edible walking path

1. EdibleWalking
Path Design
Project
OwenTower Sustainable Food-Professor Silva

2. Goals Articulation
Our edible walking path provides high yields of low maintenance
perennial foods to students/staff in both the spring and fall semesters.
This collaborative project educates students while having caloric dense
food on the go.

3. Site Summary
Site Summary Utilizing the Scale of Permanence and sector analysis.
Climate- Non-brittle climate with even rainfall (spread throughout the year), Zone 6 Plant hardiness,
meaning the average extreme temperatures only differ from the mean by around 10°F. Hurricanes and
remnants of tropical storms are also prevalent in the area.Wind normally blows southwest in the
summer and north in the winter months.
Landform- Site is on a slope, with its solar aspect facing south. Also, there is a rock/stone wall on the
western border of the site from the neighboring walking path.
Water-The High Point of the site is located at the northern part of the site, and slopes down to the low
point on the southern Aspect of the site. Flooding frequently occurs at the Southern portion of the site.
Potential Sources of water include: swales for water capture, soaker hoses/gators/drip systems, and
rainwater collection in storage tanks from the site itself or the roof of LiberalArts. Existing sources of
water includes hose hookups to LiberalArts and runoff water down the watershed of the slope.
Accessibility-There are existing walking paths that surround the western and southern areas of the site,
additionally there is vehicle presence from maintenance workers on the eastern and western parts of the
site. Foot traffic is present on the walking paths surrounding the site, as well as the western part of the
site.Wildlife flow into the site include squirrels, small birds, and sometimes geese.

4. Site Summary (cont.)
Vegetation- Other than the one existing tree at the northern part of the site, the
site is primarily grasslands other than the trees past the eastern boundary of the
site.
Buildings- Liberal Arts Building is past theWestern Boundary of the site.The
stone wall on the western boundary of the site is also a permanent structure.
Possible buildings in the future may include storage sheds/water tanks that may
be placed in the site.
Soil- Soil is comprised of mostly loam, and is very acidic, given the fact that we
are in the New England area. Due to the non-brittle climate, the soil is very
workable and can be used for permaculture. Possible sources of soil toxicity
include bits of metal from possible underground pipes for utilities, and runoff salt
towards the southern end of the site in the winter from the walking paths.

5. Site Summary (cont.)
Aesthetics-The walking path will contain a fenced-off area and an entryway to
welcome people to it, as well as small solar lights and additional archways along the
path.The plants themselves will be very vibrant (especially those that attract insects)
in color and will provide life to an otherwise boring part of the campus.
Microclimate- Without the walking path, there aren’t many microclimates on the slope.
There is some level of shade near the northern tree, and some protection near the
western wall, which provide their own microclimates. After the walking path is created,
there will be small, aquatic microclimates near the swales, wind protection in the parts of
the path near all of the shrubs and fruit trees, dense ground cover due to the mulching
plants, and higher nitrogen content near the plants. With all of these new aspects, there
will be many new homes for small animals/insects to reside and thrive, which will create
many diverse microclimates throughout the site.

6. Irrigation/Water Catching System
Existing water sources at the site include the rainfall and watershed that already
exists down the slope of the site. Another existing source of water includes
multiple hose hookups to the Liberal Arts building. Flooding does happen
periodically at the southern end of the site, so it is important that not many plants
are placed at the southern part of the site.
With flooding occurring periodically at the site, it will be important to establish
many swales throughout the site to hold on to as much water as possible during
periods of heavier rainfall.

7. Irrigation/Water Catching System (cont.)
Even though there is even rainfall throughout the year, and swales will be utilized,
more redundancy must be established for water.
The other water-catching/irrigation methods that will be used include water gators to
place around the bases of the fruit trees in order to help establish the root system of
fruit trees during development. Also, soaker hoses and drip systems can be used for
water as well.The hose hookups to the Liberal Arts Building already exists, so the tap
source for drip systems and soaker hoses already exist.The utilization of soaker hoses
and drip systems also decreases the amount of water that is wasted when providing
water to the site, because they are very efficient in terms of water waste.
In conclusion, utilizing multiple swales periodically throughout the site, as well as using
water gators, drip systems, and soaker hoses will allow for optimal irrigation to the site
while wasting as little water as possible.

8. Permaculture Principles used
One permaculture principle that was used was
the principle of interconnection.This can be
seen with the interaction between the various
plants that are used in the walking path.
Various properties of the plants that are used
cause the existing plants to live symbiotically
with each other, such as the insect attracting
plants bringing in bees for pollination of other
plants.The relationship between nitrogen
fixers and all of the other plants is another
example of interconnection.With the nitrogen
fixing plants having a symbiotic relationship
with fungi and bacteria at the site, the
establishing fruit trees and various shrubs also
benefit from the nitrogen that the nitrogen
fixers use as well.
Another Permaculture Principle that can be
seen in our system is the principle of Multiple
Functions.This can be seen with the
utilization of various herbaceous plants in
the design for this walking path. Oregano
and garlic provide food that we can
consume, while also acting as “tricksters”,
which will deter pest insects from the actual
fruit plants.The nitrogen fixers on the site
also act in a similar way. For example,
horseradish is used to provide nitrogen to
the site as well as function as a part of the
“edible” aspect of the walking path.

9. Permaculture Principles Used (cont.)
The principle of redundancy can really be
seen with the amount of water sources that
will be used for this system.These include
swales to trap rain water, utilizing water
gators to supply the fruit trees with
sufficient water, and using soaker hoses
and drip systems to provide water
throughout the site.Water is arguably the
most important aspect of any permaculture
system, so it is necessary to have this type
of redundancy incase one or multiple
sources fall through.
The final permaculture principle of relative
location can be seen in the placement of
the site itself.The bulk of the fruit trees and
nut trees are going to be in the middle of
the site, which is very close to the Liberal
Arts Building.This was done on purpose, as
LARTS has hose hookups that provide a
water source for the site.The site was also
placed at this part of the field because it
receives a lot of foot traffic, especially from
freshman walking to class. Additionally, the
plants were placed away from the southern
part of the site and the southern walkway,
in order to avoid runoff salt and flooding
that occurs at this part of the site.

10. Design Sketch

11. Plant List
Plant name: Species Name Mature Height and
Spread
Sun Preferences Special Characteristics
Common Plums Prunus Domestica 25-30 feet tall
15-25 feet wide
Full Sun Later Fall Harvest for some species.
Black Walnut Juglans Nigra 75-130 feet tall
75-130 feet wide
Full Sun Later Fall Harvest (August-October)
More resistant to drought. Can be around
for 100+ years!
Cherry Trees Prunis Serotina 50-100 feet tall
25-50 feet wide
Full sun Can be susceptible to wind damage, lives
100+years.
Persimmon Diospyros Virgiana 50-75 feet tall
25-50 feet wide
Full sun Works well with Black Walnuts, because it
tolerates juglone (type of poison) which is
produced from Black Walnuts.
Following Permaculture Guild Guidelines (MINNT)
Main fruit/nutTrees:

12. Plant List
Mulching Plants
Plant name: Species Name Mature Height and Spread Sun Preferences Special Characteristics
Comfrey Symphtum grandiflorum 8-12 inches tall
18 inches wide
Full sun, tolerates shade up
to 50%.
Medicinal, can be cut 2-4x
year for mulch, grows
together in groups, some
varieties are deep rooted.
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale 8-12 inches tall
Leafs spread 0.5-4 inches
Good light, but full sun is
not necessary.
Use the greens before
plants start to seed! Greens
are healthy herbs.
Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum 3-5 feet tall
1 foot wide
Full sun or very partial
shade.
Dense root system close to
surface and taproot a meter
under the surface.

13. Plant List (Cont.)
Insectary Plants:
Plant Name: Species Name Mature Height
and Spread
Sun
Preferences
Special
Characteristics
Marigold Calendula
officinalis
1-2.5 feet tall,
0.5-1.5 feet
wide
Prefers full sun Self-seeds
easily, so it’ll
come back
year after year.
Leaves can be
harvested in
the spring.
Cinquefoil Poteentilla
fruticosa
3 feet tall
3 wide
Full sun, light
shade.
Edible leaves,
some roots are
medicinal.
Clover Trifolium
pratense
0.5-2 feet tall
0.5-2 feet wide
Prefers full sun,
tolerates
shade.
Taproots with
fibrous nature.
Nitrogen Fixing Plants:
Plant Name: Species Name Mature Height
and Spread
Sun
Preferences
Special
Characteristics
Hog Peanut Amphicarpaea
bracteata
1-5 feet tall
1-5 feet wide
Full sun, light
shade.
Provides
groundcover, is
an annual plant,
is calorically
dense plant, has
running roots.
Horseradish Amoracia
rusticana
Leaves reach 3
feet tall
1 foot wide
Full sun, light
shade.
Can spread very
fast and become
invasive, some
maintenance is
required.

14. Plant List (cont.)
Plant Name: Species Name Mature
Height and
Spread
Sun
Preferences
Special
Characteristic
s
Oregano Origanum
vulgare
1-2 feet tall
1-4 feet wide
Full sun,
moderate
shade.
Shallow
(runner) roots,
used in
cooking.
Rosemary Rosmarinus
officinalis
3-4 feet tall
3-4 feet wide
Full sun,
tolerates light
shade.
Not deep
roots, self-
pollinating,
leaves can be
used to make
tea.
“Trickster” Plants
Plant Name: Species Name Mature Height
and Spread
Sun
Preferences
Special
Characteristics
Lupine Lupinus
perennis
1-4 feet tall
1-3 feet wide
Full sun, light
shade.
Fibrous roots,
edible seeds
in some
species.
Sea
Buckthorn
Hippophae
rhamnoides
10-20 feet tall
8-10 feet wide
Full sun,
tolerates light
shade
Thorns
underneath
leaves and
fruit.
Nutrient Accumulator

15. Sources
▪ Kitsteiner, John. “Plant Index.” Temperate Climate Permaculture,
tcpermaculture.com/site/plant-index/.
▪ Mills, David. “Wild Foods Home Garden - a how-to guide.” Wild Foods Home
Garden - a how-to guide, 2014, wildfoodshomegarden.com/.
▪ “Plants for a Future.” Plants for a Future, 1996, www.pfaf.org/.
▪ “Spiked Speedwell.” Plants Profile forVeronica spicata (Spiked speedwell),
plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=VESP80.
▪ “WeatherSpark.com.” AverageWeather in New Bedford, Massachusetts,
United States,Year Round -Weather Spark,
weatherspark.com/y/26822/Average-Weather-in-New-Bedford-
Massachusetts-United-States-Year-Round.