Discussion Forum on Systems Thinking

New property

New property

by Julie Hensley -
Number of replies: 2

I’m glad to read about Patty, Robin and Tina’s thoughts because it seems like we can all agree that it’s a work in progress.  I have done a lot of systems thinking with pollinator gardens I’ve worked on with my students but never really done this with my own home garden because I’ve moved around a lot, like Robin, and often didn’t have enough  space.  The 5 gallon pail idea would have come in handy then!

Now I have 43 acres to work with which is a complete luxury.  I have to keep reminding myself of this when it feels daunting. Hearing about your experiences which are filled with successes and mistakes is very helpful.  I hope at some point that we can visit each other’s gardens so that we can see first hand what worked and why.  

As I haven’t spent tons of time yet getting to know our land in Malone I’m trying to just get a handle on the very basics.  How much sun?  How much water? One of the apps I’ve been using Suntracker is really useful for seeing where the sun will be at any location on any day of the year.  But hadn’t really considered reflection from buildings as being an important variable to note, especially when it comes to tomatoes so thank’s for helping me think about that.  

I’ve also been trying to take note of who is using plants that are already there and seeing which ones to keep.  We have an inordinate number of brambles but so many birds were enjoying them (indigo bunting, catbird, etc..) that I realize I have to keep more than I had previously thought. 

I’m also working on digging out a vernal pool at the bottom of a steep slope because it was full of frogs and a bunch of aquatic insects (Caddisfly larvae) in the early spring but it dried up too early.  I’m making it a foot or more deep to retain water longer and then planting some water loving plants around the edge (marsh marigold, pussy willow, turtlehead).  We’ll see if it brings in more critters in the spring.

I also really enjoyed learning about open pollination from Emma and Tina.  The idea that you would not be allowed to grow potatoes near a potato farm was something I had never thought about.  And the white corn tradition of the Haudenosaunee that Emma described was fascinating.  I found this website that had some information about the white corn project.  If there are other resources where I could read more about this, I’d love to know them.

https://www.ganondagan.org/white-corn-project
In reply to Julie Hensley

Re: New property

by Patricia Croteau -
I create a simple watercolor of my garden mapped out each year and then I take notes on the back of it. I note if it was a rainy summer or a super hot and dry one. I made notes about the Japanese Beatles and the powdery mildew that was on my zucchini one year and things of that sort. If we have a major weather event like a heavy downpour I try to add that to the notes. One year I had squash beetles and some type of other small green bug with a proboscis of sorts so I drew a little picture of them as well. I do it for enjoyment as well as to document. I like to think that is how Beatrix Potter came up with her illustrations and books. I'm operating at a much lower level, Ha-ha

I like to keep some of the bramble and woody shrubs that grow wild and not clear out too much because it does offer food and home to the birds which in turn eat all of those lovely little flying pests that eat my garden. So watching what birds are hanging around is so smart and leaving them places to be part of the action is so helpful!
We had a major problem with something called a chocolate slug so we dug a small duck pond and started keeping ducks because they have a voracious appetite for the slimy brown guys. The ducks have definitely made a difference and the slug population is less that it use to be. I fear if we did not have ducks the issue would soon return because when I venture deeper into the woods I see the slug in my trails etc. I have never lived where these slugs have existed before and it was quite a shocking discovery when I saw my first one. They are quite huge. I have have them as long as my pointer finger. They are GROSS!!!
In reply to Patricia Croteau

Re: New property

by Julie Hensley -

Thank you for this Patty!

I love your watercolor idea, I’m way less talented than you and certainly Beatrix Potter ,who is one of my favorite artists ever, but I think it’s a great way to deeply think about each year’s highlights/problems etc…I’m definitely going to try this.  

I’d love to see a picture of your slugs, I actually kind of like them.  The duck pond idea is really fun though.  And you’re probably getting a bunch of frogs in there too.  Do ducks eat frogs too?

Julie