For those interested in managed forestry, here is a little information on one of the projects we’re developing on Taranaki Farm; the mixed species strip forest. This new development comprises a water catchment drain / access road, with 2 rows of mixed forestry on the upper side of the new road, and 5 rows on the lower side.

This development is the brain child of forestry designer Darren Doherty who has devised a mixed species strip forest bordering a new water catchment drain. This drain was surveyed to have a very slight fall from left to right (in the photo below), to feed water into the dam (seen on the right). The dam has also been enlarged to accommodate the increased catchment area.

As this project involves mixed species, positioning the individual trees represents certain challenges. Regarding the design, I’ll quote Darren,

I first designed the layout on graph paper to develop the spatial design parameters. From a base list of species (available at the various nurseries) this process centred on spacing trees according to their life form, attributes (eg. nitrogen fixation) and rotation lengths. This eventuated in a pattern or sequence within the matrix which was then relatively easy to map out using excel. At a cursory glance it all might appear to be a randomised plot, when in fact it is quite the contrary.

The species selected for this system are shown below. As a component of my education, I’ll be developing detailed entries of each on of these species, and will activate links in the list below as these are published.

Darren employs a novel method of organising the species layout. Using an excel document, he has created a matrix of compatible species using the codes show here. This grid has been printed and laminated for use during the planting process. These laminated site cards are intended to avoid confusion. Such an aid is clearly essential.

The column free of codes represents the catchment drain / access road. Also evident is the attention to ‘vista’ - seen in the placement of cork & helm oaks, and stone pines. This will give an avenue feeling to the access road.

Referencing the codes show in the table above, you can also identify the perimeter species as ‘fodder’ trees. This strip forest now divides a pasture field in two (upper and lower). Hence the useful positioning of species beneficial to cattle along the perimeter of this forest. This provides the means to diversify the cattle’s diet, and cushion feed shortages during difficult times.

Currently, we’re mechanically planting the remaining trees and putting out milk carton tree guards. The next step is fencing. For this, I’ve produced the drawing below, which also gives an impression of the general scope of this forestry project.

As many of you know, planting trees can be a time consuming exercise. So what method do you use when you need to plant 3,500 trees? The answer is mechanical - and there a several options.

Join Darren Doherty on Taranaki Farm as he demonstrates the Pottiputki or “Planting Spear”, the Hamilton Tree Planter and the Fedele tractor mounted transplanter. The later is particularly interesting - it’s a tractor mounted vegetable seedling transplanter adapted for use in agroforestry for planting trees. Watch it in action here.

Now that the majority of forestry stock we’re planting have arrived on Taranaki Farm, it’s time to talk about what’s going in the groung. In this video Darren Doherty introduces the various tree species that he’s selected and provides a little background information on them.

The house on Taranaki Farm has been undergoing a major upgrade, and a component of this has been making efficiency improvements. One notable addition has been the installation of a handheld electricity meter.

Like household ‘waste’ output, electricity usage too often becomes excessive, not through intent or willful gluttony, but rather personal and systematic ignorance. With a personal meter you’ll give yourself the means to become aware of your usage without having to interpret your switchboard meter. It’s even fun.

The ‘efergy‘, that we’ve installed, allows you to see your instant current electricity usage. Turn on the toaster and it will immediate update your kilowatt/hr usage in real time. This illuminates many things hitherto unknown, and will certainly make you reevaluate household devices.

This device offers some fascinating data, including the ability to display your daily, weekly, monthly and total accumulative energy consumption. It will also tell you your current dollar expenditure of energy which is adjustable to your local rate.

For extra reality, it will also display your current and historical C02 emissions.

It’s a simple device, easy to use, and you might just accept the challenge and take personal responsibility for what you’re really using. You can even set a configurable alarm that will sound if your current usage exceeds a specified threshold. This offers some interesting adaptations - for instance, having to switch off one device in order to use another.

In short, it is a means of really adapting your behavior on a daily basis. The nuts and bolts of energy conservation as it were - in contrast to the larger decisions that we occasionally make in energy conservation, such as updating heating systems, or installing insulation.