New Additions to the Garden Part 1

Yes this is my problem child. My Appalachian acre is down hill. What did I expect we are on the top of a mountain Lol! This is our north property line it is naturally wet all the time and is probably a small natural seep. Just about 12 inches down you hit a rock ledge. So the soil is always damp and shallow. It also goes to the lowest point on the property down in that corner which means that frost almost always pockets in that lower corner. And on parts of the line there are large trees so it is shady in spots. 

Our solution is that we piled old firewood there and tree limbs. Added a large layer of autumn leaves and a couple loads of horse manure. In essence a  bed. Hügelkultur is a horticultural technique where a mound constructed from decaying wood debris and other compostable biomass plant materials is later planted as a raised bed. The wood we added absorbs the water and holds it there. The soil is very rich from our amendments and last year we grew a wonderful crop of sweet potatoes in the bed. This is where we dump the soiled straw from the chicken and duck houses as a mulch addition regularly. 

Last year we added 4 elderberry and 3 black currant trees to the line. Elderberry bushes like the moisture and are native and low maintenance. They provide both food and medicine for us and nesting opportunities and berries for the birds. The black currants are hardy and low maintenance and are planted in the shady areas. They are also supposed to be very easy to propogate. Again providing us with a food source. None will require a spray regime like traditional fruit and both are lower growing not requiring us to endanger ourselves on a ladder. 

And in 1 year we have success. Same with the elderberry in a years time they are also bearing fruit. Both moisture tolerant and easy to propagate for other areas of the property also.

So this year in the shadier areas we have added American Highbush Cranberry. Another American native Viburnum trilobum is a species of Viburnum native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to British Columbia, south to Washington state and east to northern Virginia. The name comes from the red fruits which look superficially like cranberries, and have a similar flavor and ripen at the same time of year. The fruits are sour and rich in vitamin C. So again providing us with a food source. Low maintenance, wildlife friendly, non invasive and easily propagated. We intend to dry these as we love dried cranberries as an addition to salads, oatmeal baked goods and trail mixes. 

And another addition in the sunnier areas is another native June berry or Service berry trees. Also know as Saskatoon they are a shrub and small tree in the rose family They have beautiful white blooms in the spring and should grow about 8 foot at the most. Many states are recommending these planted instead of Bradford pear. Their blooms are equally as beautiful while being non invasive. They are moisture tolerant, low maintenance and provide a sweet edible black berry. We are hoping to use these like blueberries as they are not nearly as finicky about soil Ph. The berries can be dried, frozen or canned. They make pies as well as jams, jellies, baked goods and wines. 

And higher up the hill in the shadier area 2 shade loving  pawpaw trees planted among the hostas. Again a native small tree that is low maintenance, non invasive, small and food producing. 

So basically we have taken an area inhospitable to traditional gardening and turned it into a productive area with mostly native and low maintenance shrubs and small trees. Adding beauty, privacy and nesting for our feathered friends along with a food and medicine source for us. 

And as an added bonus these plants will take up and use that excess water. Maybe eventually, talks are in the works for adding a small pool at the very bottom to provide a water source for the ducks. 

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter