Awaiting flooring installers today. It's sunny, not too cold, and I've started wondering about my back yard. Has anyone here ever taken a suburban back yard, and done this kind of thing? We reside in zone 6 - 7 and I'd want to use indigenous plants.
11
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Every place I've lived at my whole back yard was food for me, the birds and the bees. Fruit trees, Berries , Perenials, herbs and wildflowers
CourreurDeBois
Level 7
Feb 26, 2019
1
Yes, but it takes some time and a lot of work. Once all that is done, it's suppose to be low maintenance.
AstralSmoke
Level 8
Feb 26, 2019
3
We are doing it on 2.2 acres. But have a lot of friends doing it In their backyard. Here is a guy on YouTube that I watch who is doing in he’s suburban backyard.
Donto101
Level 7
Feb 26, 2019
2
Error on attempt to view.
@bigpawbullets try now
As you make your conversion, the hardest thing will be to rip out a plant that is not performing its intended purpose as well as it should and replacing it with something new. Once you can get to that stage, you should be able to accomplish your goal.
glennlab
Level 10
Feb 26, 2019
2
Yeah. Killing plants is hard.
@bigpawbullets This winter I took out two fruit trees that were huge disappointments, they were just not profucing after several years and were not the best for my spot. It was a major procrastination problem (5 years of "let's just see if it does OK this year" ) for me.
@glennlab
I'm in good company then. We inherited 4 apple trees on this property the builder put on the old farm treeline. Maybe, 2 hours a day of sun. Never have they produced an apple. But the squirrels like to build nests in them. For 13 years I've told myself to simply cut them down. Still there.
@bigpawbullets Apple makes a good smoking wood, motivation. When cotton root rot got my apples, I cut down them down and made smoking wood out of them.
@glennlab
Well, I don't smoke meat or fish. But that's an excellent suggestion. I'll eventually cut them down, and dry the wood for projects. It actually makes a very durable turned fishing lure body.
@bigpawbullets For me, it depends on which ones.
Its been done yes, but I would not restrict yourself to indigenous plants, most food plants cause little environmental damage if grown on a small scale, and that cat is out of the bag anyway. And since you will be growing mainly food plants, which means a narrower range of plants anyway, the local wildlife will probably benefit from a bit more diversity, even if it is artificial.
Fernapple
Level 9
Feb 26, 2019
3
I took it to mean all other plants should be indigenous. Won't have very many veggies otherwise.
I have a veggie garden.. And I love it.. It's very cost effective and the veggies taste so much better
Cutiebeauty
Level 9
Feb 26, 2019
3
We grow some vegetables.
And lots of strawberries.
This food forest thing is more like returning the land to a semi natural habitat and growing native foods and plants for other uses. I think the neighbors might freak. But then, they're used to the "strange old couple" at the end of the cul-de-sac. 
@MissKathleen my gardener...
Recent Visitors 43
Besalbub
East Of The City,
Louiseann
AZ, USA
marlayne
CA, USA
MikeInBatonRouge
Baton Rouge,
Cast1es
Houston,
Photos 5,418 More
Posted by FrostyJim...I have enough room for a few good people.
Posted by glennlabMy heavenly Blue Morning Glories have finally gotten their color.
Posted by glennlabMy heavenly Blue Morning Glories have finally gotten their color.
Posted by FernappleIts that season again, blue sky and golden leaves, nature is the greatest designer, a Ginkgo in my garden. Also posted in photography.
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimI needed to preserve my bell peppers so I made Indian chutney last night.
Posted by FrostyJimI needed to preserve my bell peppers so I made Indian chutney last night.
Posted by FrostyJimMoose family munchin' on my Raspberries right now at about 8:30 on Tuesday night!
Posted by FrostyJim3 giants total over 3 lbs! Bush Early Girl hybrid grown in my Wasilla Alaska zone 4b greenhouse...
Posted by FrostyJim.