-
>
> =In his wonderful book "Edible Forest Gardens", Dave Jacke describes
> =one of the processes for designing effective polycultures as
> ="guild-build." It is a pretty intensive process that requires
desired=species niche analysis and other techniques that eventually
will =produce a list of plants that will provide functions for you the
> =gardener, and will support each other. I am sure that most of the
> =folks on this list are familiar with it.
>
> =Jacke hints that over time, the guild-build process should yield
> =certain "standard" polycultures appropriate for various regions.
One =could then take one of these "off the shelf" and implement the
guild =on his site.
>
> =A couple of questions:* Are Jacke's predictions yet true? Are
standard regional polycultures=emerging and being documented, shared,
and implemented "off the shelf"?
>
> Where would one find out one way or the other.
>
> I have started exactly the above on ibiblio, just need to finish the
> installation of Mediawiki, Wordpress
> blog an Wordpress forums, all linked together.
> http://ibiblio.org/permaculture.
>
> Mine: http://ibiblio.org/permaculture/
>

I have just finished Vol 1 of Edible Forest Gardens: Theory and Vision
by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmier

It is a very good Forest Ecology book on the surface, as a standalone
introduction to ecological processes. In addition to this it provides
the best framework I've seen from the Permaculture people to develop
human orientated polycultures.

Above and beyond the excellent (if a little repetative) introduction
to ecology, this book furthers theory in TWO major respects.

The first is mentioned above, as the "Guild Build" process
which takes the traditional Seven? layers of permaculture, and futher
breaks this down into ecological roles (niches)
for example, the vertical appoach of the layers in previous
permaculture references is separated from the discussion on ecological
roles, this book does a great job of integrating the two..
specifically defining, wintering habitat for our archnid friends,
nactary plants, and nitrogen fixation.
This no permaculture system in the real world neglects these aspects
out of necessity, it brings the concept closer to reach for the
non-academic.

The second major inovation is the synthesis of Sucession dynamics in
forests and what this means for a forest garden. For those of
non-scientific minds, this treatment might be a bit rigorous, but it
is well worth the effort. It will definitely save work in the long run
(less maintainence)

I found the scientific approach taken in Vol 1 refreshing and
emminently more readable the the Robert Hart books.
I also found the solid basis in traditional ecology satisfying.
this tends provide a ground for the sometimes fantasitical claims of
permaculturalists, by acknowledging the parts (science) it again
brings it to the masses.

As for polycultures that have come from this: it is much to early to
tell, this book is still 'flying' off the shelf (compared to most
perma books), and it is only 4 years old...
Four years is CLEARLY not enough time to trial and error a given
guild. The plants refered to in this book are long lived perrenials
that might not show resolves for a decade or more.

that being said...
University of Manitoba has some organic farmers experiemnting with
annual polycultures of canola (rape), field peas, and wheat
sort of a northern three sisters.
also Dieter mentions an annual poly culture

beyond that much permaculture literature mentions the "apple or pear
guild" that other people have found sucess with..
also mentioned is the idea of using Jerusalm artichoke and Ground nut
(apios americana), both root crops , J. artichoke has inulin in the
roots and produces good soil results and the groundnut is a nitrogen
fixer.

I'm sure I'll have some ideas once I process Volume 2 and its
INCREDIBLE 38 page Appendix .... The PLANT Matrix..
this matrix lists layer, and niche and hardiness of most of the forst
plants relavant to the eastern United state...
which would apply equally well to Continental Europe.

This sysnthesis of a qualified ecology will defineitley bring guild
building to a level that the average gardener can achieve once they
become familar with the MATRIX...

more on this when I finish VOL 2