How We’re Making a 1-acre Food Forest (Year 1)

A food forest is a powerful way to utilize the structure of a forest to grow an abundance of food. It may sound strange, but creating a garden mimicking the relationships of a forest can allow you to grow more food, by working efficiently and using less resources. Keep reading to learn how we’re making a food forest and how you can do the same, no matter the size of land you have!

Last year was the year I decided to make a food forest out of our 1 acre fully deer-fenced garden.

It was way too large for our family and we only had a lawn mower. Nothing that could take care of a garden that size.

So I started looking at options of what we could do with the extra space. A friend ended up sending me a video about a man who created a food forest in Britain and I was hooked!

Food forest it is!

Being able to bring permaculture back to that space and create a living habitat, while also growing organic food for other families… yes please!!

What is a ‘Food Forest’?

A food forest is a permaculture garden that uses trees, bushes, and plants to create an edible forest. It can be created in any sized garden lot so done discouraged if you don’t have lots of land!

Planning a Food Forest

You can make your own food forest even on a city lot. You don’t need a whole lot of space to create this permaculture garden.

Last year I did a lot of envisioning for the space and planning out what could be done, when.

Plus, how much the fruit and nut trees were going to cost – I wasn’t looking forward to finances dimming my dreams.

Two other problems: wind and water.

RELATED: 9 Steps to Choosing the Best Vegetable Garden Location

The Wind Tunnel

Recognizing the garden is a complete wind tunnel so I would need to build or plant a windbreak (and convince my husband to give up the extended field view), and that the water situation needed work.

First off, the “we” is my kiddo and my mom, although this year I’ve added a second kiddo to the mix.

We ended up planting about 20 trees at the end of the garden, but not obstructing the views too much from the house. We basically won’t be able to spy on our neighbour when it all grows in.

The trees are a mix of primarily pine and maple. Providing a nice wind break in the summer and decent in the winter.

The Water Situation

Sigh, the water situation is hard. As the garden is a wind tunnel, there’s excess evaporation and plants dry out quickly.

Right now I provide water through hailing buckets in a wagon, and roping 3 hoses together to set up the sprinkler.

We did get two loads of mulch brought from the dump but haven’t had the opportunity to spread it out yet. Year 2 plan!

Tip: ask local tree felling companies to dump their load in your yard. They often are charged to dump at the dump. Or, ask your dump if you can pick up some mulch.

The Tree Needs

A lot of learning over action taking place until my sister called one day and said, “Want a bunch of fruit tree saplings?”

YES PLEASE!

Off we went to harvest about 30 fruit tree saplings from a rural property about to be sold.

Where I was planning on buying 3-4 trees a year, 30 were dropped on my lap!

This gift that was dropped on my lap made me realize, I didn’t have to buy what I needed. I could just ask my community!

And that’s exactly what I did! I now have a standing offer to dig out whatever bushes and trees I would like – of any variety – from three different properties. Just the cost of my labour and I can have all the trees I need.

Lesson: ask your community!

Put the word out what you’re doing and looking for. Be willing to adjust your ideals too. Many of the trees were no more than a foot tall, some just a few inches!

So what did we get done in our first year, and what survived?

First off, when I say “we” anywhere on this blog, it usually means myself and my kids or my mom. Even if you’re the only one with the vision, I want you to know that it’s still possible!

Now back to the food forest…

Overall, we planted over 50 trees on our property. I’m super happy to report that it looks like we may have only lost two trees (amazing for this former plant killer) although one of them may actually still be alive. It’s still early in the spring.

In the fall we laid out piping left by the previous owner to try and get it working in the spring. Previous attempts resulted in lackluster water pressure.

The windbreak has been started and I have some ideas for temporary windbreaks using old school methods. Why mess with a smart thing, even?

Year 2 Plans

This year will be another year with a tree/bush focus. The windbreak helps with the moisture retention along with proper mulching.

Any time you planted a tree is a good time to plant a tree, except yesterday is better, right? The focus will be heavy on trees again.

This spring I will be harvesting trees and bushes from the three properties (who also said I could harvest the berries at their place until mine come in – I love this community!!), and getting them settled in.

My goal is to plant roughly 30 trees and bushes within the food forest acre. Including maple, oak, elderberry, apple, plum, pear, cherry and more.

The water lines will be tested this spring with the crops within our garden area. The hope is to have them on a timer so that they don’t need me to be watered!

And we’ll also be putting in a water tub with a pump and hose for watering the new trees. So there will still be hauling water but at least from within the garden.

The windbreak area will get quick growing willow trees in and amongst the pine and maple. And the whole back yard will get about 5 naturally placed rows of trees and bushes to act as a wind break.

(My husband has seen the light on the wind and agreed to accept a forest view instead of the field.)

The Self-Sufficient Greenhouse and Garden

In super exciting self-sufficiency news, a green energy greenhouse will be constructed in the food forest area this year. It’s a test project for my dad and I for growing food year-round in our cold Canadian climate and I’m very excited to share the progress with you!

It will also work well for producing the massive seedling crops for the annuals needed in to food forest.

I also have the goal of being 90% self-sufficient within 3 years, and growing enough food to feed us for a year, this year.

So I am expanding our current garden to increase the production, as well as practice the techniques needed for our food forest on a smaller scale while my soil is being properly built.

Last fall we laid out industrial tarps to kill the weeds (and survive the wind).

We’re gaining about 600 square feet of garden space. Approximately 400 of that will be designated planters and walk ways. We will have two in ground beds within that square footage.

There’s a lot of work to be done and with two young kids, it will be tough. Making an actionable goal plan is key to getting more done in less time. I’ve got my plan and my Why (check out the tools I use to get it done, in our free resources). Here we go!

You can follow with the progress by joining our homestead community and get the know-how to do it yourself!  

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