Subtropical to Tropical
Food Forest
We started with dry, sandy land and a high water table.
Now it's a thriving, beyond organic food forest.
Challenge Accepted!
We knew growing in pure sand would be a challenge, there was little organic matter and nothing to hold the nutrients during rainfall. Fortunately, we have experience with sandy soils and immediately began collecting materials from the land to start composting.
It's all about mimicking nature.
We began by chop-and-dropping vegetation in place, creating brush and grass piles while clearing only the areas needed for planting and walking paths. We also spread wood ash and activated biochar made from the woody material gathered during the initial site preparation.
Starting our Food Forest
We prefer seed-grown trees for their strong connection to their roots, unlike grafted trees which are separated from theirs. In our experience, seed-grown trees grow faster, yield more, handle stress better, and look healthier overall.
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Planting Year One: Mostly Seed-Grown Trees
Nothing compares to the satisfaction of enjoying the fruits of your own labor. You won't find this level of nutrient-rich, flavorful food in any store. Freshly picked produce simply taste better and feels more rewarding.
Harvesting from the Food Forest
We plant several crop species together in the same area, aiming to imitate the diversity found in natural ecosystems, while still keeping the plants accessible for easy harvesting and management.
Polyculture in the Food Forest
After planting this coconut tree, we topped it with compost, added sea salt around the base, watered it with pond water, and covered it with mulch. A few year's later, it's still growing strong!
Planting our 1st mature coconut tree
We still remember the excitement of our first banana fruiting.