[Lapg] hippophae rhamnoides: a special tree

[Lois Arkin]

Hi John,
Thanks for this additional info.  Unfortunately, I didn't read about the 
thorny part before sending my note off to colleagues, and, of course, 16 
inches of rain a year is not to be relied on in So. California.  Our 
average is about 14 but we've had the worst drought since keeping track 
this past year--only 3.3.  So they would have a hard time being accepted 
as street trees here.

Nonetheless, it does sound like a fabulous tree, and in L.A. it would 
still be very good as organic security as well as food for people--like 
cactus and pricker berries.  Again, I'm forwarding your additional info 
to our local permaculture folks.

Best.
Lois

John Munter wrote:
> Hi Lois!
>      They have an international conference every year
> on it now..if you google ISA 2007.  Its in Quebec this
> year in Mid August.  Its the most popular fruit tree
> from China to Europe but extremely unknown in the West
> because mechanical harvesting is very difficult.  its
> got big thorns and fruit hangs tough on the branch--in
> fact European processors have to whack off the whole
> branch, freeze it, pop off the berries and THEN
> process the oil, food supplements, and juice--meaning
> they can only harvest every two years.
>      So, I think it is perfect for the small producer
> with incredible nutrition, really abundant fruit, and
> very easy to reproduce---AND--did you notice if fixes
> nitrogen making the soil around it richer, and drought
> hardy. It does normally need 16 iches of rain a year. 
> But it suckers out long roots which pop up with a
> plant and these can be dug up and replanted in  a row.
> It does need full sun so that is one check on its
> being invasive is the background forest will overwhelm
> it unless tended.  Its got all 18 amino acids so
> important animal substitute.
>      Its been used for decades in CA for shelterbelts
> and Bill Schroeder at the Shelterbelt Centre in SK
> developed probably the best cultivars in the world
> around 2001...sweeter, easier fruit release, fewer
> thorns....only place in US that sells his cultivars is
> St lawrence nurseries in NY (SLN.com i think) for
> really an excellent price..11.50 a piece (they come in
> male and female)...they will onlt mail order through
> may 1 (and only produce several hundred a year so
> order early).
>      With increasing drought, food, and financial
> insecurity I believe everybody needs to be growing
> these in their back yard.
>                            --John
> --- Lois Arkin <crsp at igc.org> wrote:
> 
>> Dear John,
>> Thank you for this information.  I am not familiar
>> with it, but a google 
>> search brings up many items on the tree. Here's one
>> description 
>>
> <http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Hippophae+rhamnoides>
>>   It 
>> is an exciting tree to hear about, and I am
>> forwarding this to some of 
>> my local colleagues who might know or want to know
>> about it.  It sounds 
>> like something we may be able to use for some street
>> trees here in Los 
>> Angeles, and particularly L.A. Eco-Village.
>>
>> Best,
>> Lois Arkin
>> CRSP at Los Angeles Eco-Village
>> www.laecovillage.org
>>
>>
>> John Munter wrote:
>>> Lois Arkin--
>>>
>>>      Greetings!  I am writing to enquire whether
>> you
>>> are familiar with a 5-17 ft tree called sea
>> buckthorn
>>> (hippophae Rhamnoides) which the Chinese are
>> planting
>>> 10 million hectares of to stop the desert.  Its
>>> extremely cold hardy and drought hardy and its
>> berries
>>> are 30% protein, with omega 3,6,7,9 oils, all the
>> B
>>> vitamins with more B12 than liver, and 3X vitamin
>> C of
>>> orange juice.  Chinese have 200 processing plants
>> for
>>> it.  Makes a great 'forest drink', tea, and
>> preserves.
>>>                        --John Munter
>>>                          Warba, MN USA
>>> mumooatthefarm at yahoo.com
>>>
>>>
>>>        
>>>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
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>>
> 
> 
> 
>        
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