Spring Permaculture Projects
with Thomas J. Elpel
March 21 - 26, 2025

      The return of spring brings an end to winter hibernation while kicking off a celebration of the new growing season. Daylight hours stretch longer and longer and temperatures slowly rise. March 21st is the first day of spring... at least in theory. Actual weather can vary from springlike to downright wintry, and the trees won't leaf out for another seven weeks. But this early springtime window is also an ideal opportunity to tackle permaculture projects after the ground thaws, but while the trees are still largely dormant, or at least haven't yet invested energy in leaf production.

      Every year we strive to make improvements to Green University's River Camp field site. Participants in our 2022 Practical Permaculture class drafted permaculture plans for River Camp, and we implemented the first phase of those projects during the subsequent Applied Permaculture class. In 2023 we started implementing phase two of the permaculture plan, with the shelterbelt and walking path along the east side of the property.

      In the spring of 2024 and 2025 we will continue pimping out the permaculture scene at River Camp, especially with planting additional fruit trees and improving the rotational grazing system with additional paddocks for the sheep.

      The timing for these projects are highly dependent on the weather and ground frost conditions. Completing most of the work at the end of March would be ideal, but may not be practical. We'll squeeze it in while we can.

      April will bring green grass and bird song, and by the time the trees leaf out in mid-May, we can wrap up hide tanning, crafting, and work-trade projects to prepare for a summer of outdoor adventure fun!

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