[Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?

[Kevin Gleason]

Thanks Dan and Owen for your responses and I'll take your advice.
The slope is dry clay not far from a creek.  Oak woodland uphill from  
it, but currently unvegetated except for some struggling succulents,  
wild roses, and a few young, thirsty, ornamental trees.


On Sep 3, 2010, at 4:48 PM, Torres, Daniel wrote:

> The geologist suggestion is a very good one, but I imagine the answer
> also depends upon the existing vegetation on the slope, i.e., is it
> forested or dry?
>
> Dan T.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: scpg-bounces at arashi.com [mailto:scpg-bounces at arashi.com] On  
> Behalf
> Of Owen Dell
> Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 4:04 PM
> To: Kevin Gleason
> Cc: Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network; scpg at arashi.com
> Subject: Re: [Scpg] steep permaculture slope ideas?
>
> First, check with a consulting geologist about whether your slope is
> stable enough to accept the destabilization and additional water  
> loading
> that comes with terracing. I've seen too many incredibly expensive
> disasters resulting from inappropriate slope modifications to not  
> speak
> up on this one.
>
> Owen
>
> Owen E. Dell, ASLA
> Owen Dell & Associates
> Landscape Architect * Educator * Author
> P.O. Box 30433 * Santa Barbara, CA 93130
> 805 962-3253
> owen at owendell.com
> www.owendell.com
>
>
> QUOTE OF THE DAY
>
> "It's the core of my life, making things, making these places. What  
> else
> would I rather do? ... It excites the hell out of me." (Lawrence
> Halprin, Lovejoy Fountain, Portland, Oregon)
>
> On Sep 3, 2010, at 3:47 PM, 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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