Dreaming of Warmer Days
Sunday, January 21st, 2007Â
Now, in the middle of Winter, warmer days and lush plants seem very appealing!
The Earth Sanctuary Blog
Archive for January, 2007
Creating an Old-Growth Forest
Saturday, January 6th, 2007
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Earth Sanctuary is the only private property that we know of on the planet consciously and proctively creating an old-growth forest. We have a nine-year plan to plant the entire 72 acres of Earth Sanctuary with the optimal mix of trees so that in 500 years Earth Sanctuary will covered with 4-5 foot diameter conifers with a multi-layer canopy of many native plants. Our goal is maximum diversity of plants, birds, animals and fungi.
This is a video I did last Fall 2005. If you come to Earth Sanctuary today, you will see hundreds of new and growing conifers, all carefully planted, maintainedand also protected against deer (they like to eat the leaders – tops – of young conifers and also rub their antlers against them). We have over 95% tree survival rate now that we have learned through trial and error the best practices of conifer tree planting and maintenance.
Come to Earth Sanctuary and watch the trees grow, year by year. -Chuck Pettis
Clearing a Stuck Pipe at Earth Sanctuary
Monday, January 1st, 2007
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There is a weir, a small dam, between the Middle and West Ponds at Earth Sanctuary. When the level of the Middle Pond raises to the height of the dam (made of stacked boards), the overflow goes though a pipe into the West Pond.  Recently, the pipe got some debris stuck in it preventing the overflow water to pass into the West Pond.  In this video, you can see Sean bravely enter the very cold Middle Pond and use a long 2×4 to break through the plugged pipe. With help and encouragement from Jody, the pipe was successfully and quickly cleared allowing the pent-up water to emerge in the West Pond. Thank you Sean and Jody!
Note: the fence in front of the weir prevents the beavers from plugging the pipe and weir. Before we put this fence in, the weir would be completely packed with sticks and mud after every night!
Creating an Old-Growth Forest
Saturday, January 6th, 2007Â
Earth Sanctuary is the only private property that we know of on the planet consciously and proctively creating an old-growth forest. We have a nine-year plan to plant the entire 72 acres of Earth Sanctuary with the optimal mix of trees so that in 500 years Earth Sanctuary will covered with 4-5 foot diameter conifers with a multi-layer canopy of many native plants. Our goal is maximum diversity of plants, birds, animals and fungi.
This is a video I did last Fall 2005. If you come to Earth Sanctuary today, you will see hundreds of new and growing conifers, all carefully planted, maintainedand also protected against deer (they like to eat the leaders – tops – of young conifers and also rub their antlers against them). We have over 95% tree survival rate now that we have learned through trial and error the best practices of conifer tree planting and maintenance.
Come to Earth Sanctuary and watch the trees grow, year by year. -Chuck Pettis
Clearing a Stuck Pipe at Earth Sanctuary
Monday, January 1st, 2007Â
There is a weir, a small dam, between the Middle and West Ponds at Earth Sanctuary. When the level of the Middle Pond raises to the height of the dam (made of stacked boards), the overflow goes though a pipe into the West Pond.  Recently, the pipe got some debris stuck in it preventing the overflow water to pass into the West Pond.  In this video, you can see Sean bravely enter the very cold Middle Pond and use a long 2×4 to break through the plugged pipe. With help and encouragement from Jody, the pipe was successfully and quickly cleared allowing the pent-up water to emerge in the West Pond. Thank you Sean and Jody!
Note: the fence in front of the weir prevents the beavers from plugging the pipe and weir. Before we put this fence in, the weir would be completely packed with sticks and mud after every night!
