As Permaculture practitioners we seek out design elements that can fulfill many purposes.   In doing so we achieve design integration and efficiency, we can get more out of design implementations for less effort and we get less waste.  The Tagasaste Tree (Chamaecytisus palmensis) or Tree Lucerne, is such a stellar contributor in this way that I like to think of it as a `Keystone' design element, upon which I can very easily build on and connect other design elements to. 

In this journal entry we examine the various applications of tagasaste in design, and in our own orchard, and we share some of our experiences in propagating, growing and protecting our own trees. Related topics covered include Legumes, Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria, Mycorrhizal Fungi, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Calcium.