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Hi all,

I’ve lost a number of plants to a lack of sunlight. Because the path of the sun is always changing, a spot that gets enough sunlight during the summer might not get enough during fall or winter. And obstacles like trees and walls only complicate things. So I built this iOS app that scans your surroundings for obstacles and gives you an intuitive, month-by-month sunlight schedule. It takes the guesswork out of placing plants. Try it out and let me know what you think!

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sunscape-ar/id6738613861

Hi everyone! I’m currently doing some research on how people in the permaculture community stay informed and connected, especially when it comes to learning, news, and keeping up with evolving practices.

I’d really appreciate your input: How do you usually get your permaculture-related information? Do you follow certain blogs, newsletters, podcasts, YouTube channels, or use tools like RSS feed readers or social media groups?

Feel free to share any habits, favorite sources, or tools you use regularly. Thanks in advance — this will really help!

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Hello!

I am looking to create a food forest/permaculture haven on my family farm that’s in Northwest Iowa, United States – Zone 5a. Looking for tips or tricks for getting started. I know planning and prepping ground is important.

We don’t have livestock anymore, that includes chickens (for now).

I’ve had a garden here for years in raised beds. This is in a location of a former cattle lot/barn. Barn was buried recently behind these beds. Stirred up a lot of weeds.

There’s tons of crab grass, lambs quarter, burdock, stinging nettle and nightshade all over out here.

I’ve been studying the book Gaia’s Garden. Would like to do a sheet mulch approach to choke out everything and make a good base:

• Thick cardboard/newspaper layer

• Thick layer of Hay Stable bedding or other organic matter layer (don’t think i’d have to add more well-rotted manure in this location)

• Layer of wood chips, dry leaves, or straw

• Layer of well aged compost

• Top with straw, leaves or other seedless mulch.

I need to establish this ground before planting more.

Previously, 2 apple trees were planted here in 2021 and did not live. Not sure if it’s because this was a former cattle lot site and may have too much nitrogen. I have not done a soil test. The deer may have also killed them. Plans for better tree protection from deer are noted for future planting.

Location is about 100 feet from a creek with various trees. Lots of room to spread out for this. Lots of land to prep if sheet mulching is the right way to go.

Would like to incorporate swales and a rain garden.

Trees/Shrubs:

• American Hazelnut Filbert

• Arkansas Black Apple Tree

• Sweet 16 Apple Tree

• Honeycrisp Apple Tree

• American Paw Paw Tree

• Elderberry Bush

• Honeyberry Bushes (2 varieties for pollination)

• Cranberry Bush

• Viking Aronia Chokeberry Bush

• Bartlett Pair Tree

• Summer Crisp Pear Tree

• Chinese Mormon Apricot Tree

• Moorpark Apricot Tree

• Contender Peach Tree

• Reliance Peach Tree

• Cherry Tree

Perennials:

• Yarrow

• Comfrey bocking 14

• White Wild Indigo

• Wild Lupine

• Golden Alexanders

• Large-Flowered Penstemon

• Ohio Spiderwort

• Anise Hyssop

• Common Milkweed

• Butterfly Milkweed

• Purple Prairie Clover

• Purple Coneflower

• Wild bergamot

• Dotted Mint

• Virginia Mountain Mint

• Yellow Coneflower

• Compass Plant

• Maximilian Sunflower

• Meadow Blazing Star

• Rattlesnake Master

• Showy Goldenrod

• Smooth Blue Aster

• New England Aster

• Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Annuals:

• Borage

• Alfalfa

• White clover

• Buckwheat

• Hairy Vetch

Grasses:

• Prairie Junegrass

• Big Bluestem

• Little Bluestem

• Side oats grama

• Plains oval sedge

• Tussock sedge

• Indian Grass

• Prairie Dropseed

Thanks in advance for tips/tricks/advice!