ben falk maple locust chestnut osage

7/25/2019 Ben Falk Maple Locust Chestnut Osage

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Ben Falk13 de mayo

Black locust and osage orange on 3' centers within an oak, chestnut, butternut, black walnut

overstory planted at 9' centers. Land use history of the site: wooly mammoth pasture for a fewhundred thousand years then a chestnut overstory of 120-150' with 90' maple in theunderstory and 180' white pines for about 5,000 years, then a sheep pasture for a about 35years, then cropped in hay for about 75 years then planted into a monoculture of red pine for60 years. Now replanted into a rapid topsoil forming carbon negativemegafauna#silvopasturelumberyard game park. #rewild#treecrops#reverseglobalwarming

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Matthew DavisWhat type of Chestnut? And why Osage Orange? Sometimes this "permaculture" stuff seems

like "let's just plant some shit and see what happens". Is there a method to planting these species together or

do you just need to keep your interns busy? Emoticn smile

Me gusta Responder 13 de mayo a las 21:16

Ben FalkAll species except the GMO c nut.

Me gusta Responder 1 13 de mayo a las 22:51

Jordan Finkit seems pretty straight-forward from Ben's descripion. He's planting a succession of species.

Some fast growing useful species mixed with a functional overstory


Ben FalkMatthew, Osage fertilizes the others by fixing nitrogen, forms a quick shade of the understory to

reduce grass pressure, offers some of the best craft wood in the world and has many other yields and

functions in the system. Similar to black locust.


Ben FalkWe also look to neighboring climate zones like the Appalachian forests where Osage has been for

awhile to assist in the migration of species which will help our forests be resilient in the face of shifting climate

patterns. We look to zone 6 and 3 as well.


Matthew DavisCool. It is amazing wood, no question there. I have only ever seen it south of PA. Is this a

pretty warm site? Where you getting the Chestnut? Would like to plant some here.


Ben FalkAll about how cold it gets in the winter, versus how warm it is of a site in terms of heat accretion. It'snot a particularly warm place but we've trailed it for a few years and in its first winter sruvied the historically

cold winter 2 winters ago. You should be planting Osage as well as a crafty guy.


Matthew DavisTurns out there is an Osage at Middlebury over 40" dbh. Would probably do well here as we

are at least a zone ahead of you. Pretty limited on space though as we don't want to clearcut our woods. Pretty

shade intolerant I hear.


Ben FalkAwesome there's a serious osage in vt. Yeah, this is all a clearcut.


Chaz PetersenI wasn't aware that Osage Orange fixes nitrogen

Me gusta Responder 10 h


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Jack SpirkoBen Falkis the the project you asked for ideas about the pines on, if so what did you do with

them?


Ben FalkYes jack... This is it. We had a logger cut them and sell to mills and biomass (chips). The forest floor

was left in better condition to plant than I was thinking it would. It's gone very well - planting wise. Instant

mulch. Little other understory - we got a couple years of head start for the new forest

Before it gets crazy in there. Machete tropical style management from years 2-5 likely before we get a good

canopy owning it.

Emma Avaloshey Ben Falk, curious what's your overall-goal for this planting? why are they spaced so

densely for chestnuts and locusts? we are doing something similar. are you planning on culling them as

younger trees before they are full grown?

Me gusta Responder 14 h

Ben FalkIndeed - part of the reason is to get ahead of undergrowth - quick shade and canopy control. Then

thin with machete. Also can harvest small poles depending on growth rates relative to the oaks and walnuts.

Also if the oaks and Walnuts simply don't do it it will still be an awesome locust woodland. Lots of function

stacking and hedging going on for unplanned for things happening.

Me gusta Responder 1 11 h

ben falk maple locust chestnut osage

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