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Re: Pond construction ideas needed (for FranksFarm)





Lawrence F. London, Jr. -+|+- Venaura Farm
london@metalab.unc.edu   lflondon@worldnet.att.net
http://metalab.unc.edu/london, /permaculture, /ecolandtech
EcoLandTech -+|+- InterGarden -+|+- Permaculture

On Wed, 4 Aug 1999 FranksFarm@aol.com wrote:

> <<Speaking of books and libraries, who in this list is into
> collecting (hounding :-) publications on ag, landscaping, gardening,
> permaculture? I'm into it in a big way and have a huge library of books
> and mags. I know Scott is into this also, and I hear Bill Mollison is
> also. Others?>>  Ha...you have found me out. I too have quite a collection. 
> Someday I might even decide to sell some:)

Aha, you too! 
> 
> Many are out of print too. Lots of old OG,TMEN mags etc.  I'm a real hoarder 
> too.

 ... and Whole Earth Catalog, and Co-Evolution Quarterly, Horticulture,
Country Journal, Harrowsmith, Scientific American, Fine Gardening, and
more

> Ladino Clover...Greg... white ladino clover seed is real expensive down here. 
> I think it was over $3 a lb...but I might be wrong...just recall it was 
> expensive! I know it's lighter, and has more seed per lb.  but I'd rather 
> find a substitute at lower $$. Any suggestions? 

Crimson clover, red clover, Alsilke clover ?, tall sweet yellow and white
clover (mail order from Johnny's or elsewhere - this is the best clover of
all, with possible exception of Ladino (have no experience with this -
$3/# isn't all that bad) >
 
> Lawrence... watch out Kudzu is banned in many states. It can really take 
> over; chokes out natives etc.

I know all about Kudzu, its a good thing and needs to be more widely used.
Can't possibly be worse than Bermuda grass.

> I know about it's protein content, fodder value...but I'd hate to get behind 
> on controlling it. I'm told goats like it.

I am sure - and think of the compost you could make. Ought to be easy to
harvest.

> Lespedeza.. <<Just broadcast it or drill it - make sure it gets planted
at 
> the right
> depth, i.e. shallow, I think>>  Now just how do you ensure that if you simply 
> broadcast it. Or are you talking about broadcasting after you have a nice 
> prepared field?

The latter. Or if the area isn't prepared just broadcast it anyway.

> Right now grass has gone to seed, really weedy in some areas.  How do I best 
> establish Lespedeza in such fields? Seems that you'd really need to broadcast 
> heavily, and hope that it takes. Wouldn't growth be real spotty? 

Broadcast it them mow the field. The cut weeds/grass will cover and muilch
the lespedeza seeds so it can germinate.

> Back to the pond...<<Water channelling using a KeyLine plow could increase
> the area the water reaches - this could be redone from time to time.>>  
> Please explain? are these plows available here? are they worth the investment?
> 
> Unfortunately some areas are above pond so water would need to be pumped up 
> hill.
> 
> Got to go.  Thanks for the post and URL's.   Frank