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PERMACULTURE DESIGN PLACE: AGGIE'S FARM DESIGNER: AGNES E. DOUE DATE: MAY 30, 2015 Permaculture Design for Aggie's Farm Page 1

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Page 1: PERMACULTURE DESIGN - WordPress.com · Permaculture Design for Aggie's Farm Page 16. Permaculture Design for Aggie's Farm Page 17 Illustration 14: Image credit: Sulphur River Basin

PERMACULTURE DESIGN

P L A C E : A G G I E ' S F A R MD E S I G N E R : A G N E S E . D O U E

D A T E : M A Y 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SITE ANALYSISSite LocationClimateTemperaturesDew pointFrost DatesPlanting ZonePrecipitationHumiditySunlightWindEcoregionWatershedLocal RegulationsHistoryLocalePhotographyTopographySoilDescriptionBase PlanSector AnalysisExisting Conditions

DESIGN REQUIREMENTSVision

ValuesGoalsObjectives

NeedsShelterWaterFoodEnergyEconomicLifestyleOpportunities and Constraints

PERMACULTURE DESIGN

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RoadsPerimeter Protection

ShelterWater

Water CollectionWater Storage

Food and Useful PlantsProduction AreasPlantsSupport PlantsAnimals

EnergyConnections Among Elements

External Inputs PurchasedExternal Outputs for IncomeExternal Outputs as WasteLoops of Continual ReuseChains of Multiple Use

ZonesZone MapZone 1AZone 1BZone 2AZone 2BZone 3Zone 4-5

Complete Design MapConclusion

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SITE ANALYSIS

SITE LOCATION

Address 14192 US Highway 82 E, Avery, TX 75554, USA, North America

Coordinates Latitude: 33.55° N, Longitude: 94.78° W

Boundaries North .11 mi, West .47 mi, South .11 mi, East .43 mi

Area .48 sq mi

Altitude 465 ft

Distance to Water 270 mi to Gulf of Mexico

Public access Fronts highway US-82E

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Illustration 1: Image credit: Google.

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CLIMATE

Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification. Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification type is Cfa – Humid Subtropical.1 This climate is characterized by hot, muggy, summers similar to the tropics, occasional winter frosts, and fairly even year round rainfall between 26 and 98 in. Major geographical regions include southeastern United States, northern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, southern Japan, southern China, and western Australia.2

TEMPERATURES

Temperature summary. Using data recorded at the Clarksville airport, 14 mi from property, for theyears 2003-2012, over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 34°F to 95°F and israrely below 25°F or above 102°F. The warm season lasts from May 30 to September 12 with anaverage daily high temperature above 87°F. The cold season lasts from November 25 to February 24with an average daily high temperature below 62°F.3 Using historic weather data from the Parisairport, 45 mi away, the weather extremes are significantly outside the averages. The record high is113°F on Aug 10, 1936. The record low is -5°F on Jan 18, 1930.4

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Illustration 2: Image credit: Wikipedia.

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Illustration 3: Image credit: WeatherSpark.com and PlantMaps.com. Red curve maps average high temp; blue maps average low, for recent years. Inner colored band to 75th percentile. Outer band to 95th percentile. Upper and lower unsmoothed lines map recent absolute highs and lows. X's mark historic highs and lows.

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DEW POINT

Dew point. Dew point indicates how comfortable a person will find the weather, because it relates to whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Over the course of a year, the dew point typically varies from 27°F (dry) to 71°F (very muggy) and is rarely below 14°F (dry)or above 74°F (very muggy). The period during which the daytime dew point is likely to be experienced as muggy to oppressive is May 23 to September 16.5

FROST DATES

Frost dates. The table below documents the probability that the low temperature for the given datewill be less than or equal to the listed temperature. For example, there is a 90% chance that thetemperature will drop to 32° or less on March 12 but only a 10% chance on April 13.

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Illustration 4: Image credit: WeatherSpark.com. The daily average low (blue) and high (red) dew point with percentile bands (inner band from 25th to 75th percentile, outer band from 10th to 90th percentile).

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Clarksville, TX Probability of Last and First Frost Dates6

Temperature 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Spring 32° Apr 13 Apr 7 Apr 3 Mar 31 Mar 28 Mar 25 Mar 21 Mar 17 Mar 12

Spring 28° Mar 29 Mar 23 Mar 18 Mar 15 Mar 11 Mar 8 Mar 4 Feb 27 Feb 21

Spring 24° Mar 18 Mar 9 Mar 3 Feb 26 Feb 21 Feb 16 Feb 10 Feb 4 Jan 27

Fall 32° Oct 22 Oct 29 Nov 1 Nov 5 Nov 8 Nov 12 Nov 16 Nov 20 Nov 27

Fall 28° Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 9 Nov 14 Nov 18 Nov 22 Nov 27 Dec 3 Dec 10

Fall 24° Nov 9 Nov 17 Nov 22 Nov 27 Dec 2 Dec 6 Dec 11 Dec 16 Dec 23

PLANTING ZONE

Planting zone: US 7b/8a

PRECIPITATION

Description.

The humid subtropical climate is characterized by even precipitation throughout the year.7 This is supported by local weather data. However, longtime local residents maintain, and the owners have experienced, that the hot summer months of July and August are likely to be dry.

Almost all precipitation is rainfall. Snow is negligible.8 Hail9 , tornados10, and severe thunderstorm winds11 have moderately low probability compared to the rest of the US.

Average yearly rainfall12 45.84 in

Maximum yearly rainfall (year)13 77.72 in (2009)

Minimum yearly rainfall (year)14 23.55 in (2003)

Average Reported Precipitation in a Month (Years 1903-2010)15

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.In 3.14 3.21 4.26 4.65 5.41 3.76 3.24 2.74 3.47 4.01 3.88 4.08

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Least Reported Precipitation in a Month (Years 1903-2010)16

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.In 0.14 0.36 0.38 0.09 0.23 0 0 0 0 0.02 0 0.13Year 2009 1999 1916 1987 1988 1998 1913 1985 1937 1964 1910 1950

Most Reported Precipitation in a Month (Years 1903-2010)17

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.In 9.99 10.08 14.75 13.51 16.77 11.32 16.07 10.39 11.63 16.83 17.27 11.56Year 1949 1997 1990 1957 2009 2000 1992 1914 1974 1919 2000 1971

Most Reported Precipitation in a Day (Years 1903-2010)18

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.In 4.73 3.94 6.15 4.92 8.3 4.56 4.25 4.1 5.26 7.45 5.5 4.75Year 1969 1927 1945 1986 1933 1938 1992 1919 1980 1955 1956 1982

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Illustration 5: Average, maximum, and minimum monthly precipitation for years 1903-2010.

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HUMIDITY

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Illustration 7: Image credit: weatherspark.com.

Illustration 6: Maximum daily precipitation by month for years 1903-2010.

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SUNLIGHT

Hours of Daylight Throughout Year

Solar Path for 33.55N19

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Illustration 8: Image credit: weatherspark.com.

Illustration 9: Image credit: USC Architecture.

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WIND

Wind Speed

Over the course of the year typical wind speeds vary from 0 mph to 13 mph (calm to moderate breeze), rarely exceeding 18 mph (fresh breeze).

The highest average wind speed of 7 mph (light breeze) occurs around March 27, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 13 mph (moderate breeze).

The lowest average wind speed of 3 mph (light breeze) occurs around July 24, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 9 mph (gentle breeze).20

Wind Direction

The wind is most often out of the southeast (18% of the time), south (14% of the time), and east (14%of the time). The wind is least often out of the southwest (4% of the time) and west (5% of the time). Winds from the northwest increase during the cooler months of the year, to a maximum of ~17%.21

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Illustration 10: Image credit: weatherspark.com.

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Wind Effects on Microclimate

Wind speed from the northwest is increased somewhat during December, but not generally greater than 12 mph. Wind speed for the hot summer months of July and August is decreased to ~ 5 mph, decreasing the effectiveness of cooling breezes.22

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Illustration 11: Image credit: weatherspark.com.

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Illustration 12: Image credit: windhistory.com. Wind roses for direction and speed for month of December.

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Illustration 13: Image credit: windhistory.com. Wind roses for direction and speed for month of July.

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ECOREGION

Ecoregion Post Oak Savanna23,24

EPA classifies the region as Central Texas Plains, also called the Post Oak Savanna or the Claypan Area. “This region of irregular plains was originally covered by post oak savanna vegetation, in contrast to the more open prairie-type regions to the north, south, and west, and the pine forests to the east... Soils are variable among the parallel ridges and valleys, but tend to be acidic, with sands and sandy loams on the uplands and clay to clay loams in low-lying areas. Many areas have a dense, underlying clay pan affecting water movement and available moisture for plant growth. The bulk of this region is now used for pasture and range... Alternating bands of post oak woods or savanna on areas of sandy soil and blackland prairies on more clayey soils typify the landscape pattern of the EastCentral Texas Plains (33)... Although post oaks predominate, the woods can contain other trees, such as blackjack oak, black hickory, and eastern red cedar.”25

WATERSHED

Watershed Sulphur River Basin, Wright Patman Lake Watershed Streams, Segment 302c

The Sulphur River Basin occupies a swath of land approximately 127 miles long and has a width that varies from 17 to 43 miles. It lies to the south of the Red River Basin and follows a line roughly parallelto the Red River. The basin headwaters are in Fannin County on the west end, and the Texas portion ends at the Texas-Arkansas border to the east. The North Sulphur River (NSR) and South Sulphur River(SSR) collect rainfall runoff and carry it to the east. The western portion of the basin is rural with extensive row crop agriculture and cattle farming.26

Aggie's Farm drains south into Anderson Creek, which drains into Wright Patman Lake. Water quality problems associated with the closest monitoring stations are low dissolved oxygen and high chlorophyll levels, indicating excessive algae. The impaired oxygen is linked to stagnant water. The chlorophyll is linked to phosphorus from agricultural runoff.27

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Illustration 14: Image credit: Sulphur River Basin Authority. Aggie's Farm is located in theWright Patman Lake watershed, on segment 302c.

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Illustration 16: Image credit: www.sulphurr.org. Aggie's Farm is located just outsided the Sulphur/South Sulphur watershed, on segment 303.

Illustration 15: Image credit: Sulphur River Basin Authority. Aggie's Farm drains south to Anderson Creek.

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LOCAL REGULATIONS

Red River County has no building codes, zoning, etc. A septic system is required for new home construction.

HISTORY

The Caddo, a settled agricultural tribe, were well established in Red River County by 900 AD28,, so it is possible that the land had been cultivated for many years. The primary agricultural products of 19th and 20th century farmers were cattle and cotton. In 2002, agricultural land in Red River County was 47 percent pasture, 33 percent crops, and 18 percent woodlands.29,

LOCALE

Red River County is predominantly rural, with 62% of the land in agricultural use in 2002.3031 In 2012, population was 12,694, with 24% living within city limits.

Farming is not prospering. In 2012, average farm income was $25,352, while average farm expenses were $30,068. Average value of farm machinery and equipment was $26,116. While the cost of living and property prices are low, job opportunities are also low.32

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Illustration 17: Image credit: Sulphur River Basin Authority. Pertinent data highlighted in blue.

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Selected Nearby CitiesCity Population33343536 Distance (mi)37

Avery 470 1De Kalb 1,667 11Clarksville 3,240 16Mount Pleasant 16,081 45Paris 25,082 47Texarkana 37,217 47Longview 81,092 88Shreveport, LA 201,867 119Dallas 1,241,162 155

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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Illustration 18: View looking SSW from Highway 82. Left to right, barn, shop with hoop house in background, house.

Illustration 19: View looking SW from northeast section of property.

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Illustration 20: View looking south from back door of house.

Illustration 21: View looking south from northwest corner or property.

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Permaculture Design for Aggie's Farm Page 23Illustration 22: Image credit: NRCS. Satellite view, including soil type mapping.

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TOPOGRAPHY

Slope Flat. ~10 ft drop per .1 mi from west to east. ~20 ft drop from NW corner to SE corner of property. Gentle rises on west side of property; seasonal creek on east side.

Elevation High: ~480 ft. Low: ~461 ft.

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Illustration 23: Image credit: US Geological Survey

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SOIL

NRCS Soil Classification

Soil Types38

Map Symbol Name Acres Percent LocationBeB Bernaldo-Elysian complex 1.3 4.3% WoodsFrA Freestone-Addielou complex 15.4 50.5% WoodsKuB Kullit-Addielou complex 13.8 45.1% Pasture, WoodsTotals 30.5 100.0%

Are soil types are complexes, with pimple mounds of one soil type protruding gently from the surrounding soil, e.g., Addielou mounds protruding from a Kullit base, or Addielou protruding from a Freestone base. Referring to Illustration 22 above, the pasture area is Kullit-Addielou. The front part of the woods is Freestone-Addielou. Bernaldo-Elysian comprises only 4% of the property and will be part of the wild area.

All soils are in pasture and hayland group 8C. For growing crops, drainage may be a problem in some areas. Yield predictions moderate for area, 2000-2500 lb/acre hay yearly. Woodland groups suitable to needle leaf or broad leaf.

All soils are sandy clay loam. They have low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes downward movement of water and soils with moderately fine to fine structure. The Addielou mounds and the Kullit intermounds belong to hydrologic group C and have low shrink-swell potential. The Freestone intermounds belong to group B and have moderate shrink-swell potential.39

Addielou Series (the mounds in Kullit and Freestone)Ultisols. Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic. The Addielou series consists of deep, moderately well drained,moderately slowly permeable soils mainly on terraces of the Red River. The soil formed in acid, loamyalluvium. Slopes are dominantly 0 to 3 percent but range up to 5 percent.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Addielou soils are on mounds of nearly level to gently sloping areas. Typically these soils are on the third or fourth terrace levels of the Red River terrace system.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas have been cleared of timber and were cultivated but are now in pasture. Native vegetation consist mainly of loblolly and shortleaf pine, post oak, red oak, and sweetgum with indiangrass, little bluestem, big bluestem, pinehill bluestem and longleaf uniola.40

Kullit Series (intermounds, front pasture and back part of woods)Ultisols. Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic. The Kullit series consists of deep, moderately well drained, moderately slowly permeable soils that formed in loamy and clayey sediments of Cretaceous or Quaternary age. These soils are on nearly level to gently sloping ridge crest of uplands in the Western

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Coastal Plains. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 45 inches. Mean annualtemperature is 63 degrees F.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for tame pasture or growing trees. Some areas are used for growing corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, cotton, and peanuts. Native vegetation is shortleaf pine, loblolly pine, sweetgum, red oak, and hickory trees with an understory of mid and tall grasses.41

Freestone Series (intermounds, front part of woods)Altisols. Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic. The Freestone series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, slowly permeable soils on Pleistocene terraces or remnants of terraces on upland positions. They formed in loamy and clayey sediments. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for pasture. Native trees include post oak, blackjack, hickory, sweetgum, and elm. Pine mainly in plantations are along the eastern and southern portions of the series province. Pasture grasses include bermuda, Bahia, and lovegrass. Most areas were at one time cultivated to cotton, corn, and sorghum.42

Operational Considerations for Construction43

No classified ecological sensitive area.Drainage class: moderately well drained.Moderately suited for roads and logging landings.Slight erosion hazard. Severe soil rutting hazard.

Soil Test Results

Soil tests were performed in December, 2014 in three areas.44

Soil Areas Tested

Acronym Location Treatments

P Pasture. Minimal organic 3-3-3 fertilizer.RP Row plot vegetable. Fertilizer as above, biologic for aerification, cover crops.HT High tunnel. Brief cover crop, organic compost.

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pH between 5.9 and 7.0 is reasonable, and has has increased in the 18 months since property was

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Illustration 24: Soil test results. Sample locations notated above.

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DESCRIPTION

The land consists of 30+ acres in a long narrow shape bordering US Highway 82 on the narrow north side. The property is long and narrow, ~.1 mi on the north and south borders, and .5 mi on the east and west borders.

The front 12 acres contain the existing buildings, ponds, and pasture. The remaining 18 acres are old growth native trees. The previous owner, who is ~75 years old, grew up next door. He states that the property has had no chemical inputs of any type, and the property's sole use was to graze two horses.Adjacent properties are being used to pasture cattle.

The pasture has been planted to exotic Bahia and Bermuda grasses, considered optimum forage producers for cattle. Some progress has been made in restoring native grasses and forbs. Soil cover is near 100%. Soil quality is moderately good, grayish brown, with good crumb.

While none of the forests in the area are truly old growth, having been managed by the agricultural native Americans and Europeans settlers, many trees look to be 150 years old. They are a mix of oaks,hickories, sweetgum, eastern red cedar, and a few pines. The undergrowth looked to have been overgrazed, and subsequently overtaken by brambles. Since cutting the brambles, grasses and forbs are reappearing.

BASE PLAN

Plan view of entire propertyThe entire property is diagrammed below, with north pointing compass, two comparable high spots on the west side indicated by X, and two comparable low spots on the east side indicated by O.

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Illustration 25: Plan view of entire property.

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Plan view of front of property The front section of the property that contains existing buildings is illustrated below. See legend following for item description.

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Illustration 26: Plan view of front section of property with buildings. 10' x 10' grid.

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Legend Legend for drawings.

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Illustration 27: Legend for design drawings.

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Plan view of mid property The mid section of the property is illustrated below, showing part of existing barbed wired perimeter fence, existing ponds, some of the natural intermound drainages, and crossing lines of cedar fence posts (ready for electric fence wire in multiple positions).

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Illustration 28: Plan view of mid section of property.10' x 10' grid.

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SECTOR ANALYSIS

The sector analysis examines external influences on the property.

Views, noise, and electric power linesUndesirable views, traffic noise, and electric power lines are on the north face of the property, bordering US Highway 82. The other undesirable view is from part of the pasture, looking onto a portion of the west side of the pasture, bordering the neighbor's game cock pens. Large trees hide this at distance. Other views are pastoral.

Sun and windThe only external obstructions to sunlight as presented in Illustration 8, and wind as presented in Illustration 10, is neighboring woods at the south face of the property, which is intended to be infrequently visited Zone 5.

Water and water contaminationWater flow will be directly from the full length of the west side. The west side neighbor has agreed not to use herbicides on the front border where vegetables are grown on the owners' property, but can be expected to use them elsewhere.

Fire and wildlife corridorsThe north side has the highway as a minimal fire break, but other sides are similar to the site itself: trees, pasture, and one other home. In drought times, fire risk would come from all 360 degrees. Similarly, wildlife access is impeded by the perimeter fence, but there is ample evidence of wildlife, particularly in the wooded area.

Sector diagramThe sector diagram below visually maps the above influences, and includes a sunpath diagram for 33°N, courtesy of University of British Columbia.45

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

FloraWoods 18 acres wild native deciduous trees (oak and hickory mix).Pasture 10 acres grass, bahia in summer. Many native species in spring.Crops 2 acres has been gardened, but mostly returned to weeds.High tunnel 30'x 96' protected garden.Shade trees Near house and on perimeter fence southwest of house.

FaunaWildlife Signs of deer, coyote, fox, feral hog, bobcat, raccoon, turtle, frog, toad, snake,etc.Chickens Recently decimated by predator, one layer left.

StructuresHouse, barn, shop, produce stand, high tunnel.

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Illustration 29: Sector diagram, showing entry points of sun (and sunpath diagram), wind, water, noise, fire, and wildlife.

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Services

EnergyElectricity External power from two local power companies.Solar Water pump from cistern to growing area west of house.Heat Wood stove, with backup propane heat rarely used.

WaterDrinking County water.Irrigating Drip irrigation from ponds.Collection Rainwater from roof diverted to cistern.

FoodOnsite Some vegetables and eggs.Local farm Dairy.Local butcher Meats.Grocery Everything else.

WasteSewage Septic system.Grey water Laundry water piped over rocks; kitchen water drains to edge of property.Food waste Feed to animals and compost.Recyclables Donate to neighbor's earthship construction, paper for mulch.Garbage Burn unusable items, e.g., plastic. (Pickup service and dropoff location

available.)

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DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

VISION

The owners wish to create a permaculture intentional community. Their values, goals, and objectives organize this project.

VALUES

Permaculture ethics• Care for the earth.• Care for people.• Return surplus production to further care for earth and people.

Permaculture axioms• Cooperation, not competition, is the basis of existing life systems, and of future survival.• Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system. • The role of successful design is to create a self-managed system.• The role of beneficial authority is to return function and responsibility to life and to people.

Our ethics• Accept differences, but allow no harm to be done.• Express true self, but do no harm.

GOALS

We are a successful, self-sufficient, sustainable farm community, defined in these ways:• We are (and are perceived as) ethical, accepting of diversity, capable, resourceful, caring, and fun.• The area surrounding our farm is healthy, ecologically, economically, and spiritually.• We are a healthy, diverse, and balanced ecosystem (human, animal, plant, soil, water, mineral, energy).• We support and develop our residents (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual).• We approach self-sufficiency (food, energy, etc.) by producing what we use, and turning “wastes” into productive system inputs.• We generate sufficient income for our outside purchasing needs.• We develop, model, and educate others in the methods that can restore the health of this planet and it's many life forms, including us. • Our land is protected in a trust, to be forever ecologically managed.

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OBJECTIVES

Ecological objectivesWe will follow regenerative practices to improve farm ecology and soil health while producing food and other needed materials, including the following:

• Create earthworks to capture and hold sufficient water for our needs.• Include perennial food products in our growing systems and our diets.• Plant diversely, rather than monocropping, including non-food plants to attract beneficial insects, increase fertility, and reduce weeds.• Employ minimal tillage.• Maintain healthy tree growth in the forest, while providing nature access for residents and guests, limited grazing to improve forest ecology, and limited planting of high value crops, e.g., mushrooms and herbs.• Utilize sustainable onsite building materials, e.g., cordwood for home construction, cedar fence posts for fences.• Homes to include composting toilets, RO purifed rainwater, electricity from solar and wind generation, passive heating and cooling, and active heat from rocket stoves (using small wood).

Social objectivesWe aim to accomplish the following goals:

• Accept residents who are aligned with our values and ethics, to give the community the best chance for success.• Accept residents from diverse backgrounds, for the enrichment of all.• Make cooperation, not competition, the basis of our interactions.• Utilize defined guidelines for timely decision making and conflict resolution.• Utilize community elders to help us stay aligned with our goals.• Engage local community in our work and celebrations.

Community objectivesWe will act to generate a more satisfying lifestyle for members of the wider community, including thefollowing:

• Form a permaculture resource institute, PRI Northeast Texas, to host educational workshops, monthly informational meetings, email newsletter, and website.

• Promote economic renewal in the area through providing on farm employment, encouraging other productive farms, and developing a coop for shared equipment and marketing.

• Promote public mass transit connections among communities in the area. • Work with local community establishments to successfully integrate our farm into the

community.

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NEEDS

SHELTER

Homes Shelter for up to six family units and up to 15 people.Community Community center (gathering, celebrations, laundry, showers).Office Small business, computing, trade (e.g., massage).Farm stand Roadside produce sales.Events Class and meeting space.Farm Produce washing station, equipment storage, refrigerated storage.Animals Chicken coop, large animal shelter from elements, milking station, bee hives and shelters, bat house.

WATER

Water needs for 15 people are calculated to be 43,000 gal per person per year46, and farm needs at full production, 351,000 gal/yr, as summarized in the following table.

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ITEM # gal # times # users TOTALSper week per month per year

Eating per weekDrinking/Cooking 1 7 15 105 gal 452 gal 5,460 galDishwashing 3 7 6 126 gal 542 gal 6,552 galWashing per weekHousecleaning 3 1 7 21 gal 90 gal 1,092 galShowering/Bathing 10 3 15 450 gal 1,935 gal 23,400 galClothes washing 20 1 6 120 gal 516 gal 6,240 galSanitation per weekToilet flushing 0 0 0 0 gal 0 gal gal

People Total 822 3,535 gal 42,744 galFarm per weekPlants high tunnel 500 1 1 500 gal 2,150 gal 26,000 galPlants raised beds 100 1 21 2100 gal 9,030 gal 109,200 galPlants chinampas 500 1 6 3000 gal 12,900 gal 156,000 galProduce washing 100 1 1 100 gal 430 gal 5,200 galAnimals cats 1 2 1 2 gal 9 gal 104 galAnimals chickens 2 7 1 14 gal 60 gal 728 galAnimals cattle 50 7 3 1050 gal 4,515 gal 54,600 gal

Farm Total 6766 29,094 gal 351,832 galTOTAL 32,628 gal 394,576 gal

4,362 ft3 52,751 ft3

                      

         

          0

         

         

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FOOD

Macronutrient Requirements

Cattle 2.5 acres per cow/calf pair.

Chickens Pasture access and 1 40# bag layer feed per dozen birds per month.

Other animals, such as hogs, rabbits, ducks, are under consideration for future.

ENERGY

Original structures include house, barn, and shop; new structures are six tiny houses and community center. These need lighting, heating, cooling, water heating, and power for refrigerator, stove, washing machine, computers and internet.

Farm functions include water pumping, electric fence.

Vehicles include pickup and tractor, and future cart.

ECONOMIC

Income is needed to finish paying for property, and to pay for property taxes, utilities on original house, vehicle fuel, internet, food that is not grown, and manufactured items that can not be generated onsite. This is the critical issue for the project.

LIFESTYLE

The owners wish to have the wealth that matters: clean environment, good food, shelter, money for unavoidable outside needs, and time to enjoy it and share it.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

The owners need partners in community and/or investors to develop the property. They want a design to present to potential community members and investors, demonstrating how beautiful, functional, and ecologically healthy the property can be if permaculture development is completed.

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ITEM per person # people TOTALSper day per week per month per year

energy (kcal) 2500 15 37500 262500 1,125,000 13,687,500protein (g) 100 15 1500 10500 45,000 547,500carbohydrate (g) 200 15 3000 21000 90,000 1,095,000fat (g) 150 15 2250 15750 67,500 821,250

     

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PERMACULTURE DESIGNThe design describes an intentional community for up to 6 families and up to 15 people. Excess food production is modeled as the major income source.

ROADS

A simple road following the perimeter of the property and providing small tractor access to work areas is recommended. Possible materials are gravel or wood chips.

PERIMETER PROTECTION

To protect and retain livestock, and to provide some protection from fire and airborne and waterborne pollutants, barbed perimeter fence will be improved. 5 wire electric fence will be installed all round, as well as coppiced trees.

SHELTER

Existing houseThe existing 950 sq ft house will be re-purposed as a business, classroom, and gathering center. The two bedrooms can be used as office spaces. The living room and kitchen can serve as meeting, classroom, and celebration space. Land line telephone and wired internet will remain available here (no wireless).

Positives of existing house include excellent insulation, double pane thermal windows, wood stove heat, capturing rainwater through guttering to cistern, washing machine discharge to greywater handling area, and nearby clothesline.

Recommended additionsSolar hot water heater.Replace electric with propane stove.Replace commode with composting toilet.Reroute kitchen greywater to handling area.Solar electrical power.Covered back porch, trellised with vines in warm weather, removable glasswall in winter.Trellised vines at west window not already shaded by tree.

Tiny housesA tiny house will be constructed for each family.

Tiny house featuresSize 200-800 sq ft, depending on preference and family size.

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Location In deciduous wooded area, near edge.Direction Facing south, to capture winter sunlight through leafless trees.Material Variety of natural or recycled materials, depending on preference and availability.

Cordwood freely available.Heating Passive: south facing glass wall, center wall heat mass. Active: rocket stove.Cooling Passive: Shade trees and window screens. Active: Ventilation fans circulating air cooled

underground and ceiling fans.

The wooded location was chosen for aesthetics and for microclimate cooling effect of the trees in warm months. While this subtropical location gets cold in winter, the summer heat lasts longer, and is the tougher problem to solve passively. There will still be some passive solar heat available through leafless trees, and rocket stove fuel is freely available in woods and eventually from living fence. The problem of reduced natural light can be somewhat compensated for with overhead glass wall at south end and skylights. Finally, the wooded location provides camouflage and is more easily defended.

Community centerA community center local to the tiny houses will provide kitchen, laundry, and shower facilities, and a covered outdoor gathering area with firepit, large enough for meetings and classes. The community center will use construction methods similar to tiny houses.

BarnThe existing barn will be used to store farm equipment, house the refrigeration unit for produce, and provide milking station and temporary foul weather animal shelter. It's a possible meeting location in comfortable weather.

Recommended additionsLow cost, energy efficient coolbot for market vegetable storage.Roof paint, as part of regular maintenance.Enlarge south end of shed adjacent to barn for large animal shelter.Solar electrical power.

ShopThe existing shop, which has large covered carport area, will house the produce washing station. The shop can still serve as simple sleeping area/living space for one person as needed. Shop has electricityand city water to outside faucet.

Recommended additionsSinks for washing.Tables for packing and sorting.Solar electrical power.

Produce stand

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The existing produce stand, made from old barn wood, and wired with electricity, will be used for roadside sales.

Small animal sheltersExisting portable chicken coops, built from 2' x 4' lumber and cattle panels, will be sufficient.

Recommended additionsThree bee hives.Bat house.

WATER

WATER COLLECTION

Runoff estimate

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Illustration 30: Outline of property and catchment area toleft. Area estimated by counting squares.

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Catchment area estimated by counting an estimated 105 grid squares for 30.5 acre farm property and183 for the catchment area to the west. Catchment = (183/105)*30.5 = 53 acres.

According to USDA Agriculture Handbook 59047, runoff coefficient for hydrologic class C soil under continuous grazing, in good condition, is 74, for class B, 61. The Freestone complex is 50% of area, of which approximately half is class B. Mean runoff coefficient is approximately 0.25*61 + 0.75*74 = 71

Average yearly rainfall is 45.8 in. net runoff (gal) = catchment_area (ft2) * rainfall (ft) * 7.48 gal/ft3 * runoff_coefficient

= 53 * 43560 * (45.8/12) * 7.48 * .71 = 47 million gal

Minimum yearly rainfall on record is 23.5 in, which would yield (23.5/45.8)*47 = 24 million gal.

Roof catchment for existing house with metal roof, 1600 ft2

=1600 * (45.8/12) * 7.48 * .95 = 43,000 gal

WATER STORAGE

Existing houseThe existing house is currently supplied with county water. The 12,000 gal adjoining cistern will be connected through a sand filter to house plumbing. The overflow from the cistern will be collected bythe outdoor water system.

Tiny housesTiny houses will collect roof rainwater into 500 gal tanks, available through RV demand pumps, with RO (reverse osmosis) filtering. This is estimated to be enough water for two people for a month. Additional water will be available from community storage.

Community centerThe community center will have three 3000 gal poly tanks, sand filtering, and RO filtering for drinking and cooking. This is estimated to be at least a three month water supply.

Farm useWater will be held in ponds, for both livestock and plants.

Pond volume calculationThe four existing ponds and 11 planned ponds are diagrammed in the Illustration below. All water enters from the west, at top of drawing. All flows diagrammed with arrows are based on the owners' observations of drainage over the past 20 months. Five of the ponds have circular icons in the interior, representing solar powered pumping stations that will pump to other locations as necessary.

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Pond storage tabulation

Both existing and final water storage was roughly estimated by counting 10' x 10' grid squares for each pond. Estimates for each pond are presented in table below. Existing storage is estimated at 360,000 gal. Final storage is estimated at 1.7 million gallons, which would be several years water supply.

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Illustration 31: Ponds 1E-4E are four existing ponds. Others are planned.

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FOOD AND USEFUL PLANTS

PRODUCTION AREAS

Major food production areas include a 30 ft x 96 ft existing high tunnel, an area of 21 10 ft x 30 ft raised beds with individual hoop coverage, an area of small fields and canals, orchard trees and swales, an experimental banana circle, and pasture area.

PLANTS

Annual vegetablesThe usual variety of annual vegetables and herbs grown in North America are recommended. The owners have enough challenge to grow these successfully, and to market them to locals, before taking on less familiar varieties.

Perennial vegetablesA small asparagus plot is growing and asparagus may be planted more widely. More perennials to try are sorrel, dandelion, New Zealand spinach, and malabar spinach.

Fruit Trees

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Existinglabel area (sq ft) max depth (ft) slope factor volume (cu ft) volume (gal)

1E 5600 7 0.5 19,600 146,6082E 6000 7 0.5 21,000 157,0803E 2000 3 0.5 3,000 22,4404E 3200 3 0.5 4,800 35,904

Total 16800 48,400 362,032Planned

1E 5600 7 0.7 27,440 205,2512E 6000 7 0.7 29,400 219,9123E 2000 3 0.7 4,200 31,4164E 3200 3 0.7 6,720 50,2665 18400 7 0.9 115,920 867,0827 3000 7 0.9 18,900 141,3728 2400 7 0.7 11,760 87,9659 1000 3 0.7 2,100 15,70810 200 3 0.7 420 3,14211 1200 3 0.7 2,520 18,85012 1600 3 0.7 3,360 25,13313 1500 3 0.7 3,150 23,56214 1600 3 0.7 3,360 25,13315 400 3 0.7 840 6,283

Total 48100 230,090 1,721,073

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Apple, pear, peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, fig, persimmon, cherry, jujube, satsuma orange, banana,mulberry, olive.

Nut treesPecan, English walnut, black walnut, almond, chestnut, hazelnut, acorn.

BushesHazelnut, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, boysenberry, elderberry.

Vines and ground coverGrape, muscadine, kiwi, maypop, strawberry.

Wild ediblesDandelion, sorrel, beauty berry (jelly).

SUPPORT PLANTS

Nitrogen fixersBlack locust, honey locust (?), pea shrub, goumi, ground nut, clover, cowpeas, vetch, wild vetch.

Dynamic accumulatorsComfrey, dandelion, and many others, depending on nutrient needed.

Insectiary attractorsClover, yarrow, bee balm, buckwheat, dill, and others.

Pest repellentsMashua, elderberry, nasturtium, wild marigold.

Living mulchClovers, vetch, annual rye, oats.

Tree forageMulberry, honey locust, persimmon.

Living fenceOsage orange (native to the Red River area), black locust (also N fixer), honey locust (also forage and sweetener). All coppice, make excellent firewood, and are thorny and thus excellent at keeping livestock in and trespassers out.

Noise barrierEastern red cedar, American holly, yaupon holly, loblolly bay, cherry laurel, magnolia, flowering dogwood.

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Toilet paperComfrey, mallow, mullein, nasturtium, trillium.

ANIMALS

ChickensTwo to four dozen laying hens are recommended48.

BeesThree top bar hives are recommended, along with habitat for bumble bees and solitary native bees.

CattleThe recommended stocking rate is one or two cow-calf pairs. Smaller heritage breeds like miniature Jersey, Ayrshire, Devon, and Texas Longhorn are recommended for foraging ability and efficient body size. Heritage dual purpose milk and meat breed would be excellent choice.

FishRecommended fish are catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, and hybrid sunfish49.

OthersOther suggested animals are rabbits, geese, ducks, hogs, goats, and bats as a support species.

ENERGY

Several solar energy contractors have recommended two 5 kw solar systems, one for the existing house and buildings, the other for the community center and tiny houses, as sufficient for electricity needs specified in the requirements50.

CONNECTIONS AMONG ELEMENTS

This analysis looks at several relationships among elements, including the freely given inputs, sun, water, and air.

Inputs as environmental factors entering property, e.g., traffic noise.Inputs as items that must be purchased. Outputs as products sold for income.Outputs as wastes. Loops of continual reuse, where elements are inputs and outputs to each other.Chains of multiple use, where inputs are used multiple times before leaving system.

SCREENING EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

Highway noise

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A noise treatment is needed along the north border with highway. An earthen berm, densely planted with tall evergreen trees, shrubs, and other plants is often recommended. Recommendations for width vary from 15-100 ft, and for height, from 4-12 ft5152. Thompson and Korvig53 maintain that this method is relatively ineffective, but for the significant psychological effect of visually hiding the noise source. They recommend noise absorbing panels. Noisheild Acoutic Louvres54 are one such option.

Additionally, it is recommended to move the entrance drive inline with the barn, and follow the existing drive back to the house. This would further protect the house from noise, and allow the construction of an entrance wide enough to allow large truck access. The owners are hesitant because of the expense involved, and know through experience that highway noise diminishes until it is not noticeable inside the forest edge.

Rainwater potentially polluted with ag chemicalsLiving fence densely planted along the perimeter will provide a chemical barrier. An evergreen tree layer at the front part of border will provide further protection.

Fire hazardWith ample rainfall and flat slopes, fire risk is not high, and living fence will provide some fire protection.

EXTERNAL INPUTS PURCHASED

Research will be conducted to produce eggs without purchased feed. Items that will be purchased while easily availableFood Salt, coffee, spices. Staple items until production ramps up.Fossil fuels Gas and diesel for truck and small tractor.Tools Tools, equipment, and repair parts.Communications Telephone and internet.Building materials Recycled when feasible.

EXTERNAL OUTPUTS FOR INCOME

Surplus food and permaculture design services.

EXTERNAL OUTPUTS AS WASTE

Waste occurs as a result of purchased manufactured inputs. While transitioning, this cannot be entirely avoided. Plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass jars are being shared for earthship construction. Paper is being used for mulch. Waste for which no use can be found will be hauled to landfill.

LOOPS OF CONTINUAL REUSE

Foods → people and animals → waste → compost and soil amendment → soil biology → foods.All food waste, manure, and human sewage will be composted.

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CHAINS OF MULTIPLE USE

Sunlight → above ground plants → animal food → higher level animal → higher level animal ...Rainwater → ponds and swales → lower ponds → higher levels ponds through solar pumping.Household water → grey water → ponds → soil water storage.

ZONES

ZONE MAP

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Illustration 32: Zone Map.

Illustration 33: Zone map with elements displayed.

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Illustration 34: Duplicate copy of legend for design drawings.

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ZONE 1A

Zone 1a is the current Zone 1 for the existing house. When the tiny house complex is completed, it will become part of Zone 3, a work area. It will host meetings, classes, and gatherings, and provide business, office, and computer space. This zone is small. Besides the house, the front porch and covered carport provide relaxing outdoor space. The clothesline in the southwest corner and the raised bed herb garden at the back door are the main functional items.

Planned actionsA small food forest.Wood chip mulched paths to the clothesline and high tunnel.

Proposed actionsA covered back porch, with trellised vines and removable glass for winter. This would be a more pleasant space to relax outdoors, with a nice view and road noise blocked by the house.

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Illustration 35: Zone 1A.

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ZONE 1B

When tiny house and community center construction is completed, Zone 1B will become Zone 1.

Planned featuresHouse sites on mounds with enough open space that there will be no removal of large trees.Small woodland plantings around each house. Features of the tiny houses and community center are described in the SHELTER section above.

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Illustration 36: Zone 1B.

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ZONE2A

Zone 2 includes the area surrounding Zone 1, and is subdivided into two areas because it is a large section with multiple work zones. This sector is labeled Zone 2A. In the following table, areas are described starting with the north (right) side of drawing and working counterclockwise.

AreasProduce stand The small purple building labeled 4 is the old barnwood produce stand.

Raised beds 21 10' x 30' raised beds with large drip irrigation pond in center. Existing drip lines. Hoop frames to attach clear plastic and shade cloth for passive climate control. A few beds may have active heat for specialty crops.

Swale and trees Food trees and support species along west (top) side and left of beds.

High tunnel West (left) side of the diagram. 30' x 96' existing tunnel with mini greenhouse tunnel inside for plant starts. Includes grow lights and rocket stove.

Compost area North (right) of high tunnel. Will be expanded as needed.

Chicken coops Two chicken coops will be moved often.

Greywater pond House and shop greywater will drain to the small pond and swale.

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Illustration 37: Zone 2A.

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ZONE 2B

This section of Zone 2 is labeled Zone 2B on the zone map.

Canals and small fieldsThe bulk of zone 2B is the area of small fields surrounded by canals. The area has naturally occurring raised pimple mounds at the sites of the beds, surrounded by lower lying intermound areas that retain moisture. This area has been observed to drain rainwater to the roadside ditch. Dirt from excavation to 7 ft will be used to level the mounds. Driveway access, with culverts underneath, will give access to plots.

Other featuresWater will be pumped from here to higher points on the property as needed.Building 2 is the barn, and building 3 Is the shop. Their functions are described above. The dashed grey line marks the preferred entrance to property.

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Illustration 38: Zone 2B

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ZONE 3

Zone 3 is between the grey lines, between portions of Zone 1B and Zone 2.

FeaturesTree crops There are several swales that will be planted to tree crops, with berries and

hazels in the bush layer, and other support layers. Animal forage.

Fence Yellow dots represent fence posts for multiple portable electric fence connections, allowing for rotational grazing.

Ponds Multiple ponds for stock watering.

Marshy area A small area where the road veers off the fenceline may be a boggy place that hogs will like.

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ZONE 4-5

The bulk of the property, 18 acres, is being left as a mostly wild area for now. It is a lovely wooded area, with many signs of wildlife. The canopy is partially open. It is not a wetland, but water drains through the intermound areas during rainy periods. Earthmoving activities are limited due to the possibility of root damage.

Planned actionsFirewood source, particularly until the coppiced fence begins producing. Keeping brush and vines down, through bushhogging or grazing, until grasses and forbs return.

Possible actionsA large low area in the southeast corner could capture water, but is not expected to be necessary. Livestock grazing could provide forage and help grass recover more quickly if done properly.Planting of berries, fungi, medicinal herbs, ginseng, etc.Wood chip trail to allow human visitation with minimal impact.

COMPLETE DESIGN MAP

The complete design map is on the next full page.

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Illustration 39: Zones 4 and 5.

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CONCLUSIONThis concludes the design.

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1 http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/usa.htm2 http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162272/3 https://weatherspark.com/averages/30704/Clarksville-Texas-United-States4 http://www.plantmaps.com/texas-record-high-and-low-temperature-map.php5 https://weatherspark.com/averages/30704/Clarksville-Texas-United-States6 http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q=75456&submit=Go7 http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162272/8 https://weatherspark.com/averages/30704/Clarksville-Texas-United-States9 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/2013/HAIL.png10 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/2013/TORN.png11 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/2013/WIND.png12 http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=shv13 Ibid.14 Ibid.15 Ibid.16 Ibid.17 Ibid.18 Ibid.19 http://www.usc.edu/dept-00/dept/architecture/mbs/tools/vrsolar/frameset.html20 h ttps://weatherspark.com/averages/30704/Clarksville-Texas-United-States21 Ibid.22 http://windhistory.com/station.html?KLBR23 ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/tx/tx_front.pdf24 http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-texas-ecoregions-l4-map.php?ZS=7555425 ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/tx/tx_front.pdf26 http://www.sulphurr.org/Reports/bsr2014/SRBABSR2014Final06012014a.pdf27 Ibid.28 https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bmcaj29 http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr0530 http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr0531 http://www.city-data.com/county/Red_River_County-TX.html32 Ibid.33 http://www.city-data.com/city/Texas.html34 http://www.city-data.com/city/Texas2.html35 http://www.city-data.com/city/Texas3.html36 http://www.city-data.com/city/Louisiana.html37 https://www.google.com/maps/place/14192+US-82,+Avery,+TX+75554/@33.5604461,-94.7936358,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x8635999832d6a747:0xfe542b8abeabdb3038 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/redriverTX1977/Redriver.pdf39 Ibid.40 https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/A/ADDIELOU.html41 https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/K/KULLIT.html42 https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/F/FREESTONE.html43 http://tfsfrd.tamu.edu/planmylandoperation/44 http://www.loganlabs.com/45 http://ibis.geog.ubc.ca/courses/geob300/applets/sunpath/46 https://water.usgs.gov/edu/qa-home-percapita.html47 http://www.aces.edu/dept/fisheries/aquaculture/docs/AgHandbook.pdf48 Owners' experience.49 http://fisheries.tamu.edu/pond-management/species/50 http://tfsfrd.tamu.edu/planmylandoperation/51 http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/resources/publications/GreenBuffersforScreeningandNoiseReduction.pdf52 http://arbordayftp.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/6.4b.jpg53 https://books.google.com/books?id=RmecG0jbu_0C&pg=PA316&lpg=PA316&dq=tree+berm+noise+barrier&source=bl&ots=m1TpvHpyml&sig=_2NSn8xRT