I'm currently planning out my early garden and have recently had two mild obsessions as far as my agri-urban life goes.
First, what nut trees would work well in Knoxville? I've looked into pecan, which may be an option but the maturity is 12 years or more. Does anyone out there know of any productive nut trees in our area, are any on public property? And in the same vein, are there any fruit trees that people have access to?
Hat tip The Daily Green
Second, I've read articles about urban bee raising, Mrs. The Pol is not excited about this. Apparently, it is possible to have bee hives on top of building and harvest honey made with the pollen and flavors of downtown Knoxville- tempting I know. Does anyone already do this in Downtown? Would this be a crazy idea?
Feedback please...
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thoughts on the season to come...
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7 comments:
A guy I know on Deaderick Ave has "urban bees" that he keeps there. And there's a good pear tree on the street side of the sidewalk (public) in 4th and Gill that Alice and I used to harvest- location.
I'm sure there's more around in the city.
If I'm not mistaken (and it's totally possible that I am) you have posted a black walnut image. I would STRONGLY advise avoiding this species at all cost. While they grow like weeds and you can eat the nuts, they are very poisonous to many animals including dogs. The young fruit is hard to keep from dogs because it looks just like a tennis ball, and the trees litter the ground with fruit that stains everything. Even though they're not "real" nuts, you can grow a good crop of peanuts in TN...and they're fast. Oh, and please keep bees. The downtown neighborhood gardeners will be happy to have them!
As I looked around on beekeeping I found that there is a knox county beekeepers assoc:
http://www.kcbaoftn.org/
I also found this simple "how-to":
http://outdoorplace.org/beekeeping/citybees.htm
It seems a bit more complex than I had hoped. maybe I will save my beekeeping for when I can make more time for it.....
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/blogs/bees/rooftop-beekeeping-47100504?src=rss
Here's an online google map documenting some of the edible perennials in Knoxville. It's part of a larger project called The Urban Land Scouts (AKA my MFA thesis project). Please let me know if you'd like to add to it (or you want to join the ULS).
First off, that is indeed a pecan tree photo, not a black walnut. Black walnuts look kind of like green baseballs. Black walnuts do grow well here, but you are correct that they are a lot of trouble. This is a good nut to go harvest off the streets of neighbors that don't want them, as most people don't, but they will stain your hands black. You can make dye from black walnuts, but they are very difficult to get the nut out of for eating. Pecans are a much better option, tree-wise. That said, all nut trees are going to take some time to mature.
American Hazelnuts are a native species of nut that are only about 8ft tall, unlike the 50ft pecan and black walnut trees, so would perhaps work better for smaller spaces. Peanuts are a great suggestion for more instant gratification.
I second the suggestions on black walnut. I harvested mine this year, but found the time it takes to harvest them is not worth it (think hammer shell on sidewalk and little fruit).
Katie- I really like your google map! i registered at neighborhoodfruit.com but they only have cities in california documented.
there are probably a lot more public fruit trees than we realize, especially in east knoxville (parkridge neighborhood goes on a gleaning walk in the fall to harvest what's ripe).
I have a persimmon tree to add if you'd like. You have to get the fruit when it is perfectly ripe, and lots of people don't really like the flavor.
And Old North Knoxville neighborhood is planning an orchard on First Creek Greenway. It will happen this spring!
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