Miyawaki How To

[InnesBuck]

This issue is to discuss/brainstorm the information that FCF wants to project surrounding the Miyawaki Method of afforestation. These can include

• A document outlying How To
  • Steps and resources to start your own
  • Motivation supporting afforesting this way
  • Cost per unit area
  • Timing
  • Benefits and drawbacks compared to other afforestation methods
  • A visual presentation/video
  • Documenting the progress of our Tiny Forest
  • Outlying steps to create
  • Can be used in community outreach for finding new sites, as well as for stewardship promotion of future sites

This folder in the drive contains pertinent resources and documents. It is combined between this issue and the citizen science project relating to the Tiny Forest.

[smlambert]

I use this reference when thinking about how to organize and create documentation: https://diataxis.fr/

It breaks documentation of a project into 4 modes: tutorials, how-to guides, technical reference and explanation. I think the same type of categorization can be used effectively to document Tiny Forests / Miyawaki method.

So, what I will propose is that we consider creating 4 types of documents:

• a practical "how-to" guide
• a video tutorial (which is really a montage of photos and overlay of words with the steps)
• an explanation document of why we want to create Tiny Forests (this could essential be a blog post, and we may already have one), this might be the place to include benefits/drawbacks...
• a reference guide which contains extreme detail including exactly what and how much inputs, cost breakdown, etc.

[smlambert]

6 basic steps (where the first 4 steps can be done well ahead of the last two):

• Local forest exploration

• Soil assessment

• Soil preparation

• Planting plan

• Planting event

• Maintenance

[smlambert]

Calculated based on the OCH sites, which had very shallow soil base (only 6 inches), so the minimum amount of amendments in those cases are as such:

As there is only about 6 inches of soil at each site, want another 6 inches added, 3 inches can be Greeley’s topsoil, 2 inches compost and 1 inch of leaf mulch/hay amendments

2150 sq ft ~ 70x30ft

$7 x 30 small bales = $210

Per site recommendations: 20 yds topsoil $749.00 13 yds compost $644.54 Leaf mulch / straw / rotten hay - can this be donated, can use rotted bales? $7 x 30 small bales = $210 Coconut coir (5 50L bags) $215 Chicken manure (5 bags) - $100 Azomite (1 4lb bag trace minerals) - $28 Mycorrhyzal inoculant (1/4 of 900g bag of root rescue applied after planting day dissolved in water) - $50

———

Total: $1998

[smlambert]

Related to other educational Tiny Forest tasks that are currently open. FYI @jodinewman

[jodinewman]

Guide has been created and uploaded to website.

The species list is still being updated and will be added to the guide eventually (may not be until later this year given other priorities).