Urban Food Forest and Learning Garden

A couple years ago I was introduced to DMACC's beginning food forest and had the opportunity to share a little insight to help plan the next phases of the project.  Then towards the end of last year I heard the unfortunate news that the food forest was going to be removed for other plans, and if I knew of any non-profit groups that could use the fruit trees and other plants...

But earlier this year I got an email announcing that the food forest would be saved, and they could work with me for a completely new design in their great new location!

Time was of the essence as the existing trees needed to be moved, preferably while still dormant.  Several planning meetings took place to explore options, determine resources and make sure the new design fit the planned style of the new student center.

The space is a permaculture food forest, with multiple canopy layers, various crops and lower maintenance companion plantings.  But instead of designing around a home or acreage, it is designed as part of an education center.  The space is also home to an outdoor classroom, learning barn, natural playspace as well as different demonstration and conservation practices that can be replicated by businesses and residents.

Phase One of the installation was completed this Spring.  The existing fruit and nut trees and shrubs from the old food forest were moved and pruned for health.  A few trees had to be replaced, and a few new varieties were added as well.  Many new companion crops and supporting plants were planted in the understory.

 Students and faculty even had a volunteer day to help with the sheet mulching and spreading of wood chips.

Lastly the raised beds were built for the annual gardens, using upcycled garage door panels, reclaimed logs buried inside, and trimmed out with naturally weather-resistant cedar.

Summer growing photos!

Come visit the food forest on a guided tour this Tuesday!

DMACC Urban Food Forest Tours

Hosted by DMACC Sustainable Urban

Sep 24 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

1100 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314

https://www.facebook.com/events/528345851245175/

Labor Day Tree Sale

With warm soils and cool Fall days ahead, it is a perfect time to plant.  Most of our installation jobs for the season have trees accounted for and there are still plenty left.  So now is a perfect time for a

LABOR DAY TREE SALE!
Saturday August 31st through September 7th

All our trees have been selected for our growing zone, fruit quality and/or disease resistance!
These potted trees are ready to go in the ground.


Dwarf Apple Trees
  Gala on G-11 (3/8”+ caliper) was $25 now $20
        Honeycrisp/Firestorm™ on Bud 9 (1/2”+ caliper) was $35 now $30

Heritage Apple Espalier in West Des Moines

Popular varieties, great sized for 
smaller backyards or 
get creative with an 
Espalier or Belgian Fence

Many varieties on this Belgian Fence in Urbandale

SemiDwarf Apple Trees

        Enterprise™ on EMLA 7 (5/8”+ caliper) was $35 now $30

Very Disease-Resistant variety, with great fruit quality on a perfect backyard sized tree!

The Japanese beetles attacked with little mercy but the plums and cherries have leafed back out and are looking healthy.

Plum on hardy and adpatable Myrobolan rootstocks, these are good sized trees!

        Shiro (3/4"+ caliper) was $39 now $29

        Santa Rosa  (5/8"+ caliper) was $34 now $29

Cherry SAVE OVER 25%

        Ranier and Lapins available on Mazzard rootstock (1/2"+ caliper) was $39 now $29

        Sam cherries available on Mahaleb rootstock (1/2"+ caliper) was $39 now $29

Pear

        HarrowSweet on OHxF97 (3/8”+caliper) was $25 now $20

        Magness on OHxF97 (3/8”+caliper) was $25 now $20

Paw Paw was $15 now $12

Seedling Paw Paw trees need protection from the sun for the first couple years, but are more productive if they are grown in full sun.  What to do?
Our 2 1/2 year old potted seedlings are ready to plant now where ever you'd like them! 

These two have been in the ground for one year!

The tiny one in the foreground was planted earlier this year!

Also available are several other apple, peaches and pear varieties; wild plums and companion plants and shrubs.

Maybe you can even use the long weekend to get them planted.

Send us an email or give us a call to get your deal!

Urban Steward of the Year

I was thrilled to hear that I was the recipient of the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District's 2019 Urban Steward of the Year award!

Awards will be presented Wednesday, July 17th, at approximately 6:30pm in the 4-H building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds during the Polk County Fair.

A Regenerative Future Podcast

Several weeks ago I, along with Dr. Bery Engebretsen, had the pleasure to share some of our work on a popular podcast, A Regenerative Future with Matt Powers! 

Author and teacher Matt Powers, of The Permaculture Student, shares about Regenerative practices, community building & entrepreneurial topics, interviews and more.

Matt and I had been talking about it for some time and finally found a time we could all get together and discuss the Healing Garden at PHC's Eastside Clinic.

view the interview on YouTube also

Attend a Walk with a Doc at the garden!

Walks are held on the first and third Saturday of the month at 9 a.m.

Check out more of what Matt is working on, and sign up for one or some of his classes, at The Permaculture Student!

For all of Abundant Design's posts about Healing Gardens

CLICK HERE

Its been a busy Spring!
I'm looking forward to sharing about what else we've been working on!

Plant Swap Pop-in

Headed to the Walnut Creek Campus last weekend to demonstrate some more 🍎 tree grafting and help out Nine Square Feet. 

It was chilly, but at least the rain stopped 🌦🙂

Tree Grafting Workshop 2019

It's no secret, I'm CRAZY for apples!  Big ones, little ones, red ones, green ones, gold ones...

...and peaches, plums & pears HA HA HA!

Maybe you have a cherished memory of a treasured tree on Grandma and Grandpa's farm.  It was a favorite to climb and grab a juicy late summer treat; the pies she made with them were incredible.  But maybe that tree is old and in pretty rough shape now, or the entire homestead is going to be auctioned off next year.  Maybe the new owners will cut it down, or the whole place plowed under for a couple extra acres of corn and beans.

Wouldn't you like to share some of those apples with your children or even grandchildren?

You can do it by grafting!

Grafting a healthy piece of that tree onto a new young rootstock will allow you to keep producing those same apples for years to come.  You'll be able to share with your family and friends, not only the memories, but also the flavor of those apples, and maybe even the pies if Grandma shared her secret recipe!  Maybe you'll make several to share as heirloom trees for all the cousins and grandkids.

Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop

WHEN:  Saturday, April 13th 2019

10:00 am - 11:00 am

WHERE:  Cherry Glen Learning Farm
 3989 NW 94th Ave
 Polk City, IA 50226 (map)

If this sounds good, or even if you just want to acquire a new skill, you'll want to make plans to attend this workshop.  During the workshop you will learn how to graft trees and gain valuable hands on experience.

Each attendee will be able to graft three trees to take home.  Materials include three rootstocks, three pieces of scion wood, grafting tape and compound.  Follow the event page for updates, space and materials are limited.

Get all the updates on the 
Facebook Event page!

Select from popular or historic apple varieties, or bring scion from your favorite apple tree to preserve a variety that has personal significance to you. Each participant will graft 3 apple trees for $40 (class $10, materials fee of $30). If rootstock is leftover, you'll have the opportunity to graft additional trees for $10 each.
Class size is limited, so reserve your spot by emailing abundantdesign@hotmail.com.

I highly recommend you bring your own knife to the grafting workshop, and to have for future use. Tools to share will be provided, but if you want to use a knife you must use your own.  You can purchase one below, or I will have a couple to purchase..

Maybe you'll eventually try a triple graft for three varieties on one tree!  

Maybe even more!

Grafting tools, knives and supplies-
A utility knife will do in a pinch (even electrical tape and petroleum jelly can substitute for the tape and compound) but these are the real deal and should provide many future trees to be done.

This knife should last you years and years.  The tool probably won't be an heirloom for your grandkids like the knife, but it may speed up your process.

Go to my YouTube Channel for a review of the grafting tool!
While you're there, hit the SUBSCRIBE button!

Water Water Everywhere #1 - Runoff & Flooding

Spring rains are right around the corner, and with them usually comes flooding. We may even experience some before Spring officially arrives with the 'bomb cyclone'!

Rainwater is a great resource when timed right and in the right amounts, or stored for later use in rain barrels or in soil pore space.

Unfortunately too much at once can have devastating effects.  More people die in flooding than tornadoes, lightning or any other severe weather related causes.  Floods cause billions of dollars in damages annually.

30 Year Flood Loss Averages = $7.96 Billion in damages/year, 82 fatalities/year

What's worse is that rain intensity and duration are increasing, especially in the Midwest region.

Certain precipitation conditions on the basins also showed systematic temporal increases since the 1920s, including annual precipitation, number of seven-day heavy rain events, and the number of days with precipitation. This climatic shift to more multi-day periods of heavy rain appears to be the major reason that hydrologic flooding in the three states has increased since the 1920s. Analysis of the individual major hydrologic floods revealed five different types of precipitation conditions, including snow-melt situations that produced major floods. The primary cause of major floods was prolonged periods of four- to 13-day durations with intermittent moderate to heavy rains, and these events often included heavy, 15-centimeter rainstorms capable of producing flash floods. Causes for Record High Flood Losses in the Central United States

See also HEAVY RAINSTORMS IN CHICAGO: INCREASING FREQUENCY, ALTERED IMPACTS, AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS

Our recent land management and development practices are also contributing to flooding issues.

Reduction of soil organic matter, loss of wetlands and bare fields in Spring all slow infiltration and increase runoff.  Urban sprawl and the increase of impermeable surfaces i.e. rooftops and parking lots; even compacted lawns, also contribute to flood intensity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09k8gOSLO9k

Click HERE for a faster, but poorer sound quality video

A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of urbanization and climate variability on increasing flood peaks. Results indicated that, on average, urbanization caused a 34% greater increase in peak flows than climate variability. In addition, this study indicated that present discharges are, on average, at least 19% larger than regulatory discharges. Ongoing urbanization may cause flood peaks to become even higher. Impacts of Urbanization and Climate Variability on Floods in Northeastern Illinois

Watch for the next post in the series as we look at what this means for water quality.

#TurnAroundDontDrown

#SlowItSpreadItSinkIt

Water Water Everywhere #2