Permaculture Design Project

Project Site Is 7 Blocks West of Downtown Spokane

 

Neighborhood

Legal

South parcel:

Frontage 125 feet; Depth 100 feet. (12,500 square feet/.28696 acres)
 

North Parcel:

84' of frontage on Main (South side)

The East line of subject parcel is 200'

The west property line extends north for 100' from the SW corner of the parcel and then jogs west for 9'; the remaining leg of the parcel is 136.56' (13,050 s.f./.29959 acres)

Total acreage: .58655 acres (25,550 s.f.)

General Site Photos (Monday, February 6, 2012, 3 pm or so)

Photos Taken February 6, 2012

Photos Taken February 17, 2012

Cob Oven Information: http://www.appropedia.org/HBCSL_cobb_oven

One should be able to build this for $150 or less, depending on materials on hand or donated. This builder claimed that they only spent $20.

Cob bench information Pictures

Black Locust Coppicing Information Note that the trees can be used for hop poles.

Sector Analysis

EWF

Base Map North Area

 

North Area Year 1

 

North Area Year 2-4

 

North Area Year 5-10

South Area Base Map

South Area Year 1

South Area Year 2-4

 

The Future?

Source

Comments

[Matt]

Some general observations from site visit on Friday, February 10th, 2:30-3:30 pm:

--Some standing water on site, particularly in alley

--The alley appears to generally border the south and west sides of the South parcel

--According to the neighbor to the east of South Parcel, the alley is sometimes used by neighbors (primarily for dumping tree limbs on property that is owned by the City of Spokane) and on occasion by Avista (Utility provider)

--According to the aforementioned neighbor, the site floods every 5-10 years and some of the flooding is caused by the sewer drainage line backing up (could be good for soil fertility)

--The site is know as habitat for deer

--Several invasive plant species were found on the site

--The South site is nearly flat with what appears to be raised "bumps" that are probably fill that has been dumped in various places in the past

I've got a few more observations, but will leave it at this for now. If this is a format that will work for the majority of team, I'll add them later.

Is anyone aware of a more efficient way to share information and build a database? I'm guessing that they exist...

[Kamori Cattadoris]

I visited the site on February 10th also. Here are a few additional observations:
-- There are two large fir trees on the Main Street boundary of the large parcel. At the south boundary is a large locust that likely seeded the scattered smaller trees on the property. There are many locusts around the neighborhood, so Nature has been doing her thing for sure.
-- South of the large parcel and the alley way is a steep embankment up to Clarke Street. Water drains from the neighborhood above on the surface of this embankment and below ground onto/through the subject parcel.
-- According to George, the neighborhood historian we met, the property owner has allowed neighbors to dump leaves, so the soil has been enriched over the years. People also tossed logs and prunings -- Hugelculture possibilities!
-- But sadly, potential buried garbage and toxics, as well as the foundation of previous homes that used to exist on the site.

[Matt]

Some Peaceful Valley history that may be of interest:

http://www.reclaimpeacefulvalley.com/page/Historic+Peaceful+Valley