The Orchard is a Swale and Berm design collecting the moisture from rain and snow on level contoured depressions. The water soaks into the ground and creates a lens of moisture under ground each berm. The heavily mulched berms stay moist throughout the summer and buffer dry and wet spells. This is called Earthworks and Repatterning of the land.
The plant guilds were developed over the preceding winter. We want at least two of every perennial edible plant we could find, focusing on fruit and nut trees. The supporting plant guilds consist of Nitrogen Fixers, Nutrient Accumulators, mulching plants and ground cover.