Grass is a very poor way to protect slopes against erosion. The large number of stem penetrations results in a very effective transmission of water into the soil, which can lead to supersaturation and slope failure. No offense to anyone, but I recommend that people not speculate about what is going to work. There are accepted standards for this kind of activity. Permaculture is a great thing, but it doesn't always address real-world issues and it isn't always right. Slope failures can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix, and the cost is not covered by insurance. I say again, PLEASE consult a professional before you go off implementing half-cocked ideas.

Owen

Owen E. Dell, ASLA
Owen Dell & Associates
Landscape Architect • Educator • Author
P.O. Box 30433 • Santa Barbara, CA 93130
805 962-3253
owen@owendell.com
www.owendell.com


QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You take a number of small steps which you believe are right,
thinking maybe tomorrow somebody will treat this as a dangerous
provocation. And then you wait. If there is no reaction, you take
another step: courage is only an accumulation of small steps."
            George Konrad
            Hungarian novelist & essayist





On Sep 6, 2010, at 10:23 AM, John Calvert wrote:

I was gonna say grass... the bunch grass sounds like a very good idea.

lfunkhouser@juno.com wrote:

Kevin,

You might also want to talk to Mary Scaran, who is an acupuncturist in SB (she's in the phone book) and has a very steep slope running the entire length of her oak wooded and desert upland property that is permeated by a spring. She has planted lots of things to stabilize, including Persian mulberry trees (edible!) and some kind of grass -- can't remember which -- but a type of bunch grass that she selected for its very specific properties of soil stabilization. Mary practices permaculture, studies horticulture, and is a very fine acupuncturist.

Good luck.

--Laura

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Kevin Gleason <kevin@kevingleasonart.com>
To: John Calvert <jcalvert@crystal3.com>
Cc: scpg@arashi.com
Subject: Re: [Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 07:14:15 -0700

Thanks, John, and all others who have replied.  This is such a helpful  community.  I am going to look into the "net and pan" technique Susan  recommended and am trying to find some good "pinning" shrubs and trees  per Dan's advice.  I need to pay good attention to the plants that  seem to be holding up west facing slopes next time I'm out hiking.  It  is okay with me if this really steep section doesn't grow food....  Maybe I'll just grow food for the birds there.
I appreciate eveyone's help.
Thanks!


On Sep 5, 2010, at 9:22 PM, John Calvert wrote:

>
>
> I started out writing a response to this, looking in the direction  > of what grows native on our steep coastal mountain canyons.
>
> But I realize that there isn't much edible on the really steep  > slopes.  It seems the more fruit-bearing types are more likely to  > appear where there's better soil and moisture.
>
> So, that leaves the plants that do well in poor soil and least  > moisture...
>
> nopal cactus, various wild sages, maybe fit in a hollyleaf cherry,  > chia ?, maybe some kind of mulberry, wild golden currant (?).
>
> so, mostly natives, and then some select fruit-bearing plantings w/  > drip irrigation.  ?
>
> JC
>
>
> Kevin Gleason wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I was wondering if anyone has good advice for creating a garden on  >> a VERY steep slope (more than 45 degrees.)  I'd love some feedback  >> on alternative terracing methods, whether this is too steep for  >> small swales, good soil-holding, drought-tolerant  ground covers  >> and other plants that would be useful and other ideas.  I remember  >> hearing Brock Dolman talking about making retaining walls with  >> burlap tubes filled with soil and a little cement.  Anybody tried it?
>>
>> Thanks for your help!
>> Kevin
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