One of our big concerns once our food forest was planted, and knowing that we would be leaving the country for an unknown amount of years, was how would our little fruit trees and bushes survive the encroaching grass, blackthorn and volunteer plants.
We had no idea at the time. There was no design element that we could think of, other than expensive, non natural sheet mulching techniques. We didn’t give that a second thought. Here’s where I believe design can happen organically, not necessarily at the offset, but when an idea comes to mind due to necessity.
Winter was fast encroaching and so was my 35th birthday. I am in China. I thought everyday about how our mulberry, cherries, apples, pears and sea buckthorn berries needed tucking in for winter. A cosy, thick bed of mulch to keep them roots warm and stave of the early grass growth of 2013.
I plucked up the courage and boldly requested my family to help with the “M” of OBREDIM – Maintenance. “If we can get a farmer to drop off 20 big bales of straw I’m sure it can be done in a half day” I asked squeamishly. Mum was keen and she asked that I email through some detailed instructions…
On my birthday, December 17th, I woke in China to check my emails. Not only had Mum written a great account of their “beautiful day” at the Patch but Clare had attached a whole photo album of the proceedings. We were so happy to see that the food forest had been mulched but more importantly Mum, Dad, Clare, Ethan and Phoebe confessed that they had had a really fun and enjoyable day.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM TOWARDS OUR ONGOING PROJECT AT THE PATCH. PLEASE FILL YOUR BOOTS WITH FRUIT IN 2013
The Family on their way…
Clare checking out the walnut
Ethan on the pile of bales
Keen niece and nephew
Greetings from a far
Couldn’t ask for a better birthday present
Dad handing out instructions
Phoebe loads a bale
Relaxing in the sun
They’re on it now!
Mum shifts the bales around
A beautiful day at the Patch
Tea break
Hot elderberry cordial
Birthday message
Bit of maintenance on the tanks
A well earned rest
Mulch it!!!
Nice and thick!
A winter bed…
Mum mulches the native hedge
In full mulching swing…
Clare looks satisfied
Spread it about!
Perfect job
Native hedge mulched
Ethan relaxes (in mulch)
Phoebe joins him
Beauitful
Nearly done..
Perfect, thank you so so much
Patchworks 
Great blog, your welcome, Mum and Dad xx
How lovely
loved looking at the photos lots of love pat and billxx
I miss you uncle richie great blog
great to see the little trees doing well at The Patch!
Pingback: The Patchworks Family | Patchworks
Did you ever think that you can actually have fun while playing with mud.
One of the largest permaculture communities in the US, Earthhaven Ecovillage,
is located in the nearby town of Black Mountain. I am working on
the closed cycle gardening and will plant our
vegetable garden in the area that has been alfalfa and
mulch with the alfalfa but since we have animals I will run it though them first and use it
as manure.
Hey! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but
after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to
me. Anyways, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!