Edible Pathways a project of Feeding Landscapes,greenfield, ma, usa • winter 2014

design & installation prepared forSadhana Forestauroville, tamil nadu, india

Edible Pathways project sponsored by The Conway School’s David Bird Fellowship,

under the direction of Fellow and Project Manager,Abrah Jordan Dresdale, M.A.L.D.

in collaboration with Living Routes J-Term 2014, with contributions from Kelly Slutz, Kesley Lyon, Megan Runge, and Jacey Taft.

[a copy of this report can be downloaded at http://issuu.com/abrahdresdale]

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CONTEXT & CLIMATE

CONTEXT

Sadhana Forest is a volunteer-run, off-the grid community of the ecovillage Auroville, in Tamil Nadu, India. Sadhana Forest was founded by an Aurovillian family, Aviram, Yorit, and Osher Rozin, in 2003, when they were gifted 28 hectares (70 acres) of land owned by Auroville to re-forest with the indigenous Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF) species.

Today, there are between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors annually to Sadhana, with approximately 1,000 volunteers a year living at this vegan community that prides itself on radical simplicity and a gift economy. Sadhana is now one of the largest volunteer communities in the world, and has expanded to create a Sadhana Forest Haiti and a Sadhana Forest Kenya. Sadhana focuses on water conservation and re-forestation techniques in ‘wastelands’ much like Tamil Nadu, and elects to work only with local peoples who are financially resource poor.

CLIMATE & PRECIPITATION

Auroville lies in the sub-humid tropics, 32 meters (105 feet) above seal level, and only 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Bay of Bengal. Auroville’s plant hardiness zone is 11-12, with an average low temperature of 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) during January and an average high of 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) during May.

Annually, Auroville receives approximately 90 cm (35 inches) of rainfall with two seasonal monsoons; the first monsoon comes from the southwest from June to September, but rarely reaches Auroville. The second monsoon comes from the northeast, and in good years, provides rain October through December. March is the driest month and November sees up to 27 centimeters (10.6 inches) of precipitation).

PROJECT GOALS & OBJECTIVES

GOAL 1: Edible pathways at Sadhana Forest educate thousands of visitors about landscaping strategies for increase food security in the arid tropics of southeast India.

Objectives - the edible pathways are centrally located and accessible to visitors - simple and replicable designs provide demonstrations for visitors to easily mimic at home - clear signage describes the multiple functions of plants in the design - for volunteers and guests alike, the edible landscape transforms a space into a welcoming place for all to walk, sit, and enjoy the abundance of food

GOAL 2: By design, the landscape of food crops is low-maintenance and re-uses on-site resources.

Objectives - the edible landscape utilizes perennial crops, requiring less maintenance than annual vegetables - the needs of the plants match the growing conditions in which they are installed - the perennial beds incorporate the grey waste water for irrigation from three nearby sources: 1. kitchen mop and rinse water, 2. compost bucket rinse water and 3. toothbrushing - composted food scraps and humanure build and amend the soil - on-site mulching materials add carbon to the soil while minimizing water evaporation

GOAL 3: The Sadhana Forest kitchen easily utilizes the food grown in the edible pathways.

Objectives - the design is located in close proximity to the kitchen - the garden team is knowledgeable about how to care for and harvest from the edible plants - a small palette of edible perennials yields foods appropriate for an organic, vegan diet - the kitchen staff is educated about how to incorporate the new produce into community meals and save seeds to propagate new plants GOAL 4: The implementation of the edible pathways project is designed for long-term success at Sadhana Forest.

Objectives - the stewardship plan for this low-maintenace, yet productive landscape is a living document that is user-friendly for the community - the seeds and plants come from local sources so that replicating the design or replacing failed crops can happen easily - the kitchen, gardening, and composting teams communicate and coordinate efforts to make the edible pathways project a long-term success

water conservation & re-forestation techniques bamboo & teak-thatched residential hut

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SITE LOCATOR KEY BASEMAP

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The .2 hectare (½ acre) project site includes the Morning Circle gathering area and the pathway that abuts the Sunrise Dorm and leads to the back of the kitchen. This primary pathway connects the central hearth of the residential area (including kitchen and Main Hut) to the living quarters just to the north, and is the route that the regular Friday tours take. The project site was selected due to its highly visible and accessible location, and the relative abundance of waste water streams emptied here, including kitchen grey water and compost rinse water.

Sadhana Forest: 28 hectares (70 acres) of Forest, Central Campus, and Residential Area, and 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Auroville center

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SUMMARY ANALYSIS

OPPORTUNITIES• Greywater capture from kitchen floor mop water

and vegetable rinse• Compost rinse water overflow• Highly visible and accessible part of campus;

on tour route• Proximity to the kitchen for crop tending,

harvesting, and incorporating into meals• Excellent solar access• Existing edible trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants• Pre-composted food scraps and humanure nearby• Trellis and fences as infrastructure for climbing

edible vines• Social capital with neighboring farms and nurseries

CONSTRAINTS• Desiccated, compacted soil without organic matter• A diminishing monsoon season; rains limited to 2-3

months per year• Project installation is not during the rainy season

when it’s best to transplant; transplant shock may occur with sensitive plants

• Lack of shade for shade-loving plants• Areas adjacent to pathways cannot be planted

with sensitive plants• Unclear and partially obstructed paths into

Morning Circle area• Trees over 12’ cannot be planted—to mitigate

termite habitat and blow downs near buildings• Frequent turn over with transient volunteer staff—

necessitates a low-maintenance landscape• Financial capital to buy plants, signs, etc.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES DESIGN DIRECTIONS

Guiding Principles for Permaculture in Tamil Nadu:

WATERo Capture and divert grey water (hand washing, shower water, kitchen drain, etc.) for irrigationo Group plants together by irrigation needso Implement wick irrigation for first year of tree establishment during dry seasono Apply brown leaves (ideally soak in water overnight) for mulching around the base of plants to reduce water evaporation

SOILo Mound up organic material and plant into mound rather than digging into the parent soil (when dry, hard, and/or rocky)o Incorporate nitrogen-fixing groundcoverso Identify and use on-site resources for soil building, e.g. leaves, termite droppings, charcoal, and/or composted food and human excrement

PLANTSo Observe what is already growing well and increase in numberso Incorporate existing ‘useful’ vegetation into designo Make the landscape legible to discern the ‘useful’ plants through paths, signs, clearing adjacent overgrown vegetation, etc.o Best time to transplant is early morning, late in the day, and/or during the monsoon seasono Utilize scarce resource of shade as much as possibleo Source plants at local nurseries so plants demonstrated are accessible for others to replicate strategies easily

Living Routes students & Sadhana Forest volunteers on day of Community Input Session

In addition to the landscape transformation, the Kitchen Manager, Garden Manager, and Compost Manager coordinate and stay informed of their role and contribution to the edible pathways. Next steps include a coordination meeting with new Edible Pathways Manger, Or Leelo.

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improved access with new paths & north fence removal tea garden

‘salad bar’

banana circle

FINAL DESIGN

The final design transforms a space into a place. By removing barriers to access—both visually and physically—the overall circulation and use of the focus site increases. Overgrown vegetation is cleared from around and on top of the archway, the falling down fence lining the north side is disassembled, and new pathways enable residents to enjoy a walk through the morning circle area from the Training Dorm to the kitchen. Benches are strategically placed on the edges and in the shade, inviting people to take a well-deserved rest and enjoy the edible landscape.

To meet the primary goal of educational demonstration for visitors, plantings are organized by two levels of function: 1) soil building strategies, and 2) irrigation techniques (see sheet 6 for details). To increase visitors’ memories of the Edible Pathways, there are also catchy names for distinct patches of perennial crops such as ‘Tea Garden’ or ‘Salad Bar,’ boasting edible raw greens like chicken spinach and costus.

The existing edible vegetation—the guava, chayas, bananas, amaranth, rosella, etc.—are now more legible after thinning out their herbaceous neighbors. Nearby tulsi, pineapples, and lemongrass are transplanted to the focus area as a demonstration of using on-site and non-monetary forms of resources. Another readily available on-site resource, the grey water from the kitchen, is transformed into an input for the banana circle with sponge. Existing infrastructure such as the side of the wood storage area, archway, and re-habilitated western fence get incorporated to provide climbing support for edible vines such as purple winged bean and black lima. Any bare earth is seeded with cowpea, a local nitrogen-fixing edible pea, or re-vegetated with small divisions of mimosa or toothache plant to hold soil in place, suppress ‘weeds’, and help build organic matter.

dilapidated western fence rebuilt for trellising edible vines

keyholes w.benches

trellising forperennial beans

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Plantings are organized by 1) soil building strategies, and 2) irrigation techniques that demonstrate best small-scale, ecological growing practices in Tamil Nadu.

SOIL BUILDINGWith the land-use history of widespread deforestation begetting the loss of fertile top soil, permaculture in practice offers an opportunity to look to ecosystem intelligence for ways to regenerate degraded landscapes.

Here, in the Edible Pathways design, four soil-building strategies demonstrate analogs to patterns and processes found in nature:

1) lasagna layering (see sheet 7) with soaked acacia leaves, termite droppings, and charcoal into which seeds are directly sown,

2) composted food scraps mixed into the parent soil, prepared for herbaceous transplants,

3) the use of humanure (see sheet 8)—human solid excrement that has been composted for 6-12 months, and used on woody plants only (here, used with cuttings of moringa and chaya), and

4) the sponge technique (see sheet 9)—where carbon-based biomass such as sticks and brown leaves are piled up in a dug out basin (2 meters wide by 60 cm deep) that is regularly flushed with grey water.

IRRIGATIONWater is a scarce resource in Tamil Nadu, a state that only sees precipitation 3-4 months out of the year. Water storage in the top layers of soil is nearly impossible due to the severe erosion of organic matter that followed the massive deforestation.

This site is one of the few areas in Sadhana Forest that is water-rich. The area just north of the kitchen receives grey water from floor mopping and veggie rinsing—an excellent opportunity for passive irrigation to the banana circle with sponge. Daily, volunteers rinse compost barrels in the southeast quadrant, which frequently causes surface flooding. The new design requests barrel rinsing occur in areas A and B on alternate days to spread the water wealth. The borders of moringa and chaya will now rely on wick irrigation paired with humanure mounds. The wick irrigation is a simple technology that repurposes 2 liter water bottles with a small poxy-sealed hole in the bottom out of which a cotton rope protrudes. The cotton wick slowly provides drip irrigation to the cuttings. With this system, the water bottles only need be filled once a week. Lastly, when the biodegradable toothpaste provided to volunteers is used, toothbrushing from Sunrise Dorm dwellers can be directed to the plants just outside of the entrance.

Plantings are organized by 1) soil building strategies, and 2) irrigation techniques that demonstrate best small-scale, ecological growing practices in Tamil Nadu. SOIL BUILDING & IRRIGATION GUILDS

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TECHNIQUES lasagna gardening: acacia leaves, termite droppings, & charcoal

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

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TECHNIQUES wick irrigation with humanure

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TECHNIQUES banana circle with sponge

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INSTALLATION

EDIBLE PATHWAY PLANTSCommon Name________ Latin name Family Function Height x Width Flowering Period Fruiting/harvest Preparation Source? Propagation & Conditions Maintenance NotesTREES

Neem* Azadirachta indica Meliaccae

edible flower fruit leaves; increases metabolism, antinflamatory, may help reduce effects of diabetes

Up to about 15-20 meters tall

Varies place to place December-March

Bark, flowers, and fruit can all be used for various things like timber, antibacterial meds, malaria meds, cosmetics and more; the use depends on the preparation on-site

seeds may be hard to germinate; take root cuttings in late fall or early winter sun or partial shade

do not over water because roots can easily get root rot; compst is greay for neem trees

Fast growing; can reach a height of 15-20m; leaves used for skin diseases; natural pesticide; used for shade; drought resistant; neem gum is rich in protein

Chaya*Cnidoscolus chayamansa Euphorbiaceae

Leaves are delicious; very nutritious; full of vitamin C Up to 6 meters tall

Blooms all year, repeatedly

year round; 50% of leaves can be harvested at once

Leaves can be great for cooking because of the texture; must be cooked for at least 3 minutes to turn the poison into gas; never eat raw on-site

easily propogated by cuttings shady to sunny

can tolerate a wide range of environments from wet to arid

usually pruned at 2 meters; little insect damage; somewhat drought tolerance; tolerant of heavy rains

Moringa (drumstick tree)* Moringa oleifera Moringaceae

edible leaves, pods and flowers; roots of young plants lke horseradish;

20-45' tall; but can be pruned into a bush for easy harvesting; prune btw 3-6' tall for harvesting; allow a few branches to reach largeer size for pods; plant 15-20 apart or 3-4 feet if coppieced

late spring/early summer

leaves can be used raw or cooked; flowers are edible when cooked; young pods are used like green beans; dried mature seeds can be used for cooking oil on-site

can propagate from seeds or cuttings

drought tolerant; full sun, with some shade, well-drained soils; OM and N2 are helpful

will produce shoots, cut back; coppice whole tree; allow a few large branches for pods

not a legumunious plant; few pests and dieseases; can be

Banana* Musa x paradisica Musaceae edible fruits6-30' tall; leaves up to 8' long and 2' wide

late spring/early summer

Fruits only once, but propogates new producng plants Edible fruits on-site

can transplant "suckers" to grow new trees

Heavy feeders. Subtropical heat lovers. Nitrogen and potassium needed. Require lots of water and well-drained soil.

prune to allow only one pseudo stem at a time to produce maxiumum yeilds

Guava* Psidium guajava Myrtaceae

edible fruit for humans, caterpillars mainly of the Ello Sphinx moth, leaves may be good for bacterial infections, diarrhea and inflammation 15'x15'

after 4 or 5 years, February-March, June-July, October

July-September, November-January (best fruits), February-April

raw, used to make juice, used in sauces, dried, made into candies, jams or jellies on-site

Seeds germinate in as little as 2 weeks up to 8 weeks. Seedlings are transplanted when 1 or 2 years old. Pruned branches can also be used as propagation.

both humid and dry climates, up to 1,000m elevation, grows well in variety of soils generally with good drainage, needs full sun

irrigation, fertilization, weed and grass control, only prune dead or damaged branches

should be planted at least 33 ft from other guava trees

SHRUBS

Rosella/Hibiscus* Hibiscus sabdariffa Malvaceae Edible leaves. 1.5 m x 2-3cm

Plants normally begin to crop when about 3 months old and cropping may continue for 9 months or until the first frost

The fruit is ready to pick about 3 weeks after flowering.

used in teas, can be eaten raw and put in salads and jellies. on-site

Sow in early spring in tropical areas, rosellas need at least 5 months frost-free to bear. Rosellas need a very warm soil to germinate, preferably over 25°C.

Prefer tropical conditions where the soil can get warm.

few pest problems, hardy and productive. Most soil types are suitable, provided they are rich and well-drained. Plenty of water is needed to maintain growth, flowering and fruit development, mulching is beneficial.

Plant several seeds 50 cm apart and thin seedlings to the strongest.

Wild Date* Phoenix sylvestris ArecaceaeEdible fruit and palm heart. 2.5 to 4.5 m x 0.75 m Mid summer on-site

From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium

from sea level to 3000 m, in rain forest clearings, monsoonal forests and rocky mountainsides.

Water regularly, do not over water Drought tolerant

Cape Gooseberry Physalis peruviana Solanaceae Edible fruit. 1.6-0.9 m tall

Late Spring/Early SummerMid SummerLate Summer/Early FallMid Fall

the main crop extends from January to May

May be eaten raw or made into jams and jellies.

Pebble Garden

dispersal of seeds in soil will cause propogation. Sandy or gravely soil preferred, but will grow on well drained soils. Full sun

May be a noxious weed or invasiveAverage Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

PLANT DATABASE

PLANT DATABASECommon Name________ (* Latin name Family Function Height x Width Flowering Period Fruiting/harvest perPreparation Source? Propagation & Plan Conditions Maintenance NotesPLANTS

Amaranth* Alternanthera sissoo Amaranthaceae edible groundcover 1-6cm x 0.5-2.6cm Mid summerLate summer/early fall on-site

Easy to propogate from cuttings

Prefers partial shade

Water regularly; do not overwaterRequires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between wateringsSelf-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birdsDrought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping

Ginger* Zingiber officinale Zingiberaceaeedible underground stem 24-36 in.

Late Winter/Early Spring Anytime after bloom

Pick out the underground stem, wash and cut up

Sapney Farm & on- site

Easy to propogate from rhizome

Full sun to partial shade

Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping

Tulsi* Ocimum teniflorum Lamiaceae edible leaves 30–60 cmBlooms all year, repeatedly

Shortly after flowers bloom

leaves used in tea or used as a seasoning in food preparation. on-site

sow in rich soil in full sun location; easy to propogate

Late Spring/Early Summer

Average water, simple maintenance

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birdsFlowers are fragrant

Pineapple* Ananas comosus Bromeliaceae edible fruit 1.0-1.5 m x .9-1.2 mMid summer/late summer Flower is used to eat on-site Divide rhizomes Partial shade Do not over water Flowers are fragrant

Canna Canna Cannaceae rhizome starchy 2–3 m tall Summer, fall winter

Sapney Farm & on-site

when the leaves die, remove the rhizomes from the ground.

grow best in full sun with moderate water in well-drained rich or sandy soil

Needs consitent moist soil, do not let soil dry out

Taro Colocasia esculenta Araceae

edible corms when cooked and edible leaves 1-6 ft tall

when leaves start to die

cook corms to eliminate toxictity.

Sapney Farm

can grow in flooded conditions

Chicken Spinach (purslane) Portulaca oleracea Portulacaceae edible leaves small groundcoverSapney Farm

Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/166581/#ixzz2qSsNfouh

Fiery Costus-Kostum (insulin plant) Costus igneus Costaceae edible leaves 2' tall, 1.5'' in diameter warm months

Sapney Farm

vegetative by rhizome and seeds dispersed by birds

Turmeric Curcuma longa Zingiberaceae edible rhizomes Up to 1 meter

harvest 9-10 months after planting

Sapney Farm

Needs warm weather to go, nothing under 20 degrees C

VINES/CLIMBERS

Black Hyacinth Bean Dochos lablab Fabaceae

edible seeds, flowers and young pods also edible

dried mature seeds can be used as good proten source Pebble Farm

Edible protein-rich seeds

Black Lima Bean Phaseoulus lunatus Fabaceae edible seeds ~ 15' long

dried mature seeds can be used as good proten source Pebble Farm hardy until zone 9

Edible protein-rich seeds

Purple Winged BeanPsophocarpus tetragonolobus Fabaceae edible bean pods 12' tall

require 180 frost-free days to mature

edible tender pods, flowers (mushrom-flavored), cooked leaves

Pebble Garden grown from seed

hot, humid tropics; drought-resistant, grow in full sun

Fleshy vegetable pod

"Avarekkai" Hyacinth Bean (slim green) Dolichos lab lab Fabaceae tender beans edible edible tender pods

Pebble Garden

Fleshy vegetable pod

GROUNDCOVER

Mimosa Mimosa pudica Fabaceaegroundcover, nitrogen fixer 1.5 m tall mid summer

Still need; follow up w Sapny

Cowpea Vigna unguiculata Fabaceae

supress weeds, nitrogen source, build soil, prevent erosion, edible 30-60 in tall summer

seed matures in 90-140 days

Coot Road Market

Lemongrass Cymbopogon Paoceae herbaceous ~ 6.5 ft on-site

Toothache Plant Acmella oleracea Asteraceae medicinal, antibacterial 1-1.5 ft tall summerSapney Farm

full sun to partial shade, rich soil

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10. Cape Goose Berry- Physalis peruviana

• Edible fruit• May be eaten raw or made into jams and jellies• Prefers sandy or gravely soil but can grow in well drained soils

2. Canna- Canna L.

• Starchy rhizomes• When leaves die, remove from the ground• Needs full sun with moderate water in well-drained rich or sandy soil

8. Chaya- Cnidoscolus chayamansa

• Leaves are very delicious but must be cooked for at least 3 minutes• Never eat raw leaves; contain cyanide• Needs shade and/or sun• Often pruned at 2 meters

7. Cow Pea- Vigna unguiculata• Great nitrogen-fixing groundcover• Prevents erosion• Edible protein-rich seeds

9. Black Hyacinth Bean- Dochos lablab

• Edible seeds and flowers• Dried mature seeds can be used as a good protein source

PLANT PROFILESNOTE: Numbers correspond to numbers given

to plants in the ground for future sign placement.

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PLANT PROFILES

6. Moringa (Drumstick Tree) - Moringa oleifera

• Edible leaves, pods, and flowers Leaves can be eaten raw in a salad or cooked• Dried mature seeds can be used for cooking oil• Needs full sun with some sun and well drained soil

4. Ginger- Zingiber officianale

• Edible rhizome• Many medicinal values• Great taste• Needstropicalclimatetogrow

5. Turmeric- Curcuma longa

• Major part of Ayurvedic medicine • Used to dye clothing• Adds great flavor• Likes well drained soil with light shade

3. Tulsi (Holy Basil) - Ocimum teniflorum

• Tulsi is a great medicinal herb• Although the leaves are edible, they are traditionally used to make tea• Used as seasoning in food preparation• Needs rich soil and full sun

1. Taro- Colocasia esculenta

• Edible corms when cooked (must be cooked to eliminate toxicity)• Edible leaves• Can grow in flooded conditions

NOTE: Numbers correspond to numbers given to plants in the ground for future sign placement.