The future of SSTP will involve a lot of trees.
Planting trees, giving away trees, chopping and even chipping trees. Right now, it’s mostly planting. And with a little help from the community, chipping. The reason we need to be chipping wood (and are soliciting unwanted wood chips) is because part of the process of developing a food forest is getting rid of unwanted aggressive grass from the standard lawn that lives here now. We could (and currently are) using plastic sheet mulch that will be in place for another 5-6 months (or more if we’re feeling patient) to kill of grass seeds, roots, and other elements that will prove prohibitive when trying to establish a young food forest. We struggle mostly with Bermuda grass and Johnson grass here. They are very, very persistent.
But while plastic sheeting/weed fabric is helpful, it isn’t amazing at sun blocking and more importantly deteriorates into useless, toxic trash that tends to get mixed in with the soil and surrounding environment. It’s also an eye sore. At best it can be reused by birds building nests. But it isn’t something people should have to rely on when trying to build regenerative systems in their yard. Plastic is the antithesis of regenerative.
There are other more natural sheeting options, such as flax sheeting, but they are largely out of our price range. So our best option is wood chips, and lots of it. We are currently building a windbreak with edible and habitat focused shrubs and trees. This is in the strip of lawn between the pig pen and the road, if you’ve ever been out here. It will in time help protect the rest of the food forest from westward winds. I am also treating it as a little bit of training grounds for myself. I need to learn more about how to set a piece of land for success by eliminating weeds effectively and replacing the growing area immediately with robust ground covers and more.
Okay so, wood chips. I’ve put out the call to many commercial and utility resources to consider me a great place to drop unwanted wood chips and logs. In December I got a call from the folks at Laser Level Dirt Works who brought me two loads of logs and branches! Early Christmas for sure. SO thankful. No wood chips as of yet. But I’m hopeful.
Next it is time to source a local buddy who has a chipper who can let us borrow/trade for some time with it. A million thanks to Laser Level Dirt Works!
Do you know anyone with a wood chipper? Do you have one? Let us know. Message or email us!
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