@diazpty Thank you. Although it is small and I probably have no right to call it a 'Forest', it is almost 100% self sustainable. I just have to finish digging the swales that will actually be fed with water from my garage. I will be placing straw and wood chips in the swales then inoculating them with mushroom spawn!
Your food forest is coming along very nicely. Are your hens Light Brahma? One of my most favorite hens was a Light Brahma. They are smart and very friendly chickens. I suggest you plant some grasses for them to munch on. Barley, spelt, oats, rye, ect I bet Beans would like to munch on the fresh grasses too. Much respect on the bee hive! Thank you for doing your part. If you had your neighbors join in then it would be a true forest. Glad that life is good. Peace and love
I planted rye in the 4x8' area where the coop was 2 weeks ago. It was about 6" high when I placed them BACK. They started eating it immediately! So now I'm planting it in cycles according to the movement of the coop. I just planted more today! So next season I'm going to plant the 3 sisters in that area because of the fertility of the soil. LOVE AND LIGHT!
I think what you are doing is fantastic! If you would be willing to take a bit of advise, you should not grow raspberries within several hundred feet of blackberries because you may get a cross comtamintaion of viral diseases. Also, go on line and research what type of raspberries you have. Many will produce berries on the previous year's canes, and they do spread vigorously, so keep and eye on them. Best of luck to you. P.S. Mint can easily take over any garden.
@Thaneii Thank you so much for this info. I will be picking the mint DOUBLE TIME to make sure it stays in a small area. As for the Blackberries...looks like I'm stuck for the time being. I do have blackberries (1 plant) on the other side of the forest from my raspberries. I will see how it goes and cross my fingers.
Lush!! impressive ...loved hearing the chicken ...it reminded me of the time when I enjoyed their gentle company and their insect patrol control ...and of course the awesome eggs
Screw the haters, it's a food forest. What do they expect you to grow an entirely self sufficient eco system in one season, you have to start somewhere.
@parsleysprigs Thank you! One person even told me to 'look up the definition.' Hurtful...ya. But...all is good. Don't care if it is buy the book. All I know is that I plant it once and the forest gives back to me a life time. All is good!
Very nice food forest : ) It has filled out a lot since I saw it in the spring! My food forest (in progress) consists of a giant cottonwood tree with mulberries, and a lot of newly planted stuff like grape vines, strawberries, garlic, horseradish, etc. I'll fill it in some when the summer heat breaks for the fall.
This is beautiful. A food forest it is; considering the size of the lot.
diazpty 3 weeks ago
@diazpty Thank you. Although it is small and I probably have no right to call it a 'Forest', it is almost 100% self sustainable. I just have to finish digging the swales that will actually be fed with water from my garage. I will be placing straw and wood chips in the swales then inoculating them with mushroom spawn!
MushroomPatch 3 weeks ago
Your food forest is coming along very nicely. Are your hens Light Brahma? One of my most favorite hens was a Light Brahma. They are smart and very friendly chickens. I suggest you plant some grasses for them to munch on. Barley, spelt, oats, rye, ect I bet Beans would like to munch on the fresh grasses too. Much respect on the bee hive! Thank you for doing your part. If you had your neighbors join in then it would be a true forest. Glad that life is good. Peace and love
blakeinkzoo 6 months ago
@blakeinkzoo Yes...that is exactly what they are.
I planted rye in the 4x8' area where the coop was 2 weeks ago. It was about 6" high when I placed them BACK. They started eating it immediately! So now I'm planting it in cycles according to the movement of the coop. I just planted more today! So next season I'm going to plant the 3 sisters in that area because of the fertility of the soil. LOVE AND LIGHT!
MushroomPatch 5 months ago
yay food!
catfish222banjo 6 months ago
I think what you are doing is fantastic! If you would be willing to take a bit of advise, you should not grow raspberries within several hundred feet of blackberries because you may get a cross comtamintaion of viral diseases. Also, go on line and research what type of raspberries you have. Many will produce berries on the previous year's canes, and they do spread vigorously, so keep and eye on them. Best of luck to you. P.S. Mint can easily take over any garden.
Thaneii 7 months ago
@Thaneii Thank you so much for this info. I will be picking the mint DOUBLE TIME to make sure it stays in a small area. As for the Blackberries...looks like I'm stuck for the time being. I do have blackberries (1 plant) on the other side of the forest from my raspberries. I will see how it goes and cross my fingers.
MushroomPatch 6 months ago
Lush!! impressive ...loved hearing the chicken ...it reminded me of the time when I enjoyed their gentle company and their insect patrol control ...and of course the awesome eggs
thanks for the update
gaiagale 7 months ago
Screw the haters, it's a food forest. What do they expect you to grow an entirely self sufficient eco system in one season, you have to start somewhere.
parsleysprigs 7 months ago
@parsleysprigs Thank you! One person even told me to 'look up the definition.' Hurtful...ya. But...all is good. Don't care if it is buy the book. All I know is that I plant it once and the forest gives back to me a life time. All is good!
MushroomPatch 7 months ago
Wow! I would love to see it! Keep us posted!
MushroomPatch 7 months ago
Very nice food forest : ) It has filled out a lot since I saw it in the spring! My food forest (in progress) consists of a giant cottonwood tree with mulberries, and a lot of newly planted stuff like grape vines, strawberries, garlic, horseradish, etc. I'll fill it in some when the summer heat breaks for the fall.
Helioforge 7 months ago