3+-+Settlement+Recommendations

= **Settlement Recommendations:**  = = =

[[image:Island-Map2.JPG width="800" height="521"]]
Location 1 - Top left-hand corner of B7
 * Close to location of possible port
 * Close to river for waterand food supply
 * Possibility to use river for transport
 * Flat ground with options for crop plantation on plains, using river water supply for irrigation

Location 2 - Middle bottom of C3
 * Fertile land for crops
 * High rainfall for possible crop growth and water collection
 * Woodland area for protection against wind
 * Relatively flat terrain, but not too low so as to hopefully reduce risk of flooding
 * Close to tropical trees for protection and access to fruits and other supplies

Location 3 - Intersecting point of B4, B5, C4, C5
 * Close to river for water supply and possible transport
 * Rich soil due to high rainfall, for possible crop plantation
 * Flat terrain with low brush cover provides possible area for crop plantation
 * Protected from high winds as it is at the base and east of mountainous terrain [[image:288px-Waikato_river_750px.jpg width="322" height="194" align="right"]]

Location 4 - Middle left side of B4
 * Close to river for water, food source and transport
 * At base of mountain for protection against weather conditions
 * Close to beach, possibility of port or sea transport
 * Close proximity to another settlement for sharing resources etc.
 * Close to tropical trees for access to fruits

Location 5 - C5
 * Close to intermittent lake for possible water supply
 * Flat terrain
 * Close to rivers
 * Close to another settelment
 * Possibility of crop growth with rich soil, protection from wind and water supply

Location 6 - Bottom right corner of C5
 * Close to intermittent lake for possible water supply
 * Next to river for food, water and transport
 * Close to beach for possible port location
 * Easy access to some other settlements
 * Crop plantation possibilities, as settlement is near rich soil and close to river/lake for water supply

[|River picture]

** Food: [[image:tropical_fruit.jpg width="228" height="197" align="right"]]**
There are several things on GemIsland that are already growing in which we could continue to grow for use and business (in which we could sell). Here are a few suggestions of plants/fruits, how they grow and how they need to be maintained.

Banana- need hot tropical warm climate, they need a lot of water (their large green leaves absorb lots of water and need to keep their water level up), they also need very rich soil (lots of compost). Bananas need lots of room, grow them together because the bananas need shelter from wind, growing together increases humidity and keeps it cool. Bananas are not hard to maintain, old leaves just need to be removed and cut down dead plants every now and then. Bananas grow out throughout the year, they just need to be maintained.

Papaya- needs warm sunshine and needs to be put in a place where heat is reflected. Hot places are ideal and ideally near a wall. The soil needs to be well drained and in the hot weather needs to be moist and dry in the cooler weather. Papaya needs to be fertiliser with nitrogen fertilizer. Like bananas they grow through out the year.

Coconut - can be used for a number of things i.e coconut milk and the leaves of the coconut tree can be used to make broom sticks. A healthy coconut palm will produce 50 coconut annually.

Bread Fruit - is a rich starchy fruit (can be used for many purposes) a single tree can produce up to 200 or more fruit seasonally, however productivity varies between wet and dry areas. Bread fruits are able to grow in coral sand as well as saline soil.

Yam - (Sweet potato) should be planted in the warmer weather, they grow better in places with long warm seasons. They need sandy soil, lots of sun, space and a reasonable amount of water and nutrient. They are ready to be harvest every four to six months.

Just a thought: if we could settle somewhere where there flax, cotton, kapox or pandanus grows we could use that as a form of trading/business. [|Tropical fruit picture]

What animals/plants can we bring to grow?

 * Cows both for milk and to eat
 * Sheep/Lambs
 * Chickens for eggs and to eat
 * Fish which can live in the rivers
 * Vegetable/fruit crops tomatoes, lettuce, apples etc

Soil conditions: [[image:bright-green-plants-growing-in-the-volcanic-soil-gallup.jpg width="250" height="174" align="right"]]
Nutrient rich volcanic soil will allow for fruit and vegetables to thrive on the Island. The volcanic tephra released in a eruption slowly breaks down during rainfall. This process breaks down the nutrients and slowly delivers them to the plants. This allows for most fruit and vegetables to grow very well and can help increase harvest size. The shallowness of the soil well not affect the growth of most plants and vegetables. When planting crops area is much more important the depth of the soil. Plants that have adequate area for their roots to grow have been known to grow in soil as shallow as 15 centimeters. From this information i conclude that a sustainable food source can be obtained by using the shallow nutrient rich soil found on the Island. I recommend that settlements should be made in and around the valleys and plains where this soil is vastly available for optimal use. [|Soil picture]

[]