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Large scale permaculture design in Morocco, this site to day has planted 150k trees, one of my favorite projects I’ve been involved in over the years

I have two crab apple trees with beautiful blooms in my yard and their branches are touching. My father would like plants around the base of the tree. Now I know that is tricky because of root competition and the high amount of shade. We are in zone 6a. Any suggestions for what could be planted there? I’ve had the idea of planting native perennials, which would also help the local ecosystem and the garden. Any ideas for that?

Hi folks. I’m in need of some advice. We have a 1/4 acre property surrounded by a swampy forest, zone 4b eastern Canada. We’re in our 4th year of conversion of the property from lawn to permie food forest and things are finally coming together, finding balance and providing food for our family. However, the mosquito load immense and we can spend more than a few seconds outside without getting swarmed and bitten to shit! I’ve planted every supposedly mosquito repellent plant that will grow in our zone but to no avail. We’re trying to encourage dragonflies and have made homes for bats. We’ve tried zappers, thermacels and good old citronella but it’s still brutal. Swimming in DEET works for a hour or two but we want to get away from that if possible. Has anyone had any experience with the propane-based mosquito traps like the one on the photo? Any and all other suggestions would be most appreciated too. Thanks

I’ve always been interested in permaculture but never took steps to actually do anything about it in my garden, until this year.

I’m trying to step back and watch and wait. Let certain bugs attract their natural predators, and do their job. But now I’ve got an ant hill in my small garden and ants are moving over the entire floor of my (in ground) garden. I mean I can still see dirt it’s not like there are so many I can’t even see the ground. But there are definitely more than I’m usually comfortable with.

The hill is right under my rose bush. I’m worried they’re eating/messing with my garlic that will be ready to harvest at the end of the month and there is NO way I want to have grown garlic for so long only to have it come up damaged.

I have clay soil that I’m still amending and aeration is my biggest problem. So obviously I’m telling myself the ants are good, the ants are great. Let them do the work and aerate for me.

But they’re also going from a strawberry bush back to their hill. And of course that brings on the whole aphid farming that I certainly don’t want on my strawberries.
I just really don’t know if they’re a problem or if if I should leave them alone.

TLDR How do you know ants have become a problem? How many are too many ants? If it’s a problem how to lessen the population so they’re helpful but not taking over?

Thank you so much!

Another fantastic video by Andrew Millison.