Planting Food in a World on Fire

Are you longing for a way to DO SOMETHING about the chaos?

Planting lots of food feels like a really good and tangible way to be part of the solution. Our outer world has become so dramatic, disjointed, disconnected and even dystopian, it may feel hard to know how to contribute effectively and positively, while keeping ourselves grounded. To keep my sanity, and apply my energy helpfully, I look for the timeless truths and aim my efforts there. Growing our own food, and growing more food, is one of those pursuits that has always had so many benefits, for the grower and for the planet and for our communities. All the more so now, as it becomes urgently important for us to grow healthy organic food, and save the seeds it produces so we will create a seed-bank that will help protect our natural food source into the unknown future of chemically-altered and lab-grown food-stuffs.

I had to walk away from the first food-forest I started 3 years ago in Florida, but the new one I’ve begun in my new spot is coming into view. Most of the plants on the list below are now in the ground! Some I am still sourcing. Two zones of irrigation hose are installed, using water from the new well. I have lots more cardboard to lay down over the grass, and tons more mulch to spread (with a little help!). Ultimately, the section of land where the main food-forest is located will have grass to mow only on the necessary pathways - the rest is becoming wood-chips and ground-covers under and around all the main food-plants. I consider lawn to be fairly useless (and resource-intensive) except in small areas where humans actually gather or play.

I had a fun experience last weekend, visiting a 1 1/2-acre food forest in a rural area an hour’s drive from me. It was mostly wild and ‘overgrown,’ but the grower loves ‘weeds’ and can identify all of them, many of which he eats. I learned a lot from the tour, and was wowed by how many exotic fruits and herbs he has collected on his property, some from faraway lands. His intention is to have 1,000 identified different species growing there. Not my goal, but pretty amazing! I bought some plants from him to add to my more humble food forest on my 1/4-acre. Seeing all the persimmons growing on his land, I am inspired now to look for a persimmon variety that will produce well in my area.

I am in SW Florida, hardiness zone 10a/b. We are subtropical. Tropical plants that can handle an occasional cold-snap can do very well here. True deep-tropicals may have a hard time in our cool dry winters. Here is my current plant list:

Mango, 3 varieties
Banana, several varieties
Avocado, 2 varieties
Cherry, 3 varieties
Mulberry
Jackfruit
Black Sapote
Sapodilla
Sugar Apple
Jaboticaba
Ice Cream Bean
Fig
Longon
Canistel
Passion Fruit vine
Papaya
Monstera
Beauty Berry
Sweet Potato
Moringa
Katuk
Edible Leaf Hibiscus
Cranberry Leaf Hibiscus
Roselle Hibiscus (makes the tea)
Spinach, wild varieties
Pidgeon Pea
Cassava
Many different flowers, flowering shrubs, caterpillar and butterfly host plants

These I am still planning for:
Lychee
Peanut Butter Fruit
Grapes
Lemon
Dragonfruit
Persimmon
Ginger
Turmeric
And other compelling plants I learn about!

I have a LOT of rabbits (they don’t eat my spinach, so far!), but at least no deer or groundhogs. I am warned about how the rats love fruit, so it will help to keep up with harvests and cleaning up rotting fruit on the ground, when the time comes. And I don’t mind a few wild rats, as long as they don’t move into my house or shed!

I know I have a big learning curve ahead of me, to take proper care of my fruit forest as it matures and starts producing lots of fruit. I know I will make mistakes, and experience some losses and storm damages. Lucky for me, there are lots of experienced and helpful fruit growers in my area. We meet up to share ideas and trade plants and seeds. I look forward to the day when Living Heart Sanctuary is nestled magically into a more mature food forest, and my guests and I can walk out into the garden year-round to harvest many of our simple meals of fruit and greens. I will love to generously share the abundance also with people in my neighborhood and community.

I don’t think of myself as a farmer (somehow that conjures up a much bigger operation in my mind), but certainly I am a grower. I don’t have much land, but you can already see from my plant list above that LOTS can be condensed on just what’s left of a 1/4-acre lot after the footprint of the house, shed, and driveways. That is, IF you are willing to give up most of the lawn! This project requires energy, resources, and commitment, for sure. I believe it is a wise use of these inputs, and I anticipate great future rewards, in addition to the benefits I am already feeling as I engage with the earth and plants, and use my body - and my inspired visionary self - in the installation process.

Stay tuned for more developments, and come see it for yourself with a visit to Living Heart Sanctuary :).