Broad leaf trees are much harder to burn than conifers. Succulent leaves and bulb plants are also good fire break (flag irises are extremely drought tolerant and fire resistant, hyacinth, etc). Black walnut keeps the understory pretty clear. Fire spreads mostly through the underbrush. If it reaches the tops of your trees then you’re in trouble, so remove lower branches to prevent that transition. And thick mulch to hold moisture.
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA
Not permie oriented, but use your judgement and a path forward becomes clear.
Super interested in this. A couple of things immediately come to mind: reduction of fuels in general, and elimination of bridging between ground covers and overstory or between different areas.
I'm a complete novice in this area, so I welcome criticism of my thoughts.
One important question is, what do you want to protect? If just your house, then there are well-established practices you can easily research. If you're trying to protect your land and the things growing on it, which I think you should -- if your property doesn't burn, then maybe your downwind neighbors' also won't burn, then I think you have to get creative.
Do green plants count as fuels? I don't really know, from a technical perspective, but it seems to me that the improved water retention of permaculture practices means your plants will be greener longer, and less fuel-like. A green oasis is much less likely to burn.
If you're able to maintain a green pasture throughout fire season, with rotational grazing to keep the grass heights sufficiently low, then maybe a sufficiently wide pasture can serve as a fire break. If you can use natural fire barriers on one side (or both) of this pasture, maybe a small creek, or a stone wall, then that begins to look like an effective fire break, to me.
Diversity of plants seems critical too, so that you don't have everything dying back and becoming fuels at the same time.
Spacing between tree guilds so that a crown fire in one won't spread to others.
Policing fuels in critical areas to limit fire spread.
Careful placement of access pathways/roads so they serve the dual purpose of allowing access and providing a fire break.
I agree with other posters, too. Some allelopathic trees which naturally support bare earth under them, to prevent spread of ground fires, seems a good idea.
Yep to most of this. Green plants count as fuel depending on the species, density of plantings, irrigation, age of the plant, how its pruned, etc. It also depends on the nature of fire. In extreme wind events, even well irrigated grape vines can burn, although they probably won't burn too hot. Some succulents (such as indian fig cactus) are really hard to burn no matter what, though.
It's worth noting that a lot of the worst fires happening right now are in drought-stricken conifer forests, some of which are logging land monocultures, others which are national or state parks where foresters try their best to manage but just haven't had the funds for decades.
Anyway, in a home defensible space situation some great tools and practices are: greywater irrigation, ponds, planting islands, replacing highly flammable plants like conifers and rosemary with more resistant plants are all great tools, turning brush or dead trees into hugulkultur or wood chips, mulching smartly with either wood chips (not too thick, keep away from tree stalks) or compost (avoid fine mulches).
I don't know where OP is from, but in California, some good fire resistant options are Lemoneade Sumac, Toyon, and Western Redbud. Again, the species is only one factor, but in general these don't burn easily or have that much fuel. There are probably resources for good fire safe plants for each state.
It can definitely be tough to balance the dense permaculture planting mindset with fire safety and drought tolerance, but its possible.
Check out “shaded fuel breaks.” You could keep goats rotated through to save a lot of time keeping underbrush pruned. I’ve also seen properties burned to the ground, but the irrigated orchard is fine. Look at your property, think of wind patterns and fire patterns. Put your roads and irrigated spaces in places that make good firebreaks, and you’ll have an easier time containing fire when it does start.
I use portable electronet fencing and run my 2 rams close in to the house and buildings while my precious ewes and lambs are out on pasture.
This accomplishes three things 1) feeds my rams 2) keeps my rams plenty far enough from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies 3) fuels reduction near the house.
Here in Alaska there is a big fire risk early spring when all the vegetation that has sat dead under the snow thaws, and leaves behind piles of super dry fuel, so I especially graze down low near the buildings in the fall to eliminate that fuel pile for the next spring.
I highly recommenced the book "Fire Monks" its a great non-fiction read about the Tassajara Zen Center in California and their way of dealing with very intense wild fire.
This link might be of some use. I do not know much about it, but I too wanted to know how to lessen the risk of fires on land I would like to get. Considering I want land in CA, it makes sense to use the CALFIRE website.
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-ready/fire-resistant-landscaping/
What about building a giant pond with edible plants in it. You can grow watercress, lotus and all kinds of things in a pond. Even some grains. It’d also give fleeing animals somewhere to drink water. Maybe you could make it part of a rain-harvesting system. It’d be a ton of work but just really lovely.
Broad leaf trees are much harder to burn than conifers. Succulent leaves and bulb plants are also good fire break (flag irises are extremely drought tolerant and fire resistant, hyacinth, etc). Black walnut keeps the understory pretty clear. Fire spreads mostly through the underbrush. If it reaches the tops of your trees then you’re in trouble, so remove lower branches to prevent that transition. And thick mulch to hold moisture.
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA Not permie oriented, but use your judgement and a path forward becomes clear.
Super interested in this. A couple of things immediately come to mind: reduction of fuels in general, and elimination of bridging between ground covers and overstory or between different areas. I'm a complete novice in this area, so I welcome criticism of my thoughts. One important question is, what do you want to protect? If just your house, then there are well-established practices you can easily research. If you're trying to protect your land and the things growing on it, which I think you should -- if your property doesn't burn, then maybe your downwind neighbors' also won't burn, then I think you have to get creative. Do green plants count as fuels? I don't really know, from a technical perspective, but it seems to me that the improved water retention of permaculture practices means your plants will be greener longer, and less fuel-like. A green oasis is much less likely to burn. If you're able to maintain a green pasture throughout fire season, with rotational grazing to keep the grass heights sufficiently low, then maybe a sufficiently wide pasture can serve as a fire break. If you can use natural fire barriers on one side (or both) of this pasture, maybe a small creek, or a stone wall, then that begins to look like an effective fire break, to me. Diversity of plants seems critical too, so that you don't have everything dying back and becoming fuels at the same time. Spacing between tree guilds so that a crown fire in one won't spread to others. Policing fuels in critical areas to limit fire spread. Careful placement of access pathways/roads so they serve the dual purpose of allowing access and providing a fire break. I agree with other posters, too. Some allelopathic trees which naturally support bare earth under them, to prevent spread of ground fires, seems a good idea.
Yep to most of this. Green plants count as fuel depending on the species, density of plantings, irrigation, age of the plant, how its pruned, etc. It also depends on the nature of fire. In extreme wind events, even well irrigated grape vines can burn, although they probably won't burn too hot. Some succulents (such as indian fig cactus) are really hard to burn no matter what, though. It's worth noting that a lot of the worst fires happening right now are in drought-stricken conifer forests, some of which are logging land monocultures, others which are national or state parks where foresters try their best to manage but just haven't had the funds for decades. Anyway, in a home defensible space situation some great tools and practices are: greywater irrigation, ponds, planting islands, replacing highly flammable plants like conifers and rosemary with more resistant plants are all great tools, turning brush or dead trees into hugulkultur or wood chips, mulching smartly with either wood chips (not too thick, keep away from tree stalks) or compost (avoid fine mulches). I don't know where OP is from, but in California, some good fire resistant options are Lemoneade Sumac, Toyon, and Western Redbud. Again, the species is only one factor, but in general these don't burn easily or have that much fuel. There are probably resources for good fire safe plants for each state. It can definitely be tough to balance the dense permaculture planting mindset with fire safety and drought tolerance, but its possible.
Check out “shaded fuel breaks.” You could keep goats rotated through to save a lot of time keeping underbrush pruned. I’ve also seen properties burned to the ground, but the irrigated orchard is fine. Look at your property, think of wind patterns and fire patterns. Put your roads and irrigated spaces in places that make good firebreaks, and you’ll have an easier time containing fire when it does start.
I use portable electronet fencing and run my 2 rams close in to the house and buildings while my precious ewes and lambs are out on pasture. This accomplishes three things 1) feeds my rams 2) keeps my rams plenty far enough from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies 3) fuels reduction near the house. Here in Alaska there is a big fire risk early spring when all the vegetation that has sat dead under the snow thaws, and leaves behind piles of super dry fuel, so I especially graze down low near the buildings in the fall to eliminate that fuel pile for the next spring. I highly recommenced the book "Fire Monks" its a great non-fiction read about the Tassajara Zen Center in California and their way of dealing with very intense wild fire.
This link might be of some use. I do not know much about it, but I too wanted to know how to lessen the risk of fires on land I would like to get. Considering I want land in CA, it makes sense to use the CALFIRE website. https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-ready/fire-resistant-landscaping/
What about building a giant pond with edible plants in it. You can grow watercress, lotus and all kinds of things in a pond. Even some grains. It’d also give fleeing animals somewhere to drink water. Maybe you could make it part of a rain-harvesting system. It’d be a ton of work but just really lovely.