Vetiver, a perennial grass, has many uses including erosion control.  I'm working with a group in Haiti that is planning on using it, and we are in communication with a world-renowned vetiver expert. :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysopogon_zizanioides

JC

lfunkhouser@juno.com wrote:
Yes! I believe vetiver grass is it. Thank you Vinay.

With all due respect to Owen, please don't shoot the messenger. I was trying to put Kevin in touch with someone who has a challenging slope and has done a lot of research and has had years of results and tinkering with the regime. Just passing along contacts and information here.

Yes, you can't beat professional advice and experience, but there are new things to be discovered if one wants to live an experiential life and has really good insurance, and where safety is not an overriding concern. Some people like the process of discovery as much as the goal. I'll leave it at that.

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Vinay Jathanna <vjathanna@gmail.com>
To: "lfunkhouser@juno.com" <lfunkhouser@juno.com>
Cc: kevin@kevingleasonart.com
Subject: Re: [Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 10:55:15 -0700

Hi Laura and Kevin,

It is Vetiver Grass. Doug Richardson, in Santa Barbara is doing a lot of work with vetiver grass. It is a grass that comes from the Indian subcontinent. It is very benign and has multiple uses as a Permaculture plant.

http://vetivernetinternational.blogspot.com/2008/06/vetiver-system-applications-in.html
http://www.vetiver.org/

Vinay

On Mon, Sep 6, 2010 at 10:08 AM, lfunkhouser@juno.com <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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>>
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