Silvopasture Refugia

Silvopasture Refugia

Silvopasture Refugia are caged areas of shrubs and trees we’ve planted in our grazing lands. “Silvo” means “woods.” “Refugia” means “places of refuge.” The name was coined by our sheep partner and mentor, Leslie Adkins of Heartfelt Fiber Farm. Silvopasture Refugia provide many benefits for the land, the people, and the animals, for example:

  • Increased habitat for pollinators, birds, beneficial insects, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals
  • Improved soil
  • Increased shade, windbreak
  • Decreased erosion
  • Increased biodiversity

Silvopasture Refugia are a place for us to explore and experience the dynamic harmony that is the foundation of what we are learning about, living this way. They call on our money, time, energy, physical activity and they give back bounty, beauty, gentling of harshness, and joy.

Steps to Create Silvopasture Refugia—How We Got Here

Planning Silvopasture Refugia

  • Dreaming and visioning—Which plants belong here?
  • Graph paper/online tools/drawing a planting plan. In other words, consider:
    • How much space does each plant need at maturity? Ideally your trusted local nursery, like our Calflora, will have this information for every plant.
    • Next, consider, how will this planted area fit in with the surrounding area?
      • For example, do we need to keep a track clear for tractor access?
      • Importantly, where is the water source for watering for the first few years? Can we plan this so no water needs to be carried in buckets to the plants?
      • Finally, is there enough room to cage the plants to protect them?

Shopping Lists for Silvopasture Refugia

  • After this dreaming, above all, are the plants we want available?
    • For example, nurseries operate on a schedule that is very seasonal for native plants
    • Most people plant in the fall/winter, so nursery stock is most abundant in California in summer
    • Regroup with a new plan if the original plant is not available
  • After that, make a shopping list of all the materials needed for planting
    • Importantly, at this location, gopher baskets are a “must” to protect the plants underground
    • Next, we’ve found we must have hardware cloth. We make circular bunny baskets to protect the new, young plants above ground at close-to-ground level, from rabbits and surfacing gophers.
    • Cage/fencing materials: T posts + field fence rolls + Wedge-loc supports; gates and hardware and wood posts and cement, or hog or econo-panels as simple gates; to protect the plants above ground at forager level, from sheep, goats, deer, dogs
    • Biochar + small amount of good quality compost to amend the soil in the planting holes
    • Small logs/pieces of wood (not painted or treated with chemicals) to put into the planting hole, or next to the planting mound, to act as water retainers in this Mediterranean climate; they also help fund fungal networks that support the growing plant later on
    • Wood chips to mulch the plantings after installation, to keep the tender young plants moist longer after each watering

Near the Time for Silvopasture Refugia Installation

  • At last, go and obtain the plants from trusted nurseries
  • Next, go shopping for all the baskets, fencing materials, etc., because now you have in hand all your plant clients that these materials will serve
  • Finally, assemble all the materials near where the work is to be done

Installing Silvopasture Refugia

  • First, fence or cage the area for planting. You don’t want to have gone to all this trouble, planted your new babies, and come back the next day to find them destroyed by hungry, thirsty wildlife
  • Next, dig the plant holes large enough for proper size gopher baskets (err toward larger rather than smaller)
  • Install gopher basket in the hole and be sure to get all the air space out, smash it against the hole sides and bottom
  • Next, put a small piece of wood plus the spoils back into the hole and mix in biochar and a small amount of good living compost
  • Subsequently, fill each hole back to the top and take extra dirt so you are creating a mound, plenty high because it will sink over time
  • Finally, the moment! Plant at the top of the mound, being sure to push the dirt down so there is no air around the roots
  • After that, generously water in the plant. It’s vital you do this on the day of planting to help decrease the plant’s shock and help the plant get established
  • As soon as possible, mulch each mound area with woodchips, being sure to clear a space around the plant itself so that air can circulate and keep it healthy

Maintaining Silvopasture Refugia

  • Subsequently, water regularly through the dry season for the first few years
  • Maintain with regular weeding until the plants can hold their own against encroaching pastureland
  • Eventually, remove the bunny baskets when the plant seems large enough to survive on its own and before the plant grows through the wire mesh so thoroughly that removing the basket badly damages the plant. It’s a balancing act! A larger, interim bunny basket is also a possibility if you are worried about predation.
  • Finally, add plants to the Silvopasture Refugia over time once the anchor plants are established, and begin changing the microclimate of that area

History of Our Silvopasture Refugia

Below is our history of when we started each Silvopasture Refugia, and a report on what’s growing here now. We were town folk, come to the country, and it’s been an evolution for us and for the land. We started as (incompetent) food farmers and became (moderately competent) landscape stewards and carbon farmers.

“What’s growing” in large part keeps growing because of Nature. In the beginning, we do our part, and prepare most areas to be self-supporting after a few years. This is also a water-wise strategy in this land of drought.

We Evolved into Silvopasture Refugia Co-Creation

You can see from the history of these plantings how we as the stewards evolved. We started with water-hungry plants, then moved to water-wise plants. We started closer to the house, and eventually branched out to include areas all over the nine acres here. The biggest shift in awareness came in 2015 – 2016 when Amy took a Permaculture Design Course with Toby Hemenway and his colleagues. After, we started experimenting with planting California natives, and gradually grew bold enough to plant farther away from the house, more confident that what we installed would survive. We started thinking about our tummies and ended thinking of our watershed and region, the salmon in the creeks, the little swimmers in the bay. It’s been a good journey, unfurling into connection.

In 2019, we went for it, planting many Silvopasture Refugia areas all over the back pastureland. Previously, this back pasture had not been under our care and stewardship; we brought in guest graziers to manage the fuel load. Because of the Healthy Soils project described above, we grew confident enough to embrace managing this large part of the property (about 7 of the 9 acres here). Silvopasture Refugia opened a habitable space in our minds and we could suddenly see how it could all work, to extend our awareness into the back, thanks to the giving nature of the plants we could bring in via the Silvopasture Refugia.

Each Silvopasture Refugia’s Little Story

The title of each section below gives the year we first planted in an area, and the name we’ve given to the area. Then you can read a bit of what the area means to us, and a list of what is currently growing in that area. Some of these areas did not begin as Silvopasture Refugia but have become that as we’ve established our grazing flock and expanded the reach of the grazing to all four corners of the property.

2002 Almond

This was our first, fledgling attempt to grow food. It was so attractive to imagine having organic, non-radiated, fresh nuts! Then, the trees got established and began to bear, and we learned what hard work it is to pick and shell fresh almonds. Many bruised fingers were nursed! We sometimes pick and sometimes leave the almonds for the birds and other wildlife. As the almond trees are aging out, and as we have learned much more about what is sustainable, we are transitioning this area to California native plants. So, currently growing here are:

2003 Middle Orchard

Much like Almond, this area began with visions of harvesting food crops, but is now transitioning into more California native trees and shrubs. Because it’s irrigated, this area hosts riparian plants, those that need regular water. Most of our land is dry, so it’s a treasure to have maples, and native hazelnuts. We have a watering station for one of our paddocks on the fence of Middle Orchard, so these plants get a drink when we activate the line to fill the animals’ drinking buckets, every time they rotate through that pasture. So, currently growing here are:

2003 Front Orchard

This area was aspirational as we tried to grow fruit trees for awhile, and slowly began to understand what it takes to be successful in establishing plants in this climate (Of 14 cherry trees, only 1 survived, and not for long). We are transitioning this area to California natives and also thinking about creating a medicinal paddock here. The house graywater system feeds this area, and it could become a green medicine cabinet to support even better health for the sheep and goats. So, currently growing here are:

2009 Veg Garden

The Veg Garden came from the idea of, “Hey, we live on land, shouldn’t we be growing our own food?” That was a great thought, and we held that thought, until we got the animals. Then, the hours of the day were bespoke taking care of the flock and their guardians, and we switched to buying our produce from some of the amazing local farms in this land of plenty. We still grow some perennial vegetables, and occasionally some annuals, but this area is evolving into more a fruit orchard and herbivory. So, currently growing here are:

2010 Backyard

For awhile we had miniature citrus trees in barrels here, when we were still not ready to plant in-ground because of the gopher situation. Then, we got brave and put them in the ground with gopher baskets. The fresh Meyer lemons are one of the highlights of our garden! This area also was where we first started experimenting with growing California native plants. It’s also close to the house, “Zone 1” in Permaculture lingo, the easiest place to observe and to give care to growing things. So, currently growing here are:

2016 Apron

The Apron is a place in front of our property that faces the road, a flat area that brings us a happy feeling of being settled when we look upon it. So, currently growing here are:

2016 Foaling Pen

The Foaling Pen is a place that Joan fenced in for her horses give birth back in the day when she lived here with her Morgans. Now it’s turned into an irrigated refuge for wild insects, birds, and small animals. It’s another place we can enjoy riparian plants. So, currently growing here are:

2016 Hillock

The Hillock was designed especially for pollinators. We have several bee hives and wanted to provide good quality nutrition for the bees during the dearth time, when they can starve, or experience a sharp decline in health due to lack of forage. We also want to provide for native pollinators. This area also serves as a filter strip to absorb any nutrient runoff coming from the night pens of the animals. So, currently growing here are:

2016 North Drive

The North Drive area plants are the welcoming committee as you come up the driveway. Starting usually in January, the pink plum blossoms bring light and color that feels intoxicating. We also nip down to this area when we want bay leaves for cooking. So, currently growing here are:

2016 Oak Woodlands

The Oak Woodlands was our first oak installation, with Coast Live Oak as the anchor plants and companionable plants all around them for enhanced vigor and synergy. We originally planted nine oaks, half with a manzanita groundcover companion in the planting basket, and half without. After a few months, the oaks with manzanita companions were twice as tall as the solo oaks! We added bearberry companions to those oaks, and they soon caught up. So, currently growing here are:

2016 Woodbox

Before burning wood became so restricted by the Air Quality Management Board, we had a woodbox with a cord of wood in it and enjoyed winter fires in the woodstove in our home. Now, the woodbox area holds living plants instead. So, currently growing here are:

2017 Monterey Cypress Grove

This area was inspired by Margaret and Walter of Mostly Natives Nursery in Tomales. Margaret and Walter have since handed the business over to others and moved on, but in 2017 they had a table of Monterey Cypress trees each smaller than Amy’s pinky finger. We cared for these infant giants until they were mature enough to plant, then installed them up on the ridge, where they happily catch the summer fog for drinks. They are growing into a windbreak for one of our paddocks, to help decrease the evaporation brought by the brisk afternoon sea breeze, to help the grass stay greener longer and the paddock to be more lush. So, currently growing here are:

2017 Central Paddock

This is the night pen area for the sheep and goats and their guardian dogs. It has a southwest exposure. In the hot weather, it would be so lovely to have a large shade tree here, so, we planted this small installation in the center of the paddock, with the help and advice of the staff at Calflora Nursery. So, currently growing here are:

2018 Healthy Soils

We applied for and received a grant from the state of California in its 2017 Healthy Soils Initiatives program. As part of that grant, we installed this hedgerow in 2018. This hedgerow is a transition space between the front of the property, a place of human activity, and the back of the property, a wilder place that in 2020 we opened to grazing by our Climate Beneficial Fiber flock. Planning for this “proto” Silvopasture Refugia opened our eyes to the potential of this form of landscape stewardship. So, currently growing here are:

2019 #1FarNE

This area, #1FarNE, is in the far corner of our property, in a hollow, down at the bottom of a slope. The microclimate conditions seem favorable for trying to grow some plants from a different California plant community; we’ll see how it goes. In this area is a treasured Pinyon Pine tree started from a wild pine cone by Bert, the founder of Las Pilitas Nursery. It was five years old already when we brought it home, and it was less than 6 inches high. It is thriving, and we hope it will grow to maturity and be here to feed wildlife for many centuries after we leave this world. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Merritch (#24912)

This area is on another far corner of the property, near a giant eucalyptus grove at the border of our neighbors’ land. It’s the “wildest” area here, farthest from any regular human activity, and we often find wild turkey and hawk feathers here. We hope to learn to harvest and concoct the “wild lemonade” drink from the Lemonade Berry plants. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Rox (#3)

This is a smaller Silvopasture Refugia, near some large natural field rocks, down near the hollow. It faces out over the valley with beautiful views of water and sky. When it’s blooming, the deep blue of Salvia ‘Celestial Blue’ (named after Bert’s wife Celeste, of Las Pilitas Nursery) mirrors the blue blue sky. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Elbow (#568)

This area is sandwiched between grazing paddocks with fairly lush grass. It’s dry but feels sheltered because of its eastern exposure on the back side of the hill. It’s a perfect place for pollinator-friendly sages. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Marshview (#7)

This area is near the crest of a hill, a transition zone in terms of the wind; it’s much more exposed than some other areas, and the grass is lush here. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Fried Egg (#1011)

This Silvopasture Refugia is oriented N/S, one of the few running that way. #1011 fills the function of a wildlife “cross road.” Part of its function is to connect the northern boundary plantings (which run E/W) with the southern boundary plantings (which run E/W). Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser of Singing Frogs Farm planned their farm’s hedgerows so that wildlife (beneficial insects, birds, mammals) never have to “jump” a distance of greater than 100 feet. This makes it easier for them to be at home, part of the web of life here. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Stonecrop (#1314)

This area is tucked away on the northern side of our western slope, and what a difference that northern exposure makes. The oaks here will eventually cast shade into the next eastern-ward grazing paddock, decreasing evaporation from the little rain forest of the grasses, adding to their lushness and to the comfort of the grazers and their guardians. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Clint Eastwood

This area has west/southwest exposure and it’s hot and dry, with thin rocky topsoil on a steep slope. It reminds Amy of spaghetti westerns in which a young gunslinger snarled and shot his way through life, hence the area’s name. We planted this area with specimens at home in drier, hotter climates than ours, to help ensure they could thrive here. So, currently growing here are:

2019 Materials Yard

This is an area where we store rock, lumber, scaffolding, etc.. It has some of the poorest soil of all our original grazing paddocks; it is riddled with foxtails; and it is used occasionally as a road, by vehicles. As a result, the soil here is badly compressed. Consequently, just the place for a large, stately, soil-altering, microclimate-enhancing, giant oak tree! So, currently growing here are:

2019 North Central

This area is on a western-facing, steep slope with poorish soil that it gets quite hot and dry once the rainy season ends. Yet, our sheep and goats like this place; maybe their mouflon and ibex ancestry? We hope to gentle the harshness of place with the help of these friends. The Mountain Lilacs improve the soil by fixing nitrogen at their roots. So, currently growing here are:

2019 North Eastern

Ah, moisture; to a British hobbit and an East Coast girl, nothing better. This area faces to the northeast, and what a difference that exposure makes. The soil is springier underfoot, the grass is lusher, and the land is cooler. So we have dared to install a few native plants that like a bit more moisture, like Black Oaks. So, currently growing here are:

2020 Hilltop

This area has a glorious 360 degree view of sky, water, trees, and rolling hills. So, it gets a lot of wind. Despite this, the animals love to hang out here; it seems as if they like the view, or at least, they like the position of power, being able to see all around and know what’s coming. So, currently growing here are:

2021 Shelter NC

This is an area where we are creating a “sacrifice paddock” with shelter and water that connects to and services multiple grazing areas, somewhat like the hub of a wagon wheel. It’s part of our cross-fencing to make paddocks for a rotational grazing plan. All the animals require shade even on days that are not too hot, when the sun is bright, and once the rainy season stops and the heat turns up, shade is an essential. We have planted a “green wall” of compact Mediterranean Cypress trees that will provide much-needed shelter along the south/southwestern edge of the animal shade structures. After several years of observing where the flock and their guardians prefer to rest in hot weather, we conclude that the shade of trees wins, hands down. So, we want to create our shelter spaces with that amenity. So, currently growing here are:

More to Come

We will continue to add plants to the existing Silvopasture Refugia, and will add new plantings as well. In 2021 we are focusing on building shade and shelter stations for the flock and their guardians, and cross-fencing new paddocks for a better rotational grazing plan. As we install the hardscape, we will plan and enhance these areas with more California native plants.