Edible Walking Path Design ProjectOwen Tower Sustainable Food-Professor Silva

Goals Articulation

Our edible walking path provides high yields of low maintenance perennial foods to students/staff in both the spring and fall semesters. This collaborative project educates students while having caloric dense food on the go.

Site Summary

Site Summary Utilizing the Scale of Permanence and sector analysis.

Climate- Non-brittle climate with even rainfall (spread throughout the year), Zone 6 Plant hardiness, meaning the average extreme temperatures only differ from the mean by around 10°F. Hurricanes and remnants of tropical storms are also prevalent in the area. Wind normally blows southwest in the summer and north in the winter months.

Landform- Site is on a slope, with its solar aspect facing south. Also, there is a rock/stone wall on the western border of the site from the neighboring walking path.

Water- The High Point of the site is located at the northern part of the site, and slopes down to the low point on the southern Aspect of the site. Flooding frequently occurs at the Southern portion of the site. Potential Sources of water include: swales for water capture, soaker hoses/gators/drip systems, and rainwater collection in storage tanks from the site itself or the roof of Liberal Arts. Existing sources of water includes hose hookups to Liberal Arts and runoff water down the watershed of the slope.

Accessibility- There are existing walking paths that surround the western and southern areas of the site, additionally there is vehicle presence from maintenance workers on the eastern and western parts of the site. Foot traffic is present on the walking paths surrounding the site, as well as the western part of the site. Wildlife flow into the site include squirrels, small birds, and sometimes geese.

Site Summary (cont.)

Vegetation- Other than the one existing tree at the northern part of the site, the site is primarily grasslands other than the trees past the eastern boundary of the site.

Buildings- Liberal Arts Building is past the Western Boundary of the site. The stone wall on the western boundary of the site is also a permanent structure. Possible buildings in the future may include storage sheds/water tanks that may be placed in the site.

Soil- Soil is comprised of mostly loam, and is very acidic, given the fact that we are in the New England area. Due to the non-brittle climate, the soil is very workable and can be used for permaculture. Possible sources of soil toxicity include bits of metal from possible underground pipes for utilities, and runoff salt towards the southern end of the site in the winter from the walking paths.

Site Summary (cont.)

Aesthetics-The walking path will contain a fenced-off area and an entryway to welcome people to it, as well as small solar lights and additional archways along the path. The plants themselves will be very vibrant (especially those that attract insects) in color and will provide life to an otherwise boring part of the campus.

Microclimate- Without the walking path, there aren’t many microclimates on the slope. There is some level of shade near the northern tree, and some protection near the western wall, which provide their own microclimates. After the walking path is created, there will be small, aquatic microclimates near the swales, wind protection in the parts of the path near all of the shrubs and fruit trees, dense ground cover due to the mulching plants, and higher nitrogen content near the plants. With all of these new aspects, there will be many new homes for small animals/insects to reside and thrive, which will create many diverse microclimates throughout the site.

Irrigation/Water Catching System

Existing water sources at the site include the rainfall and watershed that already exists down the slope of the site. Another existing source of water includes multiple hose hookups to the Liberal Arts building. Flooding does happen periodically at the southern end of the site, so it is important that not many plants are placed at the southern part of the site.

With flooding occurring periodically at the site, it will be important to establish many swales throughout the site to hold on to as much water as possible during periods of heavier rainfall.

Irrigation/Water Catching System (cont.)

Even though there is even rainfall throughout the year, and swales will be utilized, more redundancy must be established for water.

The other water-catching/irrigation methods that will be used include water gators to place around the bases of the fruit trees in order to help establish the root system of fruit trees during development. Also, soaker hoses and drip systems can be used for water as well. The hose hookups to the Liberal Arts Building already exists, so the tap source for drip systems and soaker hoses already exist. The utilization of soaker hoses and drip systems also decreases the amount of water that is wasted when providing water to the site, because they are very efficient in terms of water waste.

In conclusion, utilizing multiple swales periodically throughout the site, as well as using water gators, drip systems, and soaker hoses will allow for optimal irrigation to the site while wasting as little water as possible.

Permaculture Principles used

One permaculture principle that was used was the principle of interconnection. This can be seen with the interaction between the various plants that are used in the walking path. Various properties of the plants that are used cause the existing plants to live symbiotically with each other, such as the insect attracting plants bringing in bees for pollination of other plants. The relationship between nitrogen fixers and all of the other plants is another example of interconnection. With the nitrogen fixing plants having a symbiotic relationship with fungi and bacteria at the site, the establishing fruit trees and various shrubs also benefit from the nitrogen that the nitrogen fixers use as well.

Another Permaculture Principle that can be seen in our system is the principle of Multiple Functions. This can be seen with the utilization of various herbaceous plants in the design for this walking path. Oregano and garlic provide food that we can consume, while also acting as “tricksters”, which will deter pest insects from the actual fruit plants. The nitrogen fixers on the site also act in a similar way. For example, horseradish is used to provide nitrogen to the site as well as function as a part of the “edible” aspect of the walking path.

Permaculture Principles Used (cont.)

The principle of redundancy can really be seen with the amount of water sources that will be used for this system. These include swales to trap rain water, utilizing water gators to supply the fruit trees with sufficient water, and using soaker hoses and drip systems to provide water throughout the site. Water is arguably the most important aspect of any permaculture system, so it is necessary to have this type of redundancy incase one or multiple sources fall through.

The final permaculture principle of relative location can be seen in the placement of the site itself. The bulk of the fruit trees and nut trees are going to be in the middle of the site, which is very close to the Liberal Arts Building. This was done on purpose, as LARTS has hose hookups that provide a water source for the site. The site was also placed at this part of the field because it receives a lot of foot traffic, especially from freshman walking to class. Additionally, the plants were placed away from the southern part of the site and the southern walkway, in order to avoid runoff salt and flooding that occurs at this part of the site.

Design Sketch

Plant List

Plant name: Species Name Mature Height and

Spread

Sun Preferences Special Characteristics

Common Plums Prunus Domestica 25-30 feet tall

15-25 feet wide

Full Sun Later Fall Harvest for some species.

Black Walnut Juglans Nigra 75-130 feet tall

75-130 feet wide

Full Sun Later Fall Harvest (August-October)

More resistant to drought. Can be around

for 100+ years!

Cherry Trees Prunis Serotina 50-100 feet tall

25-50 feet wide

Full sun Can be susceptible to wind damage, lives

100+years.

Persimmon Diospyros Virgiana 50-75 feet tall

25-50 feet wide

Full sun Works well with Black Walnuts, because it

tolerates juglone (type of poison) which is

produced from Black Walnuts.

Following Permaculture Guild Guidelines (MINNT)

Main fruit/nut Trees:

Plant List

Mulching Plants

Plant name: Species Name Mature Height and Spread Sun Preferences Special Characteristics

Comfrey Symphtum grandiflorum 8-12 inches tall

18 inches wide

Full sun, tolerates shade up

to 50%.

Medicinal, can be cut 2-4x

year for mulch, grows

together in groups, some

varieties are deep rooted.

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale 8-12 inches tall

Leafs spread 0.5-4 inches

Good light, but full sun is

not necessary.

Use the greens before

plants start to seed! Greens

are healthy herbs.

Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum 3-5 feet tall

1 foot wide

Full sun or very partial

shade.

Dense root system close to

surface and taproot a meter

under the surface.

Plant List (Cont.)

Insectary Plants:Plant Name: Species Name Mature Height

and Spread

Sun

Preferences

Special

Characteristics

Marigold Calendula

officinalis

1-2.5 feet tall,

0.5-1.5 feet

wide

Prefers full sun Self-seeds

easily, so it’ll

come back

year after year.

Leaves can be

harvested in

the spring.

Cinquefoil Poteentilla

fruticosa

3 feet tall

3 wide

Full sun, light

shade.

Edible leaves,

some roots are

medicinal.

Clover Trifolium

pratense

0.5-2 feet tall

0.5-2 feet wide

Prefers full sun,

tolerates

shade.

Taproots with

fibrous nature.

Nitrogen Fixing Plants:

Plant Name: Species Name Mature Height

and Spread

Sun

Preferences

Special

Characteristics

Hog Peanut Amphicarpaea

bracteata

1-5 feet tall

1-5 feet wide

Full sun, light

shade.

Provides

groundcover, is

an annual plant,

is calorically

dense plant, has

running roots.

Horseradish Amoracia

rusticana

Leaves reach 3

feet tall

1 foot wide

Full sun, light

shade.

Can spread very

fast and become

invasive, some

maintenance is

required.

Plant List (cont.)

Plant Name: Species Name Mature

Height and

Spread

Sun

Preferences

Special

Characteristic

s

Oregano Origanum

vulgare

1-2 feet tall

1-4 feet wide

Full sun,

moderate

shade.

Shallow

(runner) roots,

used in

cooking.

Rosemary Rosmarinus

officinalis

3-4 feet tall

3-4 feet wide

Full sun,

tolerates light

shade.

Not deep

roots, self-

pollinating,

leaves can be

used to make

tea.

“Trickster” PlantsPlant Name: Species Name Mature Height

and Spread

Sun

Preferences

Special

Characteristics

Lupine Lupinus

perennis

1-4 feet tall

1-3 feet wide

Full sun, light

shade.

Fibrous roots,

edible seeds

in some

species.

Sea

Buckthorn

Hippophae

rhamnoides

10-20 feet tall

8-10 feet wide

Full sun,

tolerates light

shade

Thorns

underneath

leaves and

fruit.

Nutrient Accumulator

Sources

▪ Kitsteiner, John. “Plant Index.” Temperate Climate Permaculture, tcpermaculture.com/site/plant-index/.

▪ Mills, David. “Wild Foods Home Garden - a how-to guide.” Wild Foods Home Garden - a how-to guide, 2014, wildfoodshomegarden.com/.

▪ “Plants for a Future.” Plants for a Future, 1996, www.pfaf.org/.

▪ “Spiked Speedwell.” Plants Profile for Veronica spicata (Spiked speedwell), plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=VESP80.

▪ “WeatherSpark.com.” Average Weather in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States, Year Round - Weather Spark, weatherspark.com/y/26822/Average-Weather-in-New-Bedford-Massachusetts-United-States-Year-Round.