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Firefly Corner Farm Volunteer Briefing Series · Part Three
Knowing the land

Paddocks & Plants

The layout of P1 and P2, how the rows work, and the three kinds of plants

Part Three — come back to this one. The more time you spend on the farm, the more it will make sense.
Section 01

Paddock 1 & Paddock 2

Almost all of the farm's effort and attention is concentrated in the two paddocks in front of the main house — P1 and P2. Both are laced with rows and trenches designed to help manage water across the land.

Paddock 1
Downslope rows
The 5 tree rows in P1 run down the slope — south to north. Water moves along the rows with gravity.
Paddock 2
Across-slope rows
The 5 tree rows in P2 run along the contour — roughly east to west, at a constant elevation. Water is captured and held.
Aerial view of P1 and P2 showing row directions
Section 02

Tree Rows & Trench Rows

Within each paddock there are two types of rows, both designed around managing water.

Two row types — both in P1 and P2
🌳 Tree Rows (5 per paddock)
Wide rows with buried drip irrigation lines. A pump can be switched on to water them automatically — no hose required. Named Row 1 to Row 5 in each paddock. Reference: P2R3 = Paddock 2, Row 3.
〰️ Trench Rows
Narrower rows dug between the tree rows. The soil from the trench is mounded up alongside it, forming a small ridge. No irrigation — these capture and hold rainfall naturally.
Tree row and trench row side by side
Section 03

Three Kinds of Plants

Every plant on the farm falls into one of three categories — a practical shorthand for making quick decisions in the field.

Category 01

Invasives

Species that grow aggressively from seeds carried by birds, cattle, and wind. Not all are harmful, but they tend to outcompete the plants we want. We manage them — we don't ignore them, but we don't panic about them either.

Examples: Wild tobacco · Kikuyu grass · Xanthium · Chinese privet
Category 02

Green Manure Plants

Plants we deliberately seed onto the rows — typically in spring or winter — to cover the soil and feed it. They do the same job as animal manure: adding nutrients and building soil health. They grow densely and require little maintenance once established.

Examples: Beans · Peas · Buckwheat · Millet · Cowpea
Category 03

Precious Plants

The plants we invest the most care in. Grown from seed or cuttings in the nursery, nurtured until strong enough, then transplanted into the rows. These are the long-term residents of the food forest — trees, herbs, food plants.

Trees: Avocado · Mango · Guava · Olive  |  Herbs: Lavender · Basil · Sage  |  Food: Zucchini · Tomato · Pumpkin
Rule of thumb

If you're unsure whether to remove a plant — ask first. Invasives are managed, green manure is used, and precious plants are always treated with care. When in doubt, leave it.