to try planting buffalo berry. Our soil hear in wyoming is in general poor soil.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Good luck! There is usually some native plant that works well in every area.

@joseedoucet879 Ай бұрын

Merci pour cette vidéo! La question qui me vient quand j'entends parler des fixateurs d'azote, c'est la portée de leur action. A quelle distance ils agissent. Cela aiderait à planifier leur disposition dans le verger. Merci d'avance pour votre réponse.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Environ la hauteur de l’arbre est la distance des racines.

@joseedoucet879 Ай бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak merci beaucoup 😊

@tinabogucky2662 Ай бұрын

Loving your educational videos! Learning lots. Off topic, but I'm curious what the wire we see among the trees is? For grapes, or training branches? Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge!

@StefanSobkowiak 28 күн бұрын

Wire overhead for overhead sprays of whey and for frost protection, low wires hold old drip irrigation system. Random wires short are used for branch training.

@sjr7822 Ай бұрын

JUst what I need more brush on the property.

@patkonelectric Ай бұрын

From what understand. Nitrogen fix plants store the nitrogen in their rots and take it back up to produce flowers and fruit. So there is no gain unless you stop the plant from flowering and fruiting. Im I wrong about this?

@nocapitals9833 Ай бұрын

Nitrogen-fixing plants, such as legumes (e.g., beans, peas, clovers), have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria (Rhizobium) that live in nodules on their roots. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which the plant can use to synthesize amino acids and other nitrogen-containing compounds. When the plant dies, the nitrogen stored in its tissues becomes available for other plants as the plant decomposes. However, nitrogen-fixing plants can also benefit the soil and other plants in several ways before they die: Root nodules release excess nitrogen: As the bacteria in the root nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, some of this nitrogen is released into the soil, where it can be taken up by other plants. This process is called "nitrogen fixation." Plant tissues release nitrogen: As the plant grows, it sheds leaves, twigs, and other tissues that contain nitrogen. These tissues decompose and release nitrogen into the soil, making it available for other plants. Rhizodeposition: The roots of nitrogen-fixing plants release organic compounds (e.g., sugars, amino acids) into the soil through a process called rhizodeposition. These compounds support the growth of beneficial soil microorganisms, which can improve soil health and fertility. Soil structure improvement: The root systems of nitrogen-fixing plants help improve soil structure by creating channels and pores, which can enhance water infiltration, aeration, and nutrient cycling. By planting nitrogen-fixing trees and other plants, you can improve soil fertility and support the growth of other plants in your garden or ecosystem. While it's true that the full benefit of nitrogen fixation occurs when the plant dies, the other benefits mentioned above can be realized throughout the plant's life cycle.

@mrdeanvincent Ай бұрын

Don't stop the plant from flowering or fruiting... just allow the flowers and fruits to return to the soil.

@garrybrischke53 Ай бұрын

Pruning the plant each year will initiate a release of N . Use the pruning for mulch to return nutrients to the soil and assist in storing soil moisture while maintaining soil temperature. 🇦🇺

@amontodd6483 Ай бұрын

You are basically right. This video is mostly asinine. Nitrogen is the biggest boon to humanity ever created and harnessed. People used to toil on the soil for a meager 10bu/acre of wheat lol. The internet has gone cuckoo.

@lorrainegatanianhits8331 Ай бұрын

@@amontodd6483true. Not just the internet tho, many academics have lost it. Also, I would say that anthropogenic deposition of N is the single greatest thing humans have done, not just for themselves, but also for the entire biosphere.

@coryart Ай бұрын

Google says that Rooibos tea plant is also a Nitrogen Fixer.

@karenessauthor Ай бұрын

Can't be grown except in Western Cape. People all over the world have tried.

@coryart Ай бұрын

@@karenessauthor My future Dream includes multiple greenhouses with varying microclimates.... so, challenge accepted (in the future lol)

@andresbranger1 Ай бұрын

Hello, we live in Vermont, US and 5 years ago planted 3 types of apple trees, honey delicious, granny smith and Macintosh red. We have only gotten 2-3 apples per tree since a couple of years ago. We were considering fertilizing next spring plus some serious pruning. Any suggestions you can provide to increase production are very much appreciated. Regular viewer of your vlog, thanks for all the tips!

@StefanSobkowiak 25 күн бұрын

Did they bloom? If so did you have a late frost? Otherwise it seems like they may be in the shade. Otherwise a renewal pruning should help.

@yoyoschmo1 18 күн бұрын

Great video! And its regimen, not regime

@StefanSobkowiak 15 күн бұрын

Sorry my French peeking through

@silenteye989 Ай бұрын

Moringa tree shrub?

@vlogsohard Ай бұрын

moringa is not a nitrogen fixer. but it is a great plant for poor soils

@BigRatfink13 Ай бұрын

I've got a few questions. Very interesting. How big an area versus hight will the tree/ bush fix nitrogen? I'm assuming it's the roots doing the work. Sunlight is an important consideration when planting, how do you balance the trees light needs with my tomatoes light needs? My salad stuff may welcome the summer shade, but these are questions I need to consider.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

You can change the amount of sun by pruning the tree, even pruning them hard. The effect is about equal to the height of the tree in distance.

@gliceriacastillo6299 Ай бұрын

All true and informative... watching from glecious tv your new friend

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Thanks for commenting and enjoying.

@CITYBORNDESERTBRED Ай бұрын

Those Russian Olive thorns though 😤

@MahendraS-mm6hj Ай бұрын

Build cheap soil test kit. What's less and what's high elements in the soil then balance with nutrition u want in the human body or animal body

@iamthewelcher Ай бұрын

Thank you! I have a Big black locust, and it seems as though the cold hardy kiwi planted at its base, doesn't like it... It appears to not want to touch it... Any ideas, similar experience?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

I'm not sure we planted any on the black locust, I think we only used grape. Good observation. Worth trying again.

@kreggdanuser2963 Ай бұрын

Thanks Stefan What about using clovers ?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Go for it, but you may need to renew it every 3-5 years.

@bartroberts1514 Ай бұрын

Terra preta -- adding biochar mixed with compost tea up to 25% of total soil volume, up to three meters deep -- augments nitrogen fixing, soil fertility, and water management. Give it a shot. Also, consider Miyawaki forest methods with these nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

3m deep!! How do you do that?

@bartroberts1514 Ай бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak That is an awesome question! There are plenty who do it to the normal depth of SOCs, eight inches or so, maybe a bit deeper in raised beds, and they get decent results. What was found in the Amazon, black earth "do Indio", went down much farther, going back 2500 years and still active and fertile. The first people to do it did it a fraction of an inch a season on average, for five hundred years. They'd do 'cultural burnings' and then stomp the charcoal down into the dirt with their feet, the way people stomp wine, is the archeologists' best guess. But then, in those days people were more patient, I suppose. The way I've seen it happen in person was by accident, when a city buried the charred trunks of a patch burned down by wildfire in the 1950's. Thirty years later, the whole two acre area could not be flooded no matter how much it rained, and the meadow above it never went brown in the hottest, driest summer. Productive and fertile, without any treatment at all. I don't expect many would bury a forest and wait thirty years. My hope is, if you have an earth mover, a trencher only needs a few inches wide by 9-10' deep every so often the width of a field: fill the trench with terra preta and nature will take care of mixing it into neighboring soils by diffusion over time. This is not much different from putting in subsoil water retention trenches (biochar is hydrophobic, so terra preta acts like drainage tiles), and kills two birds with one stone if you have seasonal drought or flood issues, with proper design. Of course, that's a huge volume of biochar to make with cone fires or steel drum airless burners. Do it enough years over time, shifting the trench over a few feet each time, or cross-hatching with cuts at 90 degrees to the original, and in a generation, who knows? One day, when I'm ambitious enough, I hope to try it as a project.

@StefanSobkowiak 27 күн бұрын

@@bartroberts1514 great observations and intuition. I was thinking of using a post hole digger instead of a trench, since I would need far less biochar to start.

@bartroberts1514 27 күн бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak Post hole digger is a good way to go, too. Having worked my way through summers as a gravedigger, I am well familiar with how much diffusion can mix soil below ground. I'd also thought of the potential of horizontal drilling techniques, such as used to install underground cables and pipes. That, after all, is the goal of terra preta: an underground pipe of water permeable nutrient base that creates drainage, storage and filtration while hosting nitrate-fostering microbes. I have no idea if these speculations will work, really, other than the way the pre-Columbians did it thousands of years ago. But it seems worth investing, if it can replace synthetic fertilizer, in research.

@icefire20001 Ай бұрын

I've read that nitrogen-fixing plants do not release their nitrogen into the soil until their roots die back. In the case of these trees, that would mean them having to die before you get the benefit of their nitrogen. Am I missing something? I don't want to wait for decades to add nitrogen into the soil. Clover is a better nitrogen fixer on the timescales we want, since its roots die back partially every year, or every week if you mow it weekly.

@MogiMann Ай бұрын

A hard prune or pollard cut will encourage the tree/shrub to self prune roots, which will release nitrogen into the soil. Geoff Lawton suggests doing your chop and dropping (pruning) when the moisture in the environment is over evaporation, aka wet seasons or rains. Hope this helps!

@Bob-w2b8j Ай бұрын

I heard the same. I don't think the plant needs to die though, but it should be a plant that stands up well to repeated pollarding or coppicing, which supposedly kills off some of the roots and as those decay, it slowly leaches off nitrogen into the surrounding soil

@karensmith4336 Ай бұрын

Plants will share their resources while living. Most people are not aware of this, I'm not sure if it's 'new' discovery or if the information is kept quiet to help sales of fertilizer.

@theleefamily6446 Ай бұрын

False indigo is also a nitrogen fixer. I opted for clover and false indigo because I have a smaller space. I also wondered about licorice, because it too is a legume.

@artflores2552 Ай бұрын

Fungi spread everything everywhere…

@KateMedland 25 күн бұрын

How large an area does a tree or shrub impact with fixing nitrogen?

@StefanSobkowiak 25 күн бұрын

About the height of the tree.

@KateMedland 25 күн бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak thank you!

@afishl1 Ай бұрын

What about potassium and phosphorus fixers?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

For those elements it’s more like concentrators since they are not in the air.

@shaagarey469 Ай бұрын

Is a moringa tree, nitrogen fixing?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

I think so, anyone have it?

@artflores2552 Ай бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak I do, cut & drop to harvest nitrogen…rareseeds has the dwarf variety, best for between trees…

@DanlowMusic Ай бұрын

David The Good uses them.

@vlogsohard Ай бұрын

@shaagarey469 @stefansobkowiak moringa does not fix nitrogen. it's related to brassicas and papayas. has nothing to do with legumes, just looks slightly similar to some leguminous trees. it is used as a "dynamic accumulator" and tolerates poor soil, but that doesn't make it a nitrogen fixer

@melusine826 29 күн бұрын

Looking for Australian native nitrogen fixers

@StefanSobkowiak 29 күн бұрын

Just try those exact words in a search.

@current9455 Ай бұрын

Autum olives THORNY Spread like wildfire every open area outcompete Native plants Scourge of homesteads

@utubemouse Ай бұрын

Great compost and free fruit!

@joweb1320 29 күн бұрын

Tithonia Diversifolia rocks!!!

@BigRatfink13 Ай бұрын

May I ask, in what region do you live?. I'm in upper Michigan.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Similar climate, in Southern Quebec USDA zone 4

@jardoa Ай бұрын

Black Locus is toxic to another trees (except grapes) and can be in some amount also to human. Its true that its also great nitrogen fixer mainly in dry areas. However this should have been also mentioned :)

@gaborhovan3530 Ай бұрын

It is not toxic to all plants. Many planta are growing faster, if there is black locust close to it. We have more black locust trees in Hungary, than the rest of Europe together. The biggest problem, that it is invasive. 30% of all trees in Hungary are black locust.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Which trees are affected?

@JerzeyGardenZ 26 күн бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak maybe he means black walnut?

@jardoa 25 күн бұрын

@@JerzeyGardenZ yes, my mistake, sorry for that. Btw @StefanSobkowiak I like this channel. Nice to spread out a lot of yours experience.

@johnskillen6208 Ай бұрын

question sir... what mushroom would you try in a orchard

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Am growing morels and Giant puffballs, would like to add giant garden mushrooms (stropharia) and shiitakes on logs. Really depends on your soil, if you are not using fungicides the best suited ones to your soil will begin to appear but some can be inoculated.

@johnskillen6208 Ай бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak sir you are awesome. we are very rich, as in cow manure mixed deep . thank you so very much

@djmoulton1558 Ай бұрын

My understanding of nitrogen-fixing plants is that they don't give up their nitrogen to other plants until they die. How does planting these trees do any good for the soil if you have to wait decades for them to die?

@nocapitals9833 Ай бұрын

@djmoulton1558 Ай бұрын

@@nocapitals9833 "Root nodules release excess nitrogen" - This part I hadn't heard of before, that they leak nitrogen into the soil while they're still alive.

@vlogsohard Ай бұрын

annual and perennial plants drop leaves as they grow, not just when they die. leaves are incredibly rich in protein (and therefore nitrogen). have you heard of chop and drop?

@djmoulton1558 Ай бұрын

@@vlogsohard Yes, of course, but that refers to organic materials left on the surface, not to fixed nitrogen released beneath the surface.

@vlogsohard Ай бұрын

@@djmoulton1558 the best way to feed the soil is from above. when you learn to plant trees, you learn to top dress with fertilizer and mulch, not mix it into the planting hole. this is how plants get most of their fertility in natural systems, and that's what we imitate. this is why plants grow most of their feeder roots in the top few inches of soil. starting with nutrients above the soil allows them the most chance to get absorbed by the roots, rather than washing out and polluting the oceans. nutrients belong on top of the soil. most of the nitrogen is going to be absorbed by the plant that associates with the nitrogen fixer, and that's a good thing. leaves are a top-tier fertilizer, and the main fertilizer used by nature.

@ripmad Ай бұрын

Caragana is listed as toxic to microorganisms on u of t site. I was thinking of planting this but reconsidering.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

@gabrielgx117 Ай бұрын

question. can you interplant these into an already existing forest or would it destabilize the ecosystem or something? Im planning my own forest.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Usually the nitrogen fixing trees are soil improvers, preparing the way for forest trees. Once the forest is established there are far fewer N fixing trees needed.

@gabrielgx117 Ай бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak another question. Would you know how the nitrogen behaves under the ground? As in, would it flow downhill below the tree or is it in a stable form only usable to the plants directly around it. I saw in another video. A gentleman had a large seabuckthron in a pasture. He chopped it down and everything downhill from the tree kept growing that summer. Grass would grow 1 or 2 feet a week.

@StefanSobkowiak 19 күн бұрын

Good question I don’t know, I thought it would stay put.

@ipopo4320 Ай бұрын

Best seaberry cultivar?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

The Ukrainian selections because they are thornless. Don't know their names offhand.

@brucejensen3081 Ай бұрын

You sort of do need the legumes to provide the material and matter without decreasing soil nitrogen levels then grow big rooted plants to take the nitrogen carbon from the material matter and put it into the soil

@timbushell8640 Ай бұрын

Carbon/nitrogen... cyanide you mean? : )))

@TheRooflesstoofless Ай бұрын

12:44 how far away is your goumi from your apple?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

About 10'

@AlleyCat-1 21 күн бұрын

I hate Russian Olive Tree's, they spread everywhere, but my livestock loves them & they do come back, even if you cut them down to the ground. They will shred a horse in a heartbeat. Honey Locust is another one i despise. It spreads by roots & seed, i have the thorn variety. I didn't know about some of the other's, so that's good to know.

@StefanSobkowiak 19 күн бұрын

Try adding some seeds from thornless HL, the animals love the leaves and no thorns.

@n0sr3t3p Ай бұрын

no autumn olive, extremely invasive, prohibited in most states.

@timbushell8640 Ай бұрын

... land of the free... odd that, but that isn't even the entire reach of KZbin.

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

I think I pointed it out, ours freeze back to the snow level every few years so it’s self pruning.

@n0sr3t3p Ай бұрын

@@timbushell8640 read your deed.

@n0sr3t3p Ай бұрын

@@StefanSobkowiak you did.

@mariap.894 Ай бұрын

Is there anything that could be done to combat Asian Jumping Worms in perma culture?❤ Thanks in advance 💖

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

No experience with them.

@devinsullivan7233 Ай бұрын

I love this guy and have been watching his channel for years. But I have yet to see the actual abundance of fruit on his trees. Is there any videos of harvest or actual fruit?

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Last falls walk was during a record abundance (look for september or october videos).

@Toronado2 Ай бұрын

Hey Stefan, How do you get the Nitrogen in the soil from these trees to the trees in your orchard?

@timbushell8640 Ай бұрын

The soil life and the tree roots act as transport. In the UK a friend on heavy clay soil planted two cherry tree saplings, one a meter or so from a mixed hedge, the other 5 or 6m away. The nearer one is now 5 times as tall. 'Competition' isn't so harsh as we might think...

@Toronado2 Ай бұрын

@@timbushell8640 Most of those trees are Taller than the Fruit trees especially when the fruit trees are young. And in His orchard he won't be able to plant Large trees that will take up all that space and still maintain an orchard. And these trees will also compete for nutrients in the soil along with root space. Your answer is overly simplistic and not really addressing my issue.

@karensmith4336 Ай бұрын

@@Toronado2 Most orchard trees are pruned to desired shortness. Being a short person myself, I have bonsai in mind.

@Toronado2 Ай бұрын

@karensmith4336 Yeah well how do you think a Short fruit tree will do next to a 100' locust tree ? And how much space will you lose if you start planting these Huge trees in your orchard?

@karensmith4336 Ай бұрын

@Toronado2 That depends entirely on how big of an area you have and what shape it is as well as what planting zone you're in. Keep in mind, you are not required to have at least one of each of these trees. These are suggestions for what you might want to choose from. Stefan is not going to be standing behind you with a bull whip watching to see if you make a 'wrong' decision. You may pick and choose. You don't even have to pick any of these.

@cg1tube Ай бұрын

Is there a scientific study of how much nitrogen the different trees put in? I just see that a lot of the talk is vague

@StefanSobkowiak 29 күн бұрын

There are a few (at least one), I never looked up how they measured it.

@jacobroos9933 Ай бұрын

Autumn Olive may fix nitrogen, but it also has allelopathic chemicals. Don't plant it.

@frankenz66 23 күн бұрын

I just plant clovers around my fruiting plants.

@janvanaardt3773 Ай бұрын

Lucaena good

@brucejensen3081 Ай бұрын

Just learnt nitrogen is a worse greenhouse gas than methane. Even with the synthetic nitrogen added agricultural land has 40% less nitrogen in the soil than it once had. Why is this covered up

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

That is the question. It’s not covered up when you look at regenerative ag sites/ videos.

@midwestribeye7820 Ай бұрын

Maybe money is being made???

@m.j.debruin3041 Ай бұрын

The air is 78% nitrogen. On a cloudless night it can freeze. Don't believe stupid claims, use your brain.

@Songer80 Ай бұрын

Just googled it nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas. Nitrogen containing compounds can be but nitrogen gas isn't.

@brucejensen3081 Ай бұрын

@@Songer80 as nitrous oxide it is.

@pau1more1 Ай бұрын

You left out my favorite: ceanothus

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

We have one on test, seems to need more humidity than we have.

@mcgritty8842 Ай бұрын

Wouldn’t it waste more time waiting for a tree to grow than it would to use fertilizer? 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@GeorgymonF Ай бұрын

Theres shrubs too that grow faster. You can even use comfrey which is basically a weed that is nitrogen fixating and has a deep taproot (be careful because the taproot is so deep you will never be able to get rid of it) just chop and drop it around your plants and it grows super fast

@StefanSobkowiak Ай бұрын

Absolutely easier. May as well use all the pesticides as well and get on the treadmill, a lot of farmers are on it, join them.

@hanfei6871 17 күн бұрын

Everything the invasives do, natives can do it too and do it 10 times better. If you live in temperate America, plant Vacciniums and if you live in hot America you can plant Faboideaes instead. No offence to permaculture folks but y'all need to step up the stewardship game and respect the ecological context of your land.

@AAHomeGardening Ай бұрын

i like using pigeon peas and other legumes

@JoshDanloor Ай бұрын

They cannot 100% replace fertilizers.

@ShinerBockGirlz Ай бұрын

Sure they can...they've been doing it for eons..

@JoshDanloor Ай бұрын

@@ShinerBockGirlz if you sell your fruits and vegetables, it means that they don't drop onto the soil and don't turn into nutrition for the soil, so that your soil becomes poorer and poorer. Stefan himself uses chicken tractors to fertilize his orchard.

@ShinerBockGirlz Ай бұрын

@@JoshDanloor I didn't realize he was eating his black locust trees. I shall ask my husband to plant some so we can have a tasty meal.

@karensmith4336 Ай бұрын

@@JoshDanloor And pruning.

@JoshDanloor Ай бұрын

@@ShinerBockGirlz nitrogen fixers are self-sufficient, but if you plant them hoping that they also totally replace the fertilizers you need to make fruits and vegetables, then you will have very bad surprises in the long term.