#swalecity in the #dirtyjerz (new jersey) filling up for the first time since we cleared an inordinate amount of juniper and dug the swales back in august (by hand). not 100% certain but probably more than 1000 linear feet of on contour swaling going to get planted in a few months time. post-columbus land history is similar to most of the bioregion: clear cut-->grains-->cows-->sheep-->country estate-->permanent residence aka super beat up and little to no topsoil in many areas (hugely notable difference in presence of topsoil where its been mowed consistently for the past 20+ years). interesting to think that despite their apparently inherent flawedness, lawnmowers seem to have been doing at least one good thing. Ben Falk discusses the usefulness of mowing in his book. also, weird how you can see that its on contour from only one angle. not too worried though because its obviously harvesting the rainwater. now... what to do with the juniper... would it be a fools errand to try to inoculate with chicken of the woods or phoenix oysters? I know they grow on spruce and fir but juniper? super aromatic wood which is worrisome... maybe we should try to sell it for lumber? dont really know anything about that. suggestions? hope this is inspiring to all the young folks out there! (Im 20... was 19 when we did this... took me and my buddy about two weeks to do all this with nothing but a few shovel, pick ax, handsaw and A-Frame level that we built from scrap wood... we were also wheelbarrowing compost from 500 or so yards away).
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 22:00:40 +0000
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