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Climatic Factors
Climatic Factors
What is the Koppen climate classification which applies to the region?
Dfb - Humid Continental Mild Summer, Wet All Year
https://www.plantmaps.com/koppen-climate-classification-map-canada.php
What is the plant hardiness zone? USDA, UK, AU, etc.
5b - Plant Hardiness of Canada
http://planthardiness.gc.ca/?lang=en&m=24&s=p&speciesid=1000000&phz=phz1981-2010&bc=1
Average annual precipitation (1991-2020)
1,193 mm
Highest recorded annual rainfall (1991-2020)
1501.4 mm (2014)
Lowest recorded annual rainfall (1991-2020)
820.9 mm (2020)
Highest recorded 24-hour rainfall occurrence
122.2 mm (December 2014 - All Rain)
Highest recorded temperature
35.6C June 19, 2020
Lowest recorded temperature
-31.4 February 7, 1993
Average summer temperature (low)
12.29C (1991-2021)
Average summer temperature (high)
24.08 C (1991-2021)
Average winter temperature (low)
-10.84 C (1991-2021)
Average winter temperature (high)
-1.62 C (1991-2021)
What extreme weather is likely on this site? (select all that apply)
Drought
Flood
Hurricane
Tornado
Cyclone
Wild fire
Ice storm
Other (specify)
Blizzard
What direction do the weather systems that bring precipitation approach the site from? Are their seasonal variations of this? (the following prompts aim to answer this more broad question - this question does not require a direct answer)
Prevailing (Which direction seems most frequent/reliable?)
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Seasonal variations: Explain seasonal anomalies if any that differ from the prevailing pattern.
According to the wind rose created using the tool from windatlas.ca.
In the winter, the prevailing wind is from the west.
In the spring, the three major directions are due west, due south, and north-northeast.
In the summer, the main direction is spread relatively evenly from south to west.
In the fall, the west is the prevailing wind.
The strongest winds occur in the fall and winter.
Storms: Do particular storms or weather events defy the above pattern and normal seasonal variation? If so, please describe this briefly.
Hurricanes and Nor'easters primarily bring in their strongest winds from the northeast.
Geography
Geography
What is the site's prevailing orientation?
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
South
Southwest
West
Northwest
Are any of these present on site? (select all that apply)
Erosion
Wetland
Flatland
Hills
Valley
Rock
Slip zones
Other (specify)
Pavement
What is the most severe slope on the site?
29 degrees
What is the topographic position? (select all that apply)
Mid-Slope
Hillcrest
Valley Floor
Other (Specify)
What is the highest point? (Altitude)
29 meters (ASL)
What is the lowest point? (Altitude)
21 meters (ASL)
Is this area prone to slumps and landslides? (Yes or no)
No
What areas of the site will require special care and attention due to the possibility of landslides?
None
Water
Water
Are there any of these naturally (or currently) present on the site? (select all that apply)
Spring
River
Lake
Pond
Stream
Marshes
Seasonal/Temporary Flows
Other (Specify)
Describe the temporary flow situation if there is one.
There is a drainage ditch along the southern boundary which flows to a drainage ditch and 2 culverts on the western boundary
Access
Access
This design adds or modifies: (Select all that apply)
Driveway
Farm Tracks
Walking Tracks
Path or Footpaths
Animal Laneway
Other (Specify)
A chinampa will be installed, which will provide a 63 meter long waterway. The dream is to expand this to the north, one property at a time for 1.3 kilometres.
Provide some details for each type of access you are adding.
Paved
Dirt
Gravel
Other (Specify)
The chinampa will have a raft to move along the waterway to access plants on the shore and the trellises above.
The paths have to be designed to be efficient for nursery management and for clearing snow in the winter.
Flora and Fauna
Flora and Fauna
Are any of these present?
Special design considerations may be required. (Select all that apply)
Animal Species of Concern
Cliff Swallow and Nests - protected by Migratory Birds Act
Forest Regrowth
Native Grassland/prairie
Old Growth Forest
Plant species of special concern
Problematic non-native animals
Problematic non-native plants
Special conservation restrictions
Wetlands
Other (Specify)
Are there pests, diseases, or varmints of note? (list as appropriate)
Varmints are field mice, rats, skunks, raccoons, domestic cats, and coyotes.
Blight can sometimes affect potatoes and tomatoes in nearby gardens.
Pests do come through in the neighbouring garden, such as potato bugs, cucurbit beetles, fruit flies, cabbage worms, and flea beetles. Pests that are annoying to people and animals are mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, and yellow jackets.
What plant species are on site?
Common name, species name, description, useful, uses, current circumstances.
Black Willow (Salix nigra)
Growing in clumps on the top of the eastern bank. Planted by my father ~30 years ago. 8 meters tall or so. Trunks up to 30 cm. Many suckers. Older trees have died and fallen over. Is a good eastern windbreak, although an eastern windbreak isn't really needed for this property. They may be removed to allow more sun below. At the very least, they'll be thinned out.
Makes a good charcoal(biochar) and okay for heating fuel. Branches could be used for basketry.
Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
The red bark makes a vibrant display in a dried flower arrangement. It is also used as a component in basketry.
Beak Willow (Salix Bebbiana)
Growing on the eastern bank. Not very large. Could be used for basketry or cordage.
Raspberry (Rubus strigosus)
Growing on the eastern side of the eastern bank. Not being managed at this time. Will check on management procedures and may propagate somehow for the nursery.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Two trees growing along the northern boundary. Have collected fruit for seed and will be propagating in the nursery.
Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica)
Four trees growing along the western ditch. Have collected fruit for seed and will be propagating in the nursery.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Was allowed to grow on the areas that were lawn. Very many plants on the open lawn area, both in front of and on the back and side lawns. It seems to have decreased the abundance of hackweed. Collected some seed for 2022. Will allow to grow unmowed until the earthworks are undertaken.
Hawthorn (Crataegus succulenta)
Several trees on the Eastern border. To allow more light to reach the property, these will be removed, but not before collecting fruit/seed and cutting material for propagation. Hawthorn makes a great security fence.
White Birch (Betula papyrifera)
One tree on the east bank. Trunk about 20 cm. Unsure whether or not this tree will be removed. Makes a nice firewood, but the woodlot on the adjacent property has plenty of mature white birch if we need some. May use this one for propagation.
Wild Rose (Rosa carolina)
All along the regularly unmowed parts of the property. Bees seem to love it, so as long as it isn't in the way of earthworks, it will be left alone. Plentiful rosehips, although there is no shortage of rosehips available in the area for those who collect such things.
Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum)
Showed up several years ago. Started as a patch and covered the front lawn within 3 years. Is currently being suppressed by unmown red clover.
Apple (Malus domestica)
Variety unknown, as it grew wild in the roadside ditch. This year it only had one apple. Very similar to the yellow transparent growing nearby, although it ripens about 3 weeks later and isn't as fragile. It has a creamy flavour. It was a more prolific tree several years ago, but since it is in the ditch, it suffers every winter when the salt trucks go by. Cuttings will be taken soon and propagation will happen on this site. It might be a pretty good new variety.
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)
Is growing on the edge of the lawns. Not sure what to do with this. It's an amazing medicinal plant, but it grows freely, so maybe I can put it on the back burner for now. Apparently, it's a nice soil decompacter too.
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Another medicinal. As my great grandfather was a Mi'kmaq medicine man, this was probably one of the tools in his tool chest. Unfortunately, he didn't pass his knowledge down to any of his progeny. The ease with which this plant grows in this region means that it can be placed on the back burner for now as well. We'll come back to it at a later date. I do like it's function as an attractant to beneficial insects.
Cattail (Typha latifolia)
These are in the roadside ditch in moderate numbers. The ditch often goes dry. These will be grown in the north end of the chinampa as a bit of a filter for runoff from the neighbouring property. There is a leach field 20 metres to the east that sometimes requires draining of its liquids, especially during the spring melt. This water currently flows toward the proposed chinampa route. Efforts will be made to direct the waste water away from the chinampa, but success is not guaranteed. That's where the cattails will assist and probably thrive. It might be possible to harvest the cattails for sale as ornamentals and possibly the other uses. Depending on the amount of total feedstock available, some ethanol distilling may take place on the property in the future and may utilise some cattail root.
Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)
This tree, in the south east corner of the property, will probably be coming down. There is no shortage of balsam poplar in the region. Since the property isn't very large and since this plant isn't an abundant source of food, it won't stay on the property for very long. It's in a section of the property that doesn't need a windbreak and is currently blocking the sun from reaching large portions of the ground nearby as well as part of the building in the morning. That said, if a use can be found by the end of this exercise, it's possible it may remain. Undecided for now.
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Several black spruce were planted on the eastern bank by my father as a succession plant for when the willows eventually died. They were planted between the willows. They aren't growing very quickly, but they have abundant cones this year. Their seeds will be saved for propagation, as Black Spruce is a very important tree for good medicine. Nearly all the tree is edible and health inducing. Several Mi'kmaq elders have told me that it's possible to survive eating the tree and nothing else. Spruce gum is truly magical, and especially good if it's from black spruce.
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
There is one white spruce on the bank leading to the ditch near the road. Like the black spruce, it's a good medicine tree. Unfortunately, the needles smell like cat pee. It's currently located just downhill from where a proposed swale is being installed. I may want to raise higher value trees in this area, so this relatively young tree may be taken down.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
There's one small tree on the bank leading to the ditch near the road. It's very abundant in the area. If room is needed for other species, this one will be removed and probably transplanted.
Speckled Alder (alnus rugosa)
There are several on the bank on the eastern side of the property. Depending on their location and height, they will stay and provide nitrogen fixing duties to the area. Those that are too large will be removed and turned into biochar.
Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
It's apparent on the edges of the lawn. Some seeds have been collected. It will be encouraged as a green manure and spread in the open areas.
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
There are two trees on the western bank near the road. The nearby area is abundant in Tamarack. Since it loses its needles every year, it's not much of a winter windbreak. The trees are very interesting, however. I might keep them just as a handy seed source. I see these trees as the platypus of trees. They're so odd. Tough as nails, super hardy, easily misshapen on windy sites, and the odd distinction as a deciduous conifer.
Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
There are several in areas where it's difficult to mow. I have no use for them, other than as for pollinators. I won't encourage or discourage their existence. I guess they're great for pulling up minerals with their deep tap roots.
Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
One of these is growing out of a crack in the asphalt. Although it appears to have many medicinal uses, its spread won't be encouraged.
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
They're all over the unmown lawn area between the clover. Like many other wildflowers on the property, their continued growth will neither be encouraged or discouraged.
Plantain (Plantago major)
Spread out all over the lawn area. They won't be encouraged or discouraged. I'll just let their tap roots continue to bring minerals to the surface.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Another ground cover that won't be encouraged or discouraged. Bees love them and the taproots pull and concentrate minerals on the surface.
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
It's on the edges. One big one is in the outside corner to the east of the building. I know the root's edible and medicinal. I am very interested in the its use as fibre material, especially for rope. It won't be encouraged or discouraged unless it's in the way. It's not much fun pulling burdocks off your clothes all the time.
Soil Types
What are the soil types on site? (select all that apply)
Clay
Sandy Clay
Silty Clay
Clay Loam
Sandy Clay Loam
Silty Clay Loam
Loam
Sandy Loam
Silt Loam
Loamy Sand
Sand
Silt
Volcanic
Caliche/Limestone
Peaty
Other (Specify)
What is the soil pH?
Test different areas
The western lawn area that is more fertile has a pH of 7.
The western lawn area that is gravelly and more infertile has a ph of 7.5
The eastern lawn has a pH of 7.
Are there any known toxins in the soil?
There aren't known toxins, but it used to be a petrol station that sold leaded gasoline. A test could be conducted, but the budget's thin at this time. Food producing plants will not be using any of the existing soil.
It is quite possible that most of the contaminants have leached out over the past 25 years, and it is quite possible some remain.
How well do the soils drain? (Select One)
Quickly
Moderately
Slowly
Imperceptibly
Draining too fast or too slow? Outline a summary of your plan to address this.
Are there areas/soils in need of repair/remediation? (Yes or No)
Yes
Describe the area where the work is needed, the needed work, and your plan to address this both as part of the short term design implementation and as part of the long term design maintenance.
Nearly all the soils will need remediation. Where pavement exists, it will probably remain, with only small "speed bumps" placed for the purpose of directing water. Biochar and compost will be created and added to most of the soil to increase fertility. Most of the growing systems will be for nursery plants, therefore the soil will not be integrated with the ground.
Has there been heavy soil disturbance recently? (Yes or No)
It appears that the entire property was excavated during construction (1960ish), lots of sandy gravel imported to cover the area, 30% paved, and any grass is the result of rolled turf laid out over the sandy gravel. More excavation was done when the fuel tanks were removed and this was capped with concrete.
Describe the disturbance, how it affects the design work, and your plan to address this.
I don't have any good, lush, productive, clean topsoil to start with. Any productive soil will have to be created. As I don't want to interact with soil that has the potential to be contaminated with lead from leaded gasoline leaks or lead that was deposited on the land from more than 30 years of intense highway travel, a separation needs to be made from the existing ground and any soil that will be used to grow productive, edible plants. Where the ground is not paved, only plants that are not to be used for producing food will be planted and encouraged. Attempts to lock up any contaminants will use biochar and compost to build up new soil, as well as plenty of chop & drop from plants placed to perform such tasks.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
What building types are already present on site? (select all that apply)
Barn/Livestock Housing
Coop/Poultry Housing
House
None
Outhouse
Shed/Outbuilding
Tower
Water Tank
Other (Specify)
Former Texaco service station/restaurant building.
What buildings are we adding or heavily modifying in the design? (select all that apply)
Barn/Livestock Housing (Rabbits)
Coop/Poultry Housing
House
None
Outhouse
Shed/Outbuilding
Tower
Water Tank
Other (Specify)
Greenhouse and Hoop houses
Biochar creation station
Does the site include any of these? Special care or attention may be needed. (Select all that apply)
Buried Pipes
Culverts
Earth Banks
Fences
None
Ponds and Dams
Power Lines
Terraces
Walls
Other (specify)
Are we adding or heavily modifying any of these to the site as part of the design? Select all that apply.
Buried Pipes
Culverts
Earth Banks
Fences
None
Ponds and Dams
Power LInes
Terraces
Walls
Other (Specify)
Energy Components
Energy Components
Is this site "off-grid"? (Yes or No)
No
Is energy being harvested on site? (Yes or No)
No
What methods of power collection are being utilised? (Select all that apply)
Solar
Hydro
Wind
Other (Specify)
Are there any additional technologies, innovations, infrastructure, or actions that will affect plans for energy use on site? (Yes or No)
Yes
List and describe these as appropriate.
Within 5 years, the energy supply will be converted to PV solar with battery backup. Within 5 years, the heat source will be transitioned to solar with stored heat in solid mass. A rocket mass heating system will be developed to heat the main building and the greenhouse.
Social Components
Social Components
Does this site currently serve in a larger social context which will need to be updated or maintained to continue serving the community? (Yes or No)
No
Describe the current social context of the site.
If Yes is chosen above, How is this existing social context reflected in your design?
Does your design include ways in which the site will serve in a larger social context than it currently does? (Yes or No)
Yes
What is the larger social context?
1/2 the building will serve as a public area for a permaculture club and classes. All permaculture design components from this plan will serve as examples for the club/students.
If Yes is chosen above, How will this new situation be achieved and supported by your design?
By applying as many appropriate permaculture inspired components and techniques on the property, the intent is to inspire members/students to go out and replicate the techniques where appropriate and create their own techniques as they apply to permaculture ethics and directives. As a nursery, the intent is to provide as many transplantable plants as possible to help others accelerate the transition of their properties into permaculture management.
As well, the business being created, Permify Canada, will be based on this property and will be completely tasked with designing and implementing permaculture transitions on every piece of land that has a willing customer and every piece of land that Permify Canada acquires itself.
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