New Purpose for a Dead Tree

This spring one of our apple trees finally gave up its ghost. It was a wonderful tree that gave me lots of apples for dried apple rings, sauce and pies. Unfortunately, it suffered for the last few years. The previous owners did not give much thought about its mature size and exposure to harsh winds when they planted it. I built a raised bed over part of the root system because my yard is small and the prime vegetable garden location also had trees, so I took the risk. All of these factors likely contributed to the apple tree’s early demise.

I felt bad about cutting the dead tree down. Amanda from Sprout Farms mentioned mentioned her idea about using it as a birdbath or feeder. So that’s what I did. I trimmed back the dead branches, looking at it from all sides and considering a location for a saucer that would make a good birdbath. After trimming just enough to support the saucer, I inserted an old stick to hold up the saucer, then I secured it with some wire. I also drilled holes into it for pollinators.

Voilà! My dead tree has a new purpose and in permaculture terms, I’m stacking functions.
The tree now serves the following purposes:

·      It’s a trellis for clematis or other vining plants.
·      It holds up a saucer for a birdbath or bird feeder.
·      It’s a support for the hummingbird feeder.
·      It is potentially a home for pollinators.
·      Birds use it as a perch.

Have I missed any other functions or ideas? I’d love to hear from you!

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