5 ms·

I was investigating massive reforestation as a means of reducing greenhouse gases a few days ago. I stumbled upon this hyper-dense technique called the Miyawaki

I was investigating massive reforestation as a means of reducing greenhouse gases a few days ago. I stumbled upon this hyper-dense technique called the Miyawaki method [1]. Sounds like it's resource-intensive upfront but might be self-sustaining after that. The guy mentioned in [1] has open-sourced the methodology here [2]. [1]: https://fellowsblog.ted.com/how-to-grow-a-forest-really-really-fast-d27df202ba09 https://fellowsblog.ted.com/how-to-grow-a-forest-really-real... [2]: https://www.afforestt.com/methodology https://www.afforestt.com/methodology

ciconia 8y ago
Their method can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4l3sqwd3b9j3pmq/AAAa6kbi3r7yY9QnDgrnj5BMa?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4l3sqwd3b9j3pmq/AAAa6kbi3r7yY9QnD...
wishinghand 8y ago
I first read this article when it was linked on Hacker News. I had always hoped the method would go viral for local environmentalists, hippies, rich landscapers, and Earth/Arbor day organizers.
- CalRobert 8y ago
  Planted my first trees a few weeks ago. 2 more acres to go (more if I can buy more land...)
  - pvaldes 8y ago
    Feel free to ask if you encounter a problem. Now is the best month to plant a tree in the northern hemisphere.
    - CalRobert 8y ago
      What's the best way to source hundreds or thousands of saplings for native irish trees on a budget? How much growth per year can I expect? How can I provide symbiosis with the nearby protected raised bog and its birds?
      - pvaldes 8y ago
        > What's the best way to source hundreds or thousands of saplings for native irish trees on a budget? Just pick up your own seeds, either plant it or let the nature do gladly the hard work for you. https://www.nordgen.org/en/jay-expert-planting-oak/ https://www.nordgen.org/en/jay-expert-planting-oak/ There will be always much more seeds than the ones that will survive at the end. You can rescue seedlings growing in unsuitable areas (next a road for example) that would not survive the lawnmower. > How much growth per year can I expect? It depends a lot on the tree and the area, the water available etc. Fast growth is tender and not always desirable. Oaks and other long living trees will put their best efforts to grow under the surface. Don't expect a lot to see the first years but after this phase they will suddenly accelerate. You need first to know what trees are good for your area If you want fast results, a common technique is to use fast growing / short lived trees and shrubs first (birch or rowan for example). Then seed or wait for other species to reach the area and slowly unfurl. > How can I provide symbiosis with the nearby protected raised bog and its birds? Plant fruit shrubs, let dead wood decay in place, use holly and blackthorn to encourage nests... Avoid spreading invasive Rhododendron in any case. If you have a bog near your home, the soil could be very poor and acid. This will determine what you can plant and what not. Not all trees can stand a high phreatic level. Willows can, and are easily grown from free cuttings. Rowan are excelent also in acid soils. Most trees will avoid the bog.
    - CalRobert 8y ago
      Also, what can I plant to hopefully enjoy a nice small forest to walk in in about 8-12 years? What fruit trees would work? (I already have some apple trees). Can I get away with planting seeds or do I need saplings? Will trees effectively stop large undergrowth to the point where I can walk around? I'm already in my mid-30's, will I be able to enjoy this for any reasonable portion of my life?
      - pvaldes 8y ago
        > what can I plant What type of soil and climate? coastal area? If you have apples you can have also plums and pears. Buy fruit trees grafted, from well and from a good source. Don't seed it. Reserve an area near your home to put it and also some open areas without trees. > Will trees effectively stop large undergrowth to the point where I can walk around? Some can do it (after some years), other can't. It depends on the trees, how they are packed, and the area. Beech definitely will kill anything under their canopy at long term and is a really beautiful tree, and many big conifers also, so must be placed carefully (and used sparsely).
- pvaldes 8y ago
  We need first to address the problem with organized crime that can burn decades of work in an afternoon with a low risk of being caught. There is also problems with overgrazing and stolen water. Planting trees is only the first step to have a forest.
L_226 8y ago
> To make soil analysis easy for remote clients, we are also developing a small, GPS-enabled soil probe that will test soil and upload the data onto our server. When the probe is integrated with our database, at the push of a button you’ll know the soil constituents and what nutrients it needs, and we’ll be able to immediately send a complete species list and a detailed procedure. This is pretty interesting, though I can't find any more information on the website. I work at Stenon [0], we make a portable soil analysis probe for agriculture - the demand for these devices is huge. (we are hiring) [0] - https://stenon.io/en/ https://stenon.io/en/
- monodeldiablo 8y ago
  I'll say! Thanks so much for the link and for your hard work. I've been looking for a way to do continuous, multi-variable soil monitoring across my olive grove, and the Stenon probe looks like it could be perfect. Do you have any information on pricing and availability? P.S. I'm curious how you're able to accurately measure nitrate and carbon levels. Can you point me to any papers on the techniques you're using?
  - L_226 8y ago
    Availability is short, we are looking at general sales first quarter 2020 and I can't share pricing info at this time. However we have presold a bunch of devices already :) As for accuracy we have patent pending ML models that provide nutrient predictions that are >= laboratory accuracy. If you are interested please sign up to the waitlist and someone will be in touch!
makerofspoons 8y ago
Reducing the amount of land we use is one of the best ways to restore our ecosystems and combat climate change. As we engineer better crops with higher yields we should use less land, and as we develop vertical farming we should use even less. I would like to see government buyback programs for farms and reforestation on those properties in the future. In the US states like Ohio, Indiana, and other midwestern states were heavily deforested for agriculture in the past.
- fhackenberger 8y ago
  The best way to reduce the amount of land we use, is to stick to a plant based diet. Facts, see http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts

ciconia 8y ago

Their method can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4l3sqwd3b9j3pmq/AAAa6kbi3r7yY9QnDgrnj5BMa?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4l3sqwd3b9j3pmq/AAAa6kbi3r7yY9QnD...

wishinghand 8y ago

I first read this article when it was linked on Hacker News. I had always hoped the method would go viral for local environmentalists, hippies, rich landscapers, and Earth/Arbor day organizers.

CalRobert 8y ago
Planted my first trees a few weeks ago. 2 more acres to go (more if I can buy more land...)
- pvaldes 8y ago
  Feel free to ask if you encounter a problem. Now is the best month to plant a tree in the northern hemisphere.
  - CalRobert 8y ago
    What's the best way to source hundreds or thousands of saplings for native irish trees on a budget? How much growth per year can I expect? How can I provide symbiosis with the nearby protected raised bog and its birds?
    - pvaldes 8y ago
      > What's the best way to source hundreds or thousands of saplings for native irish trees on a budget? Just pick up your own seeds, either plant it or let the nature do gladly the hard work for you. https://www.nordgen.org/en/jay-expert-planting-oak/ https://www.nordgen.org/en/jay-expert-planting-oak/ There will be always much more seeds than the ones that will survive at the end. You can rescue seedlings growing in unsuitable areas (next a road for example) that would not survive the lawnmower. > How much growth per year can I expect? It depends a lot on the tree and the area, the water available etc. Fast growth is tender and not always desirable. Oaks and other long living trees will put their best efforts to grow under the surface. Don't expect a lot to see the first years but after this phase they will suddenly accelerate. You need first to know what trees are good for your area If you want fast results, a common technique is to use fast growing / short lived trees and shrubs first (birch or rowan for example). Then seed or wait for other species to reach the area and slowly unfurl. > How can I provide symbiosis with the nearby protected raised bog and its birds? Plant fruit shrubs, let dead wood decay in place, use holly and blackthorn to encourage nests... Avoid spreading invasive Rhododendron in any case. If you have a bog near your home, the soil could be very poor and acid. This will determine what you can plant and what not. Not all trees can stand a high phreatic level. Willows can, and are easily grown from free cuttings. Rowan are excelent also in acid soils. Most trees will avoid the bog.
  - CalRobert 8y ago
    Also, what can I plant to hopefully enjoy a nice small forest to walk in in about 8-12 years? What fruit trees would work? (I already have some apple trees). Can I get away with planting seeds or do I need saplings? Will trees effectively stop large undergrowth to the point where I can walk around? I'm already in my mid-30's, will I be able to enjoy this for any reasonable portion of my life?
    - pvaldes 8y ago
      > what can I plant What type of soil and climate? coastal area? If you have apples you can have also plums and pears. Buy fruit trees grafted, from well and from a good source. Don't seed it. Reserve an area near your home to put it and also some open areas without trees. > Will trees effectively stop large undergrowth to the point where I can walk around? Some can do it (after some years), other can't. It depends on the trees, how they are packed, and the area. Beech definitely will kill anything under their canopy at long term and is a really beautiful tree, and many big conifers also, so must be placed carefully (and used sparsely).
pvaldes 8y ago
We need first to address the problem with organized crime that can burn decades of work in an afternoon with a low risk of being caught. There is also problems with overgrazing and stolen water. Planting trees is only the first step to have a forest.

L_226 8y ago

> To make soil analysis easy for remote clients, we are also developing a small, GPS-enabled soil probe that will test soil and upload the data onto our server. When the probe is integrated with our database, at the push of a button you’ll know the soil constituents and what nutrients it needs, and we’ll be able to immediately send a complete species list and a detailed procedure. This is pretty interesting, though I can't find any more information on the website. I work at Stenon [0], we make a portable soil analysis probe for agriculture - the demand for these devices is huge. (we are hiring) [0] - https://stenon.io/en/ https://stenon.io/en/

monodeldiablo 8y ago
I'll say! Thanks so much for the link and for your hard work. I've been looking for a way to do continuous, multi-variable soil monitoring across my olive grove, and the Stenon probe looks like it could be perfect. Do you have any information on pricing and availability? P.S. I'm curious how you're able to accurately measure nitrate and carbon levels. Can you point me to any papers on the techniques you're using?
- L_226 8y ago
  Availability is short, we are looking at general sales first quarter 2020 and I can't share pricing info at this time. However we have presold a bunch of devices already :) As for accuracy we have patent pending ML models that provide nutrient predictions that are >= laboratory accuracy. If you are interested please sign up to the waitlist and someone will be in touch!

makerofspoons 8y ago

Reducing the amount of land we use is one of the best ways to restore our ecosystems and combat climate change. As we engineer better crops with higher yields we should use less land, and as we develop vertical farming we should use even less. I would like to see government buyback programs for farms and reforestation on those properties in the future. In the US states like Ohio, Indiana, and other midwestern states were heavily deforested for agriculture in the past.

fhackenberger 8y ago
The best way to reduce the amount of land we use, is to stick to a plant based diet. Facts, see http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts