Patterns and non-food Recipes

BASIC GARDEN BED (DUG) SOIL MIX AND PREPARATION

Dig down 12-18 inches Fill in with soil mix of 1 part the native soil you just dug out to 1 part aged manure mixed Make sure garden bed level is 4-6 inches below grade (a depression) so it will harvest rainwater and hold mulch

BASIC RECIPE FOR PLANTING A TREE

Dig a hole twice as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Put the tree (minus the pot) in the hole and backfill with the native soil you dug out. Create a micro-basin around the tree to harvest rainwater and hold mulch. Micro basins are often 6-18 inches deep and 5-10 feet in diameter. Make the basin slopes gradual. The tree will be pedestalled in the middle of the basin. Do not create a berm all around your basin, only on the downslope side if at all (you want to let runoff water in). Do not put any amendment IN your soil, put them all ON TOP of your soil like a mulch. 2-4 inches of aged manure or compost with 2-4 inches of bark on top works well.

WINTER SHADOW RATIO

You can determine how long an object such as a tree will cast a shadow to the north at noon on the Winter Solstice (December 21st) when the sun will be at its lowest in the southern horizon. The ratio is 1:1.4. For every foot in height an object has it will cast a shadow 1.4 feet in length to the north. So, a 20 foot tall tree will cast a shadow 28 feet to the north at noon on Dec. 21st. This ratio is very helpful in placing trees or other objects south of south-facing windows so you can insure you won’t shade them in winter and loose your passive solar heating and lighting potential. Make sure you research the mature height of trees and use that potential height in figuring what the eventual shadow cast could be for the tree at maturity.

PATTERN OF THE SUN AT 32 degrees latitude At the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21st) the sun rises 28 degrees to the SOUTH of due east and sets 28 degrees to the SOUTH of due west. At noon the sun is 35 degrees above the southern horizon. This winter sun is a free source of heat and light when we need it – be sure you have it (don’t shade it out or forget south-facing windows). Bare branches of winter deciduous trees block out 50% or more of potential heat and light. See passive solar design resources for appropriate window and roof overhang sizes. The Passive Solar Energy Book by Edward Mazria is a good one. At the Spring (March 21st) and Fall (September 21st) Equinoxes the sun rises due east and sets due west. The sun is 57 degrees above the southern horizon at noon. At the summer equinox the sun rises 28 degrees to the NORTH of due east and sets 28 degrees to the NORTH of due west. At noon the sun is 81 degrees above the southern horizon. Thus in the morning and latter afternoon hours of summer the northeast and northwest sides of the house are the hot exposed sides, while during the midday hours the south side is the hot, exposed side,(easily protected by a roof overhang).

CALCULATION FOR FIGURING OPTIMAL ROOF OVERHANG LENGTH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE FOR PASSIVE HEATING AND COOLING Appropriately sized overhangs/eaves on the south side of your house can shade your walls and windows in summer while allowing for direct exposure to the sun in winter. This is due to the sun being closer to the southern horizon (in northern hemisphere) in the winter months and almost directly overhead in the summer months. To calculate optimal overhang/eave length use the following calculation

from Ed Mazria’s book, The Passive Solar Energy Book…

window opening (height*)

Projection= F

Where F = Factor from the following table

North Latitude F Factor**

28 degrees 5.6-11.1

32 degrees 4.0-6.3

36 degrees 3.0-4.5

40 degrees 2.5-3.4

44 degrees 2.0-2.7

48 degrees 1.7-2.2

52 degrees 1.5-1.8

56 degrees 1.3-1.5

*Height is determined by measuring from the window sill to the top of the wall in which the window is located. **Select a factor according to your latitude. The higher values will provide 100% shading at noon on June 21, the lower values until August 1. Note - In

the low desert at 32 degrees latitude I want maximum summer shade, so I

actually use an even lower value (3.5) than Ed recommends.

SOLAR-DYED YARN WITH NATURAL DYES by Jane Haynes

One-half gallon glass jar with lid 2/3rds full of dye material.

Fill with water and add:

2 tablespoons alum (the alum is the mordant)

2 teaspoons cream of tartar, dissolved in warm water (cream of tartar,helps give you an even dying)

1 to 2 ounce wet white wool yarn

Place in sun for 2 to 7 days or until color is pleasing. Shake daily. Remove, squeeze and rinse well. Squeeze again and dry in a shady place. You can try brittlebush leaves, red or brown onion skins, red rock soil, mistletoe, citrus leaves, and more.