Running head: PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS
Permaculture at the University of Victoria
Campus Community Gardens
By Jori Baum
University of Victoria
Environmental Restoration 390
For Dr. Val Schaefer
August 23rd
, 2012
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 2
Table of Contents
List of Figures & Tables .........………………………………………………… 3
Abstract ……………………………………………………………………….. 5
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 6
The Site ………………………………………………………………. 8
The Study ………………………………………………………………. 13
Methods & Materials ………………………………………………………. 15
Perennial garden beds ………………………………………………. 15
Apple tree restoration ………………………………………………. 21
Invasive species removal ………………………………………………. 25
Results ………………………………………………………………………. 26
Discussion & Recommendations ………………………………………………. 30
Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………. 32
References ………………………………………………………………………. 33
Appendix A: Permaculture garden beds – plant profiles
Appendix B: A step-by-step guide to apple tree pruning
Appendix C: Project budget
Appendix D: Field notes
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 3
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Locations of the old and new garden sites on campus …………………… 11
Figure 2. Site layout for the new McKenzie Ave CCG …………………………… 12
Figure 3. Perimeter measurements of the McKenzie Ave Garden site …………… 13
Figure 4. Shape and measurements of the permaculture guilds ................................ 16
Figure 5 and 6. Mapping out the perennial garden beds ............................................ 17
Figures 7, 8 and 9. Digging the hole, loosening the roots, and planting the first shrub 18
Figure 10. Basic layers of sheet mulching .................................................................... 18
Figure 11. Manure applied as first layer .................................................................... 19
Figure 12. Trench for weed barrier ................................................................................ 19
Figure 13. Newspapers act as the barrier layer ........................................................ 20
Figure 14. Leaves are the final layer after compost ........................................................ 20
Figure 15. Placing the remaining plants .................................................................... 21
Figure 16. A completely planted guild .................................................................... 21
Figure 17. Sheet mulching a small area .................................................................... 21
Figure 18. Plantings along the fence .................................................................... 21
Figure 19. The apple tree at the UVic CCG 2012 ........................................................ 22
Figure 20. Philip Young lectures ................................................................................ 24
Figure 21. Beginning to prune the apple tree .................................................................... 24
Figure 22. Working together to remove branches ........................................................ 24
Figure 23. Branches that have been removed .................................................................... 24
Figure 24. Rubus discolor on site at UVic CCG ........................................................ 25
Figure 25. Ilex aquifolium at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria BC ................................ 25
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 4
Figure 26. Volunteers working to remove invasive species at the CCG .................... 26
Figure 27. Root ball of a Rubus discolor that was removed ............................................ 26
Figure 28. Final site map of the SW corner ................................................................... 28
Figure 29. The three permaculture guilds ................................................................... 28
Figure 30. Locations of invasive species removed on site ............................................ 29
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. List of plants planted at the UVic CCG in the perennial garden beds ....... 27
Table 2. Timeline for restoring the CCG apple tree ....................................................... 28
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 5
Abstract
This paper summarizes an urban restoration project that examines ecological restoration as it
pertains to sustainable urban agriculture and environmental education. The project takes place in
Victoria, BC at the University of Victoria (UVic) Campus Community Gardens (CCG) and aims
to replace resource-intensive lawn with perennial edible garden beds, to restore a neglected apple
tree to a healthy fruit-producing state, and to remove invasive species in order to prevent their
further spread and to maximize the potential of desired species. The gardens have been an
important site for community engagement and education at the university since their induction in
1998. This project utilizes the CCG’s presence on campus to expand the university community’s
awareness around food security issues and provides volunteers with the opportunity to gain
hands-on experience with permaculture techniques. As a result of this project 13 perennial food
plants were established at the garden site, the apple tree underwent the first step toward
restoration, and all the invasive species growing on the site were removed. On-going
maintenance and management will be required to ensure the long-term success of this project.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 6
Permaculture at the University of Victoria
Campus Community Gardens
Urban environments present a unique challenge to the field of restoration as they require
a balance between everyday human activities and the integrity of urban ecosystems. The way
that we utilize and transform urban spaces is not always in the best interest of the natural
environment. According to the Centre for Watershed Protection (Frazer, 2005), 65 percent of
North America’s total impervious cover is found in urban areas – roads, buildings, driveways,
and parking lots. Impervious surfaces eliminate rainwater infiltration and natural groundwater
recharge, altering the natural cycling of water and contributing to polluted waterways and
flooding. These surfaces also contribute to the heat island effect – lands that were once
permeable and moist are now impermeable and dry, and absorb and retain atmospheric heat
which leads to increased energy consumption for cooling which then increases carbon emissions
(EPA, 2012).
Another phenomenon common in urban landscapes is the prevalence of turf grasses.
Heynan, Kaika, and Swyngedouw (2006) estimate that 23 percent of the urban landscape is
covered in turf grasses – residential, commercial, and institutional lawns, parks, recreation fields,
and golf courses which often appear as monocultures. Milesi et al. (2005) show that total turf
grass cover in the United States is three times greater than any irrigated crop. Turf grasses are
energy and resource intensive and provide little or no habitat for urban dwellers – both human
and non-human. Challenging the ways that urban lands are used is central in urban restoration.
As fertile land is paved over and mono-cropped turf grass is cared for, a simultaneous
concern is growing around our food systems. The way we eat today is not sustainable and the
dominant system in place has many social and environmental repercussions. Western society has
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 7
industrialized the production of food and in turn has created a system dependent on fossil fuels,
chemical inputs, and cheap labour. Currently in Canada a large portion of the food we eat is
imported while most of the food we produce is exported (Elton, 2010). David Pimentel, a
professor of ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University, has calculated that it takes
1,514 litres of oil to feed the average North American (Elton, 2010). In other words, we are using
more kilocalories to grow and transport the food we eat than there are kilocalories in the food
itself – a system that is not sustainable. Evidently, as concerns for food security rise, the need for
lawns and impervious surfaces should be seriously questioned. In order to address the issues
presented by the global food regime, we must look to local and sustainable methods of food
production.
In her book Locavore, Sarah Elton (2010) states that a sustainable food system can
involve both food that is produced nearby as well as imports that are produced and transported in
a sustainable way. What about food grown in cities? Growing food in cities is not a new concept.
Poverty, not sustainability, drives less prosperous areas of the world to grow food in their cities.
In the Western world however, there is a rising ‘urban food revolution’ – different actions within
the city limits that aim to take control over the food that we grow and eat (Ladner, 2011).
Amongst these efforts is the rise of urban community gardens. Peter Ladner states that
community gardens often emerge in periods when people feel threatened by food insecurity –
“urban community garden food production has ebbed and waned in the United States in tune
with food shortages caused by depression or wars” (2011, pg. 182). For example, Victory
Gardens emerged in Canada during World War II and it is estimated that they accounted for as
much as 40 percent of the vegetable production in the country at that time. This reveals the
potential for food production in Canadian cities today.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 8
Another concept that is taking shape within the urban food revolution is that of
“permaculture”. As outlined by David Holmgren (2003), permaculture is a set of principles that
guide a long-term or permanent way of living – both in terms of culture and agriculture. In order
to achieve this long-term agricultural system, the design for a permaculture site considers all
aspects of sustenance and life. The design will therefore often include food production, building
materials, water systems, and timber in a system that works in sync with the natural environment.
Whereas industrial agriculture is constantly fighting against nature by applying external inputs of
fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, irrigation, etc., permaculture seeks to mimic natural systems
and maximize biodiversity. As Bill Morrison, co-founder of the permaculture concept, states –
“permanence and stability in a landscape are most easily achieved when one works with rather
than against ecological forces” (in Hemenway, 2009, pg. 44).
Taking into consideration the growing need for nutritious and healthy food that is grown
in a sustainable and organic way, urban and local food production can look to both community
gardens and permaculture. A system of local food production that does not completely rely on
imports and non-renewable resources will increase community food security and increase the
resilience of practitioners. For this project, I seek to incorporate permaculture concepts into an
existing community garden as a means to increase local food production, educate the garden
community on permaculture techniques, and improve the health and integrity of the urban
environment.
The Site
The site for this project is the University of Victoria Campus Community Gardens (UVic
CCG). The gardens were established on the university campus in 1997 following a proposal the
year before from the Environmental Studies Students Association (ESSA). The location of the
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 9
original garden site can be seen in Figure 1 below. The CCG began with two communal herb
gardens and 14 allotment plots and was run by a student coordinator whose position was funded
through ESSA. Each year the gardens continued to grow with more members and more
volunteers. Regular workparties began to occur on site, and some students used the space for
academic research while others used it to harvest food. A portion of the harvest was also donated
to the University of Victoria Student Society (UVSS) Food Bank. In 1999, ESSA dissolved its
activities and could no longer maintain the gardens. The School of Environmental Studies was
keen to see the garden remain in operation however was unable to provide funds to hire a student
coordinator. In order to keep the gardens running, students living in Student Family Housing
took over operations. A volunteer site coordinator was appointed among Family Housing tenants
and was responsible for day to day operations and with connecting with Facilities Management
as needed. During this time the gardens grew to 22 allotment and 12 communal plots.
In 2005 a task force was created in response to increasing interest in the CCG. Numerous
departments and students were looking to do research at the site, more students were showing
interest in volunteering, and the waiting list for allotment plots was growing. The group was
made of representatives from around campus, including Family Housing, and their first task was
to develop a purpose for the gardens. The result appears below (UVic CCG, 2005):
The purposes of the Campus Community Gardens are to:
Enhance the built environment at the University of Victoria
Provide allotment garden space for Family Student Housing tenants, undergraduate,
and graduate students at the University of Victoria
Provide volunteer opportunities for members of the campus and broader community
Provide a physical space for education and research on topics related to urban
agriculture such as food security, permaculture, composting, organic gardening,
native plant propagation and healthy eating
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 10
In 2008 the gardens were continuing to grow and required a new form of management
that would assist in the gardens development and ensure its long term viability. An executive
committee and UVSS club were created, which comprised a site coordinator, membership
coordinator, treasurer, and student club president and vice-president. This was the year that I
personally became involved in the gardens as a volunteer and in the two following years would
act as the club president. Weekly workparties were held at the garden site and were open to all
the campus community; regular educational workshops were also organized and ranged in topic
from composting and sheet mulching, to garden art and canning; we continued to donate food to
the campus Food Bank and we also participated in a fall weekly pocket market on campus.
The land where the gardens were located on campus was loaned to the CCG on contract.
After the first five years the contract was renewed and expired again in 2011. In 2010 the garden
committee was approached by the university and told that the space was going to be developed
as a storage facility. Luckily, the garden committee was successful in securing another piece of
land on campus for the new CCG. The new location also appears in Figure 1 below.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 11
Figure 1. Locations of the old and new garden sites on campus.(source: Google Earth, 2012)
The design for the new garden site appears below in Figure 2. The land is university
property and has been maintained as turf grass by Facilities Management. It is located off of
McKenzie Avenue in Victoria, BC and therefore acquired the name McKenzie Ave Garden.
Using the ruler tool in Google Earth I calculated the approximate perimeter and area of the
McKenzie garden site. The borders of the site appear in Figure 3 below. Based on the
measurements of the perimeter, the area of this triangular shaped lot is calculated to be 3,600m2.
The new garden site is comprised of 90 plots, including individual allotment gardens, communal
plots for volunteers and food bank donations, and garden plots used by advocacy groups and
classes (The UVic Campus Community Gardens, n.d.).
LEGEND
Old garden site
New garden site
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 12
Figure 2. Site layout for the new McKenzie Ave CCG. (source: Facilities Management, 2011)
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 13
Figure 3. Perimeter measurements of the McKenzie Ave Garden site. (source: Google Earth,
2012)
The Study
Obtaining a new garden site was more difficult than I have described here. The university
administration was hesitant to approve a new garden location and the McKenzie Ave garden site
was actually destined to be beach volleyball courts in the future. Through hard work and much
dedication, the CCG executive committee was able to secure the McKenzie Ave site, but again
on lease. As the plans for the new garden site began to take shape, it became evident that a new
form of management was again necessary for a larger and more complex organization. A part-
time site coordinator position was created through funding gained from the UVSS. A larger site
also opened new possibilities for education and expansion of garden projects.
130m
90m
80m
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 14
Ladner (2011) identifies four overarching goals of community gardens: nutrition,
recreation, education, and community building – and the UVic garden committee was keen on
maximizing the value of each in order to prove their worth to the university’s administration.
Having this in mind, I approached the executive committee in the summer of 2011 with the idea
of integrating a food forest into the new garden site. Based on the resource management systems
of the ancient Mayan people of Mexico and Central American, a food forest is a low-
maintenance food production and agro-forestry system that mimics woodland ecosystems
(Crawford, 2010). Practitioners of food forestry incorporate food producing plants such as fruit
and nut trees, herbs, perennial and annual vegetable crops, with woody species that provide fuel
and shelter. The Mayan people recognized the benefit of working with nature to benefit from its
productivity and resources (Ford and Nigh, 2009). They consistently expanded their knowledge
of ecological processes and patterns, including weeds, pests, and soil conditions. Earlier
management strategies developed into “an integrated, productive, and flexible resource
management system [that]... provided for the subsistence needs of a growing population, as well
as supported the maintenance and regeneration of the landscape” (Ford & Nigh, 2009, p. 225).
Unfortunately, the university’s Facilities Management rejected our initial proposal for the
food forest as they did not want any trees planted on the site, considering trees to be too
‘permanent’. Therefore I turned to permaculture and perennial food gardening concepts and
techniques as a means to create a low-maintenance and food producing garden that did not
include trees. The new location already has a row of established trees that run North to South
along the perimeter of the garden and amongst these trees was a neglected apple tree that I
decided to include in the project as the fruit-bearing tree. I established three objectives for the
study: to replace resource-intensive lawn with perennial edible garden beds, to restore the
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 15
neglected apple tree to a healthy fruit-producing state, and to remove any invasive species from
the existing vegetation to prevent their continued spread. The objectives were to be met with an
overarching focus on education and community engagement, and with the help and input from
the CCG site coordinator and board of directors (of which I was a member).
Methods & Materials
In this section I will describe the methods and materials used for each component of the
project at the UVic CCG. The components are separated into the perennial garden beds, the
apple tree restoration, and the removal of invasive species. Although most of the materials were
gathered for free or by donation, and the labour was done by volunteers, I have included a budget
for the project in Appendix C.
Perennial Garden Beds
The CCG allocated the space in the SW corner of the property to the perennial garden
beds. To prepare for the design and construction of these beds, I spend several hours researching
permaculture, food forestry, and perennial plants that succeed on lower Vancouver Island. I also
met frequently with Andrea Zittlau, the CCG site coordinator at the time, and Solara Goldwyn, a
CCG volunteer with a Permaculture Design Certificate. On February 5th
, 2012 I performed an
initial site evaluation and, using a GPS borrowed from the Environmental Studies department,
determined the location of the garden beds to be N 48° 28.154’ and W 123° 18.927’ and the site
elevation to be 27m. Materials were gathered prior to the first workparty and included a compost
and soil blend purchased from a local landscape company, composted manure donated by Brenda
Beckwith an Environmental Studies professor, old newspapers gathered from the university’s
paper the Martlet, leaves gathered on site, and the acquisition of started plants purchased from
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 16
Cornucopia, a permaculture micro-nursery in Victoria. Tools and garden equipment were
provided by the CCG and included shovels, wheelbarrows, a lawn mower, rakes, watering cans,
trowels and gloves.
The first workparty took place March 8th
, 2012 and involved myself, Andrea, Solara, two
volunteers and Geoff Johnson, a local permaculture guru and owner of Cornucopia, who agreed
to lead the workparty free of charge. We began by mowing the lawn because it was quite long
and we could use the clippings as a nitrogen layer in the process. Next, with the help of Geoff,
we visualized how we wanted the space to look. Some considerations included shape and size,
and to make the space accessible and welcoming for people to use. We decided to create three
circular garden beds, or guilds as they are referred to in permaculture, and to measure them out
in an equilateral triangle as Geoff noted that people find symmetry more attractive. Guilds mimic
vegetation layers and will include a shrub layer surrounding a tree, with low growing plants or
ground covers surrounding them. Below in Figure 4 is the shape and measurements of the guilds.
Figure 4. Shape and measurements of the permaculture guilds.
1.2
m
1.2
m 1.2
m 4.0m
4.0m 4.0m
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 17
We proceeded by laying out the shape and size of the guilds with bricks before beginning
the process of garden bed creation. A ‘key hole’ was added at the front of each guild to provide
easy access to the plants growing near the centre. Below are photos of us mapping out the garden
beds.
Figures 5 and 6. Mapping out the perennial garden beds. (source: Jori Baum, March 2012)
We began by digging a hole and planting three shrubs that were planned for the centre of
each guild. To plant a shrub, we dug a hole twice the size of the pot the plant was growing in.
Once the hole was created, we removed all the grass and grass roots and used the sod to create a
small burm on the downslope of the hole by turning the sod upside down and forming a small
wall about 6-8” high – the burm is meant to help retain water around the plant. We then planted
each shrub by mixing the existing soil with a soil amendment that Geoff made from dried
seaweed, removing the plant from its pot and loosening the roots, then placing the plant in the
centre of the hole and tucking it in to the soil. Below are photos of Geoff planting the first shrub,
a goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora).
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 18
Figures 7, 8 and 9. Digging the hole, loosening the roots, and planting the first shrub. (source:
Jori Baum, March 2012)
The process we used to create the rest of the garden beds is a technique called sheet
mulching or lasagne gardening. This technique is meant to simulate the layering process that
leads to the natural creation of soil on the forest floor (Elevitch & Wilkinson, 1998). According
to Elevitch and Wilkinson “mulching improves nutrient and water retention in the soil,
encourages favorable soil microbial activity and worms, and suppresses weed growth” (1998,
n.p.). The image below displays the different layers recommended in sheet mulching.
Figure 10. Basic layers of sheet mulching. (source: Elevitch & Wilkinson, 1998)
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 19
We began by filling in the mapped out guild and surrounding the planted goumi with a
layer of composted manure about 4 to 6 inches deep. This layer is high in nitrogen and will help
stimulate microbial activity in the soil. We then dug a trench around the entire guild, about 6
inches deep, in order to prepare for the next layer - a double layer of newspapers, the weed
barrier layer. The trench is necessary for the barrier layer to act for the sides of the guild as well
as below. Next we placed a layer of compost and soil mix approximately 4 to 6 inches thick
again, covered in the final layer – 8 to 10 inches of dried leaves. The leaves act as the top
dressing or the organic matter that would naturally fall to the forest floor. Below are photos of us
applying each of these layers (all photos source of Jori Baum, March 2012).
Figure 11. Manure applied as first layer.
Figure 12. Trench for weed barrier.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 20
Figure 14. Leaves are the final layer after compost.
Figure 13. Newspapers act as the barrier layer.
As this first workparty was primarily an educational opportunity whereby Geoff taught us
the basics of designing and building the permaculture guilds, we only completed the creation of
the first garden bed. On March 11th
, we held a second workparty that included myself, Solara,
Andrea and three additional volunteers – at this time we followed the same process to plant the
two remaining shrubs and to sheet mulch the two remaining guilds. As it was still early in the
growing season we decided to leave the mulched beds to ‘rest’ before we planted the plants
surrounding each central shrub.
On April 12th
, 2012 we held a third workparty to plant the remaining plants. Each plant
was selected by Solara and Geoff and was based on establishing a variety of plants to the garden
community, as well as considering what grows well in the local climate, and which plants grow
well next to others. We began by placing the plants in their pots in the location we thought we
might want to plant them in each guild. Once we had decided, we proceeded to plant each plant.
The weed barrier layer (newspaper) had not decomposed yet and so we used a gardener’s blade
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 21
to slice an X shape into garden bed. Again we removed each plant from their pot, loosened their
roots, and tucked them into their place in the guild. The plants were all watered on a near daily
basis while they were getting established. At this workparty we also created some smaller beds,
using the sheet mulching technique along the south fence, for some additional edible perennial
plants. Photos can be seen below (all photos source of Jori Baum, April 2012).
Figure 15. Placing the remaining plants. Figure 16. A completely planted guild.
Figure 17. Sheet mulching a small area. Figure 18. Plantings along the fence.
Apple Tree Restoration
As mentioned previously, the McKenzie Ave garden site has a row of existing vegetation
that runs North to South on the piece of land. The vegetation is a combination of coniferous
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 22
evergreens and deciduous trees and in the centre of the row is an apple tree – Figure 19 below is
a photo of the apple tree prior to pruning. With the help of Andrea, the CCG site coordinator at
the time, we were able to organize a fruit tree pruning workshop with Philip Young, a local fruit
tree enthusiast. The workshop took place on February 26th
, 2012 from 1 to 3pm at the McKenzie
Ave garden site and involved Philip, myself, Andrea, and 8 other attendees. The workshop cost
$5 per person and Philip was paid a stipend of $75. Although the focus of my project was on
restoring the apple tree, the workshop was generalized to fruit trees, and we did review the
pruning of the garden’s two year old fig tree as well.
Figure 19. The apple tree at the UVic CCG 2012. (source: Jori Baum, February 2012)
The workshop began with Philip discussing the basics of fruit tree pruning – why we
prune fruit trees, basic terminology and equipment, and how to prune fruit trees. I have organized
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 23
this information into a document for the CCG that appears in Appendix B. The information
Philip presented is based on the book “The American Horticultural Society Pruning and
Training” guide book by Christopher Brickell and David Joyce. Based on this book and the tree
types identified therein, Philip diagnosed the apple tree on site as ‘neglected’. This tree had not
been pruned for fruit for years and therefore it was necessary to take certain steps when pruning
in order to restore the tree to a fruit-producing state. He estimated that the tree would need about
two to three years before the CCG gardeners could prune for fruit.
After the lecture component of the workshop, we set to work pruning the apple tree. The
materials that we used included a step and orchard ladder, gloves, pruning or bypass sheers, anvil
pruners, pruning saws, loppers, and secateurs. The tools were supplied partially by the CCG, by
Facilities Management, and by Philip. Philip recommended pruning tools that are sharp, light,
and that always have a safety guard.
In general, we begin pruning to control for shape and size and to open out the tree for
access to fruit. The first step to pruning is to take out the deadwood, the suckers, and the
watershoots. Next, take out any crossing branches. Then look to shape the tree – look for
openness and size to encourage easy access to the fruit. Finally, we prune for fruit – for an apple
tree you take the new fruit bud growth and cut the branch in half. Cut the branch at an angle that
you want the new growth to grow, always cut to another bud, branch or to the trunk, and always
cut just above a joint so as not to damage the joint nor to leave any deadwood behind. Philip also
stated that the rule of thumb is to remove no more than twenty percent of a tree each year.
Because the apple tree on site was neglected, we were only able to clear dead and dying
branches and to control for crossing branches. See the results section for future pruning of this
apple tree. As this was a hands-on workshop, we worked in groups or pairs and removed the
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 24
dead, dying or crossing branches that Philip recommended, using the appropriate tool – mostly
the ladders, loppers and pruning saws. We also took turns pointing out branches we thought
should be removed. See Figures 20 to 23 below for photos of the workparty (all photos source of
Jori Baum, February 2012).
Figure 20. Philip Young lectures. Figure 21. Beginning to prune the apple tree.
Figure 22. Working together to remove branches. Figure 23. Branches that have been removed.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 25
Invasive Species Removal
Amongst the existing vegetation at the McKenzie Ave site, I noted that there were some
invasive species that were growing in the understorey. During the summer of 2011 I worked for
the Surrey Natural Areas Partnership in Surry, BC removing invasive species from the regional
parks. This experience taught me how to identify and remove common invasive species on the
West coast of British Columbia. The invasive species that I identified growing on site included
Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium). Photos of these two
species appear below.
Figure 24. Rubus discolor on site at UVic CCG. Figure 25. Ilex aquifolium at Beacon
(source: Jori Baum, 2012) Hill Park, Victoria BC.
(source: Newell, 2005)
The removal of these species at the CCG took place over two workparties, March 25th
,
2012 and April 18th
, 2012. As part of the regular workparties that take place at the CCG, I
organized some volunteers to remove the blackberry and holly as well as clean up garbage in the
existing vegetation areas. Based on my own knowledge and verified by the information found on
the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia’s website, both species were removed using
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 26
shovels and hand pruners, and digging out the entire root system of the plants. Blackberry has
sharp thorny branches and vines through other existing plants therefore it is easiest to prune the
branches down to the base of the plant, pull the vines loose manually by wearing leather gloves,
and then dig the root ball out with a shovel. Similarly, cut holly back to the base of the tree using
pruners or a pruning saw, depending on the size of the plant, and then dig the root ball out using
a shovel. All debris was left on a tarp and disposed of by Facilities Management. Figure 26 is a
photo of volunteers working to remove blackberry and holly, and Figure 27 shows the root ball
of a blackberry plant that was removed (all photos source of Jori Baum, 2012).
Figure 26. Volunteers working to remove invasive
species at the CCG.
Figure 27. Root ball of a Rubus
discolor that was removed.
Results
As a result of this project, thirteen new edible plants were planted at the garden site, the
first step to renewing the apple tree was made, and all the invasive species growing on site were
removed. Volunteers and garden members had the opportunity to learn new techniques, such as
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 27
those involved in building the permaculture beds and pruning the fruit trees, and so we also
succeeded in our underlying goals of community engagement and education.
Below is a list of the plants that were planted and have become established at the UVic
CCG. Appendix A includes the profile for each plant including its habitat, physical
characteristics, edible and medicinal uses, and harvest details.
Table 1. List of plants planted at the UVic CCG in the perennial garden beds.
LATIN NAME COMMON NAME
Allium schoenoprasum Chives
Cynara scolymus Globe artichoke
Elaeagnus multiflora Goumi
Fragaria chiloensis Coastal strawberry
Lyncium barbarum Gojiberry or wolfberry
Morus alba White mulberry
Oxalis tuberosa Oca
Ribes nigrum Black currant
Rubus nidigrolaria Jostaberry
Sambucus nigra Elderberry
Symphytum officinale Comfrey
Tropaeolum tuberosum Mashua or anu
Valeriana officinalis Valerian
Figures 28 and 29 (drawn by Jori Baum, April 2012) display the final site map and
individual maps for each of the perennial garden beds. These maps are currently located on the
bulletin board at the UVic CCG to assist garden members in identifying and locating each plant.
As previously mentioned, Appendix A includes all the additional information for each species
that will be used to assist garden members and staff in caring for and harvesting these plants.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 28
This project allowed the garden community to explore the techniques of permaculture and guild
building, and increased the capacity to produce food on the UVic campus. These plants are
perennials and will continue to grow each year and provide food for the garden and campus
community.
Figure 28. Final site map of the SW corner. Figure 29. The three permaculture guilds.
According to Phillip Young, it will take three seasons for the CCG’s apple tree to be
ready to prune for fruit. Below in Table 2 is a timeline for the next three years on how to
continue restoring the apple tree and preparing it for pruning for fruit.
Table 2. Timeline for restoring the CCG apple tree.
YEAR ITEMS
Year 1
(2012) Clear dead and dying branches
Control crossing branches
Remove <20%
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 29
Year 2
(2013) Clear dead and dying branches
Remove watershoots and suckers
Control crossing branches
Remove <20%
Year 3
(2014) Clear dead and dying branches
Remove watershoots and suckers
Control crossing branches
Remove <20%
Start to control for fruit buds: cut new growth to half its length at a bud
and at the angle you want the branch to grow
post 2014 Continue as in year 3
Remove <20% each year
Finally, all of the invasive species growing on site were removed thanks to a group of
volunteers who participated in the workparties to remove the plants. Below in Figure 30 is a
basic map of the locations where we removed the two species on site – Himalayan blackberry
and English ivy. Removal of invasive species will allow the desired plants to succeed as they
will not be competing with the invasive species. Also, controlling unwanted species regularly
will decrease the likelihood of those species spreading into other areas of the garden.
Figure 30. Locations of invasive species removed on site (source: Jori Baum, 2012)
N
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 30
Discussion & Recommendations
Ensuring the success of this project will require on-going maintenance and management
from the garden staff and community. The plants in the perennial garden beds will need to be
cared for and harvested to encourage growth and food production. The three guilds that we build
in 2012 are flexible in that additional plants, particularly low growing species or ‘filler’ species,
can be added to increase food production and biodiversity. Regular documentation of plants that
are added to the guilds should be carried out so that as garden members and staff change, a
record is kept to ensure on-going maintenance and care. The idea of a food forest involves more
than 13 plants and there is much room to grow and space to expand at the McKenzie Ave garden
– to create a larger food forest or permaculture garden. At this stage in the development of the
plots, only edible and medicinal plants were added, but a food forest often includes other species
for building material and fuel, which could potentially be added to the site.
It will be necessary to follow the instructions provided by Philip Young, which appear in
Table 2, in order to restore the apple tree to a fruit-producing state. I would recommend
acquiring a copy of the Brickell and Joyce guidebook, which will not only help to maintain the
apple tree but will provide additional information for other fruit trees on site. Having a healthy
and productive apple tree at the UVic CCG will provide more educational opportunities for the
garden community – for example, the CCG could host a canning workshop utilizing the apples
grown on site. Food preservation is another important skill to increase food resilience and food
security in a community.
As previously stated, the removal of invasive species increases the health of the
vegetation on site as it eliminates the need for other plants to compete for resources with those
invasives – such as for soil nutrients, water, and sunlight. Managing their spread will also
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 31
decrease the chance that they will grow and affect other areas of the gardens, as well as the
campus environment in general. Regular workparties should include tracking and removing the
growth of invasive species. The CCG could utilize this opportunity to teach others about native
and non-native plants, and perhaps include students from other faculties, such as the Restoration
of Natural Systems students, in identifying and removing invasive species in the future.
Overall I believe this restoration project was a successful endeavour for the UVic CCG. It
was a great educational opportunity and those who participated learned about sheet mulching,
permaculture, planting shrubs, edible perennial plants, fruit tree pruning, fruit tree restoration,
and invasive species management. Therefore, it succeeded in meeting our goals of increasing
food production on campus as well as providing an educational opportunity to the university
community. There is a great amount of existing literature on all of the techniques practiced in
this project, therefore maintaining and researching these methods will be easy for those involved
in the CCG in the future. It will be key for the board of directors and staff to maintain
documentation on the care and maintenance of the perennial garden beds as well as the pruning
of the apple and fig trees. Increasing food production on campus increases our community’s food
security and sharing the knowledge gained through projects like this can also increase others’
ability to grow food and become more self-sufficient. This project thus meets all the needs and
purposes of the community gardens as well as my goals of increasing local food production,
educating the garden community on permaculture techniques, and improving the health and
integrity of the urban environment.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 32
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the UVic Campus Community Gardens for allowing me to explore
permaculture techniques at their site. Special thanks to Andrea Zittlau, site coordinator 2011-
2012 and the UVic CCG Board of Directors for their insight and guidance, Philip Young for
teaching us how to restore our apple tree, Geoff Johnson for sharing his expertise on
permaculture and getting us started on our permaculture beds, and Solara Goldwyn for being my
co-pilot throughout the project.
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 33
References
Brickell, C. & Joyce, D. (1996). The American horticultural society pruning and training guide
book. New, NY: DK Publishing Inc.
Crawford, M. (2010). Creating a forest garden: Working with nature to grow edible crops. Totnes, UK: Green Books.
Elevitch, C. & Wilkinson, K. (1998). Sheet mulching: Greater plant and soil health for less
work. Retrieved from http://agroforestry.net/pubs/Sheet_Mulching.html
Elton, S. (2010). Locavore: From farmers’ fields to rooftop gardens – how Canadians are
changing the way we eat. Toronto, ON: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Environmental Protection Agency. (June 21, 2012). Heat island effect: Basic information.
Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/hiri/about/index.htm
Facilities Management. (July 4, 2011). McKenzie ave garden. Adobe Reader file.
Ford, A. & Nigh, R. (2009). Origins of the Maya forest garden: Maya resource management.
Journal of Ethnobiology, 29(2), 213-236.
Frazer, L. (2005). Paving paradise: The peril of impervious surfaces. Environmental Health
Perspectives, 113(7), 456-462.
Hemenway, D. (2009). The urban permaculture project: Design principles and concepts.
Pomona, 42 (3), 43-49.
Heynan, N., Kaika, M. & Swyngedouw, E. (2006). In the nature of cities: Urban political
ecology and the politics of urban metabolism. Abingdon, OX: Routledge.
Holmgren, D. (2003). Permaculture: Principles and pathways beyond sustainability. Hartford,
VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.
Ladner, P. (2011). The urban food revolution. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.
Milesi, C., Running, S. W., Elvidge, C. D., Dietz, J. B., Tuttle, B. T., & Nemani, R. R. (2005). Mapping and modeling the biogeochemical cycling of turf grasses in the United States.
Environmental Management, 36(3), 426-438.
Newell, K. (2005). Ilex aquifolium: English holly. Retrieved from
http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/ShowDBImage/ShowStandard.aspx?index=1216
The UVic Campus Community Gardens. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from
http://web.uvic.ca/~ccgarden/about-the-garden
PERMACULTURE AT THE UVIC CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENS 34
UVic CCG. (2009). Background information. Word document.
Appendix A
Permaculture Garden Beds – Plant Profiles
Note: Victoria, BC plant hardiness Zone 9a
*All information gathered and compiled from the Plants for a Future website www.pfaf.org and Garden Guides www.gardenguides.com
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Allium schoenoprasum Chives Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to Europe, Asia and North
America
rocky pastures and damp meadows prefers well-drained soil but can grow
in heavy clay
hardy to zone 5
perennial bulb growing to 0.3m by
0.3m; bulbs divide rapidly and large
clumps are quickly formed leaves are long and cylindrical;
flowers are round and purple
plant is self-fertile
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
flowers, leaves and root are edible leaves can be eaten raw, cooked, or
dried for later – mild onion flavour
good source of sulpur and iron whole plant has beneficial effect on
the digestive system and blood
circulation juice of the plant can be used as an
insect repellant
flowers are less desirable but can be dried or used as a garnish
flowers from June to July; seeds ripen from July to August
edible leaves are available late
summer to early winter; tolerant of heavy harvesting; regular cutting of the
leaves ensures a continuous supply of
young leaves and prevents the plants flowering
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Cynara scolymus Globe artichoke Habitat Physical Characteristics
a cultivated plant not known in the
wild
prefers well-drained, moist soils and can grow in saline soils
requires full-sun
can tolerate strong winds but not maritime exposure
hardy to zone 6
perennial growing 1.5m by 1m
thistle-like plant with edible flower
buds; flower buds arise on end portions of main and lateral stems; buds that are
left on the plant open to 12cm purple-
blue flower plant is self-fertile
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
flowers, leaves and stem are edible
flower buds can be eaten raw or
harvest before plant flowers in
August
cooked, usually boiled before eaten;
flavour is mild baby artichokes produced on lateral
stems are good in soups or stews
leaves are best harvested before the plant flowers; eaten fresh or dried
stems are peeled and eaten raw or
cooked; mild nutty flavour cynarin is found in the leaves, and can
improve liver and gall bladder function,
stimulate secretion of digestive juices, and lower blood cholesterol levels
green bracts fold around a purple-
blue flower; base of each bract is the fleshy edible portion
artichoke is ready for harvest when it
has reached maximum size, but before the bracts open
best to renew plants by division of
suckers every 3 years
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Elaeagnus multiflora Goumi Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to East Asia prefers well-drained soil and can grow
in nutritionally poor soil
naturally growing in thickets and thin woods in hills and on lowlands
hardy to zone 6
deciduous shrub growing 3m by 2m can fix nitrogen with certain soil
bacteria
leaves are small and elliptical; flowers are four-lobbed and pale
yellow; fruit are oval and scarlet red
plant is self-fertile
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
fruit and seeds are edible, raw or
cooked good dessert fruit; easily made into
pies, jams, jellies, or pickled
rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E,
flavanoids and other bio-active
compounds studied as a food that is capable of
reducing the incidence of cancer and as
a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers
the leaves can be used to treat coughs
fruit must be fully ripe to be enjoyed
raw; very acidic if picked too early each fruit contains a single large seed
take care when picking the fruit as it
is quite easy to damage the young shoots
an excellent companion plant – when
grown in orchards it can increase fruit production by 10%
can be used for cuttings after 4 years
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Fragaria chiloensis Coastal strawberry Habitat Physical Characteristics
Beach strawberry
grows from Chile to western North
America prefers well-drained moist soils
shade and wind tolerant; does not
tolerant maritime exposure hardy to zone 4
perennial ground cover growing to
0.3m; plant grows by means of runners plants are dioecious – individual
flowers are either male or female and
therefore one of each plant is required for pollination; also pollinated by
insects
fruit are large and red flowers are small and white
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
fruit and leaves are edible
fruit are sweet and succulent; can be
eaten raw or cooked; good for making desserts and preserves
leaves can be dried for tea
plant is antiseptic and astringent; has been used to regulate the menstrual
cycle; poultice of the chewed leaves has
been used to treat burns
plant tends to bloom in mid-spring
and fruit are usually ready in early
summer division of runners can be done in
July or August to allow for plant to
become established for next season
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Lyncium barbarum Gojiberry Wolfberry
Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to China and Tibet
grows in most soils; plants have an
aggressive root system and are drought tolerant once established
prefers maximum sunlight for fruit
production but will tolerate part shade hardy to zone 5
a deciduous perennial
berries grow along the branches of a
shrub; 1.5 to 4m long vines berries are oblong and bright red
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
berries can protect the liver, boost
immune function, improve circulation,
improve sexual function and fertility rich in antioxidants; particularly
carotenoids; can help eyesight
high in vitamins, minerals and proteins
plants begin to fruit after 2-3 years
harvest berries from late summer
until first frost fruit can turn black when handled so
consider shaking berries gently from
the plant onto a sheet placed beneath prune lightly in early spring to
remove dead or crossing branches;
pruning will help stimulate fruit
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Morus alba White mulberry Habitat Physical Characteristics
not known in a truly wild environment
growth range from central to northern
China prefers moist soil but can tolerate
drought; cannot tolerate maritime
exposure hardy to zone 4
deciduous tree growing to 18m
flowers in May; seeds ripen July to
August plant is monoecious – flowers are
either male or female but both are
found on one plant; plant is self-fertile ‘white’ in the plants name refers to
the leaf buds; fruit are dark red to black
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
fruit, leaves, and inner bark are all
edible; fruit can be eaten raw or dried; better dried
inner bark can be roasted and ground;
can be used as a thickener in soups or mixed with cereals for making bread
leaves are antibacterial and astringent
leaves are taken internally for the treatment of colds, influenza, eye
infections and nosebleeds
stems can be used to relieve toothache fruit can be used in the treatment of
dizziness, insomnia, diabetes, asthma,
and coughs
harvest all parts of the plant
pruning should only be carried out when plant is dormant; mulberry bleeds
quite badly if cut when not dormant
should be pruned to a low bush to improve access to fruit
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Oxalis tuberosa Oca Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to south America – Columbia and Peru
prefers moist well-drained soils and
requires full sun hardy to zone 7
perennial growing to 0.5m potential for high yield and less
susceptible to pest and disease than a
potato; more hardy than a potato flowers are hermaphroditic and
pollinated by insects
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
cultivated for the edible tubers
tubers can be eaten raw or cooked;
they have a lemon flavour when harvested fresh and turn sweet if left out
flowers from July to August
ready to harvest in the fall (late
September); harvest is done as late as possible but before the first frost
in the sun
prepared in similar ways to a potato source of carbohydrate
leaves should only be eaten in small
quantities as they contain oxalic acid which can bind up calcium in the body
and lead to deficiency
can be propagated by tuber or by way
of cutting
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Ribes nigrum Black currant Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to Europe – Britain,
Scandinavia, south to France and north
Asia prefers moist well-drained soil and can
grow in part shade; shade inhibits fruit
production hardy to zone 5
deciduous shrub growing to 1.8m
fruits are black and grow to 10mm in
diameter leaves are large and light green
flowers are hermaphroditic and are
pollinated by bees; self-fertile
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
fruit and leaves are edible fruit can be eaten raw or cooked; good
raw or used in pies and preserves
good source of vitamins and minerals; rich in Vitamin C
leaves can be used in soups or dried
for tea fruit and leaves are diuretic
fruit can increase resistance to
infections and used to treat colds oil from the seeds is used in skin
preparations and cosmetics
Pruning usually consists of removing about a third of all the stems from just
above ground level in the autumn
older stems with the least new growth are removed as they will produce the
least fruit
fruit is ready to harvest June through September
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Ribus nidigrolaria Jostaberry Habitat Physical Characteristics
prefers moist well-drained soil but is
more tolerant of conditions than most berries
hardy to zone 3
deciduous shrub growing to 2m
a cross between a blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and a gooseberry (Ribes uva
crispa)
berry is black and smaller than a gooseberry but larger than a blackberry
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
fruit can be eaten raw, used in pies,
preserves, juice or wine
rich source of Vitamin C
an early berry; ready to harvest by
June when the berries are almost black
best to harvest in dry conditions
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Sambucus nigra Elderberry Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to sub-tropical regions
grows natively in North America grows in rich moist soil along stream
banks and rivers
tolerant of part shade and wind but not maritime exposure
hardy to zone 3
deciduous shrub growing 4m by 4m
flowers are hermaphroditic and are pollinated by insects
fruits grow to 5mm in diameter and
are borne in clusters
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
*leaves and stems are poisonous
fruit can be eaten raw or cooked – good for pies, preserves, sauces, wine
the liquor Sambuca is derived from the
oil of the seed fruit may be more desirable dried
fresh juice of the fruit and a tea made
from the inner bark and roots can be used as a laxative and diuretic
tea made from root bark promotes
labour in childbirth; can also treat headaches and kidney problems
inner bark is applied as a poultice on
cuts and sores leaves and inner bark of young shoots
can act as an insect repellant
flowers in July and seeds ripen in
September fruit ready to harvest in late summer
or early fall
berries, leaves, inner bark and roots can all be harvested
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Symphytum officinale Comfrey Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to Europe – Britain,
Scandanavia, and south to Turkey often found growing in damp shady
environments – woods, meadows, near
streams and rivers prefers moist soils and some shade
grows well in heavy clay soils
hardy to zone 5
perennial growing to 1.2m
flowers are hermaphroditic and are pollinated by bees
plants can be invasive
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
leaves can be eaten raw or cooked
raw leaves are hairy and should be chopped up and added to foods
young shoots can be eaten like asparagus
leaves and roots can be dried for tea
roots can be peeled, cut up and added to soups or stews
roasted roots are used with dandelion
and chicory roots for making coffee roots are the most active medicinal
part of the plant – used internally or
externally roots used externally as poultice on
cuts, bruises, sprains, eczema
roots and leaves are mildly astringent use caution when taking internally
leaves are harvested in early summer
before the plant flowers; roots are harvested in the autumn; both are dried
for later use flowers bloom from May to June and
seeds ripen from June to July
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Tropaeolum tuberosum Mashua
Anu
Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to south America – Bolivia and
Peru naturally occurring at high elevations,
on mountain slopes and in valleys
prefers shaded roots and sunny upper; sensitive to too much sun
hardy to zone 8
perennial climber growing to 2m
supports itself by climbing up other plants
flowers are hermaphroditic and are
pollinated by insects tubers can grow up to 10cm long and
5cm thick
the growing plant is very resistant to pest and disease
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
flowers, leaves, and roots are edible
tubers are eaten cooked and have a peppery flavour; flavour can be
improved by freezing the tuber after it
has been cooked and it becomes sweet high in Vitamin C
leaves are eaten raw as a vegetable
flowers from June to October and
seeds ripen from June to October tubers may be more flavourful if
harvested after a light frost
tubers can be harvested from late summer into the fall
Latin Name Common Name(s)
Valeriana officinalis Valerian Habitat Physical Characteristics
native to central Europe can be found in grasslands, scrub, and
woods
grows in damp or dry soils; avoids acidic soils
thrives in full sun or part shade
hardy to zone 5
perennial growing to 1.5m flowers are hermaphroditic and are
pollinated by bees, flies and beetles
flowers are light to dark purple
Edible and Medicinal Uses Harvest Details
*prolonged medicinal use of this plant
may lead to addiction seeds are edible; can be parched and
eaten
essential oil made from leaves and roots used to flavour ice cream, baked
goods and condiments
used in medicine for its tranquilizing properties – relieves anxiety, encourages
sleep, improves sleep quality, can reduce
blood pressure used internally for menstrual cramps
and irritable bowel syndrome
flowers from June to August and
seeds ripen July to September when grown for its medicinal root,
valerian should not be allowed to
flower roots can be harvested after two years
roots can be harvested in the fall
when the leaves have died down
Appendix B
Why do we prune? There are two main goals when pruning an apple tree:
First, pruning when the tree is dormant (from December to February) will invigorate the tree, causing it to
grow more in the following season;
Second, pruning to create a balance between shoots produced this year and shoot produced last year. Fruit is
produced from shoots in the second year or later so this will ensure a crop of apples in the current year and
one for the next year.
When do we prune? When the tree is dormant – from December to February
How do we prune? Step 1: Remove deadwood, suckers, and watershoots
Step 2: Take out crossing branches
Step 3: Control for shape and size – look to open the tree up and keep it at a height that is accessible
Step 4: Prune for fruit – cut new growth to half its length at a bud and at the angle you want the branch to grow
*Make multiple gradual cuts on the branch you are removing until you reach the branch collar
*Always prune to a bud, another branch or to the trunk and cut parallel to the branch collar
*Only remove 20% or less of the tree in any given year
Terminology: Deadwood ~ dead or dying material
Suckers ~ the new growth at the base of the tree
Watershoots ~ the new growth at the top of the tree
Branch collar ~ the ring shape where a lateral branch grows from main branch
Tools you might need:
Step ladder and orchard ladder Anvil pruners Pruning saw Loppers
Bow saw Secateurs
Pruning shears Gloves
We prune to:
Increase fruit production
Control disease
Control size of the tree
To open the tree to air and light
To remove wood we don’t want,
and increase wood we do want!
Correct & Incorrect Pruning: From Bob Polomski Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University (2001).
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/vegetables/tree_fruits_nuts/hgic1351.html
Resources: Brickell, C. & Joyce, D. (1996). The American horticultural society pruning and training guide book. New York, NY:
DK Publishing Inc.
Forest Services. (1995). How to prune trees. Retrieved from
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_prune/prun001.htm
Appendix C
Project Budget
*A budget of $500 was allocated to this restoration project by the UVic Campus Community
Gardens Board of Directors. A total of only $321.95 was spent as we tried to gather most materials by donation or free of charge.
ITEM COST
Apple tree pruning workshop
- honorarium for the instructor
$75
Guild building
- mulch (compost and soil blend)
$48
Perennial garden beds
- first 3 shrubs
$115
Perennial garden beds
- all the rest of the plants
$75
1 bag of sea soil $8.95
TOTAL $321.95
Appendix D
Field Notes
*See attached papers for set of original field notes.