A highly productive diverse permaculture orchard was called for on three sides of this new build in Tarras, Central Otago. We worked closely with the exact contours of the site to lay out orchard rows to fit the landscape while providing many functional solutions. Water runoff from the drive run may be fed into them for re-charging soil water. The linear beds are easy to mow along, provide space for planting support species for nitrogen fixing, accumulation of minerals, producing mulch and feeding beneficial insects.
Planting is zoned with summer fruits close to the house and Walnuts, chestnuts and Oaks further away. A clearing is created in the nut area for picnics. Rows are designed to ripen sequentially for ease of harvesting and to aid post harvest management. Kowhai and other natives are used alongside Italian Alder in the shelter planting. Nitrogen fixing Elaeagnus are integrated within the orchard.
The masterplan shows how the contour rows serve to screen the road and lead you from the house towards the old existing fruit trees.
The orchard site before planting, looking dry in high summer.
Contour swales are shaped in autumn.
Swales are finetuned by hand at planting time.
All trees are staked and trained at planting.
A curve of hazel nut trees form the back of the nut orchard picnic area.
Overview of the planted orchard.
Meanwhile over the other side of the house on a steep dry bank we installed swales and planted olives and berry fruits.
Olives planted in the swale.
We pruned these beautiful old fruit trees to improve fruit quality.
Blossom out at the end of the day.
Winter 2018 fruit & nut tree rows after a pruning and training session. Elaeagnus shrub in the foreground is included to increase shelter in the orchard, provide winter structure and mulch material from its trimmings
The Orchard Trees on Contour are becoming visible in this 2019 Aerial Photo
