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Happy Harvesting in the Crowley Food Forest
Happy Harvesting in the Crowley food forest!
This wonderful educational addition to our mission was a hit during the Myakka River Rendezvous. Mr. Noah gave tours and explained agroforestry. He got some help from willing kids with weeding, planting and chicks. Last night we harvested our first broccoli, various lettuces, basil, purple porter weed and some beautiful free range eggs. All of which are completely chemical and fertilizer free.
Many more varieties of plants will be added and harvested in coming months. Many species do better in different seasons, so watch as our leafy greens flower and seed (for us to collect) and phase out. Next will be peppers, tomatoes etc phasing in. Several perineal plants live in the garden as well as fruit trees. The mulberries are already making berries!
What can you eat?
We’ve often gotten the question, “Is EVERYTHING in here edible?” The short answer is no. Or if you’re being sarcastic and goofy you could answer, “yes, everything is edible, once.” But, we educate so here is why the answer is no.
No, not all of the garden is edible for humans, I think it’d be fair to say 85-90% of the plants in there are wholly or in part, edible for us. The other 10-15% ARE a food source for someone though. The other plants are nectar sources for pollinators, larval host plants for pollinators, and fodder for our livestock. What isn’t eaten by people or fed to other species is fed back to the garden. Plant parts are allowed to decompose to feed the other plants. The varieties of hay and wood chip mulch around the plants and in the walk ways have several purposes. They act as plant nutrients, warmth, weed stop, and a barrier to keep and hold essential moisture. The materials on the ground are also not edible to humans. They ARE however, a food source for species of insects that eat such material, and many types of fungi. As they break these layers down, a variety of nutrient profiles are fed back to the garden. For this reason we need no man made fertilizers and their environmentally detrimental mining practices. Animal manure, when applied properly is also a food source or nutrients. So, just like you’ll find inedible things in a grocery store, so will you in our garden.
The difference is, ours all works together to create a larger living unit, benefiting all that also contribute to it. In our garden, even the ground you walk upon is edible by someone. Can you say that, Publix?
A Learning Garden
Come see this amazing little garden, already doing so much at just over half a year old on Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm and as part of scheduled educational classes and fieldtrips.
To help support our mission of education, including this lovely garden AND have your donation doubled at no cost to you please go here.