Monday, December 15, 2008

Stacking Citrus


I was Florida, near St. Cloud, just before Thanksgiving. It was the only time I've been to Florida with the ability to meander the back roads a little between meetings. It was also the first time I've seen citrus groves up close.


One thing that struck me was all the space between each row of trees. I know that in most fruit orchards, this "dead space" is a source of frustration for the grower, as they have to either spray it or mow it regularly. That got me to thinking about how citrus crops could potentially be stacked with another crop or plants or animals.


Goats would eat the grass, but also the trees and the low hanging fruit. Sheep might be an option. Chickens might be an option? How many growers keep their own bee hives? This could be a complimentary output of the citrus grove.


I'll have to keep thinking about this, because I believe there is more than just one additional crop that could be raised alongside the tasty oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and a host of other fruits we enjoy that are grown in a traditionally monoculture environment.

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