Agroforestry and permaculture are distinct but complementary approaches. These approaches aim to create sustainable relations between people and nature. Though closely related, agroforestry and permaculture are not the same. Agroforestry is a specific agricultural approach that combines trees with perennial and annual plants and livestock to create synergistic, integrated production zones. Permaculture is principally a…
Many gardeners have experienced the disappointment of harvesting tiny squash from plants they've spent months growing and caring for. Luckily, there are ways to ensure that your plants produce larger squash. Squash doesn't reach their full potential size when grown in compacted, slow-draining, nutrient-poor soil and when they don't receive adequate amounts of heat, sunlight,…
There is nothing better than a freshly picked strawberry. They’re so juicy and sweet with just the right texture. The problem is, not everyone can have a garden full of tasty treats. Even if they could, it’s really hard to keep them growing and producing year-round. Whether from the store in those annoyingly difficult to…
The Honey Locust and the Black Locust are both considered invasive species of trees. The Honey locust, or Gleditsia triacanthos, is native to central North America, while the Black Locust, or Robinia pseudoacacia, is from a few small regions in the US. Both the Honey Locust and the Black Locust are members of the legume…
It feels like over the years, peaches have really lost their flavor. So many people remember the fruit being so juicy it caused a huge mess while they were kids, but nowadays it feels like they’ve all gotten dry, mealy, and rock-hard. Even some homegrown peaches seem to have lost their sweet juiciness, not just…
The growing and importation of blackcurrants and other currants were banned in many parts of the US for almost a century as they were believed to help spread a fungus that threatened the pine tree timber industry. Regulations were gradually lifted in many states starting in 2003, and now this tart fruit is grown in…
Bamboos are the easiest to grow on your homestead as they don’t have a lot of requirements. As long as the ground is fertile and the climate is neither too cold nor too hot, you’re good to go. One thing you can be certain about is how fast they grow. There are different species and…
A common gardener's dilemma is how to grow an edible garden in the shade. During my arduous gardening journey, I learned a few cardinal rules to follow if you want to cultivate a productive garden in less-than-ideal circumstances. So, if you find yourself in my shoes, don’t despair, there is an array of beautiful plants…
Passion fruits are a delicious summer fruit that many people enjoy worldwide, so it can be highly disappointing when your Passion fruit is not ripening like you thought it would in the time frame you had in mind. So, what are the reasons your Passion fruit is not ripening? 9 reasons your fruit may not…
We love hazelnuts because, aside from being the key ingredient in Nutella, they are multipurpose. As a permaculture homesteader, planting the hazelnut is not just great for your food forest; it also has so many practical and commercial purposes. What Does The Hazelnut Tree/Bush Look Like? Without pruning, hazelnuts are bushes that can grow very…
Yarrow is among the best herbs to grow in your garden. It has several advantageous properties, such as its medicinal and dye properties, among others. In a food forest, planting yarrow would definitely maximize the production of not just fruits but herbs. In this article, I will discuss how to plant yarrow and why you…
The reward of gardening rhubarb, the harvest, is the best part of growing it. Its fleshy stalks work wonders in meals, salads, and desserts. However, if you value the space in your garden or food forest and want to get the most from it, then rhubarb shouldn't be the only plant there. The only problem…
Growing your own food means that you will always know what you are eating, where the food has come from, and that the produce is toxin-free! These days there are so many ways that you can grow your own produce, from caring for a few small pots on your balcony to running a farm or…
The food forest is a relatively new concept in the United States, and many people think that forests and food forests are the same. So, what is the difference between a forest and a food forest? Food forests are man-made forests that are specifically made to grow food. They have 8 layers and are designed…
Taking care of grapevines requires a certain level of expertise. Once you master your techniques, you can grow grapes in your garden. One of these techniques is pruning, a process people often do and can be hard to understand. Pruning grapevines serves many purposes, including adjusting the vine size and shape, controlling the number of…
Often when I have tried to quickly explain to someone what a swale is a question sometimes gets asked: "what's the difference between a swale and a ditch?" Swales and ditches are similar in a few ways, it is often said about swales that they are ditches on contour. That is true but this fact…
A backyard food forest can be a wonderful long-term addition to any permaculture homestead. However, many avoid starting one because they believe it will take too long to establish and obtain a productive yield. So how long does it take to grow a food forest? For a food forest to reach full maturity at every…
When it comes to growing an abundance of berries on your homestead, or as I like to call it, "building your own nature's candy factory," there are a few things to consider like what to grow, how much to grow, where to grow them, and how to maintain them. Even after taking all these things…
In my opinion, no permaculture homestead is complete without an orchard. Some of my fondest memories as a kid were centered around my grandparent’s and my parent’s orchard. Being able to go out and pick the fruit of your choice for a snack at any time was a great treat, sticky faces, and stained hands.…
When I was a kid I would spend many weekends at my grandparent's house, out behind their barn along the fence was a whole row (probably about 20) mulberry trees. Grandma would send me back there to pick a bucket full for a pie. I remember it would take me a long time to fill…
