Is part of your land wooded? Maybe the whole lot, and do you still want to get edible crops out of it? Before you cut down all the trees, wait! There are many

Understanding the Edible Forest Garden Concept In a world where food security is increasingly volatile, creating an edible forest garden stands out not only as a sustainable choice but a necessary step towards self-reliance. The fundamental idea is to mimic natural ecosystems focusing predominantly on trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals that can feed you and

Growing vegetables in a backyard edible forest garden is enjoyable and eco-friendly. It offers various benefits and helps the environment. You may create a beautiful, self-sustaining garden that provides fresh, organic food for years. You just need preparation and patience to develop it. You can create it this way.

Edible ground covers and the herbaceous layer of the permaculture food forest. What makes a food forest garden different from an orchard? One of the distinctions lies in what's growing on the ground... In conventional

A food forest is an edible landscape designed to mimic nature, providing abundant, sustainable yields of fruit, nuts, herbs, and vegetables

Sold by  Create your own from scratch  Shape: Round Reinvent the way you decorate desserts with custom edible frosting rounds! Perfect for cupcakes and cookies, these frosting toppers are made from a sugar and cornstarch base, and printed with food-grade inks to reproduce your design with great detail and saturation. These 2” round gluten-free frosting toppers are the simplest way to personalize your sweets, adding a colorful and professional look that's perfect for special events, birthdays, holidays and year-round celebrations! (15) 2" rounds per sheet, minimum order of 2 sheets Net Wt.: .03 oz (1 g) per frosting round.. Made of thin sheets of edible frosting, they peel and press onto nearly any flat, soft-frosted dessert Best applied to fresh buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, ganache, royal icing and similar toppings 12 month shelf life, no refrigeration required for storage Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight until ready for use Edible inks are Kosher Pareve certified Proudly made in the USA For full nutritional and ingredient information click here Designer Tip: To ensure the highest quality print, please note that this product’s customizable design area measures 1.96" x 1.98". For best results please add 1/14" bleed.

Forest gardens, or food forests, are one of the best ways to grow your own food. Create a permaculture forest garden in your backyard!

Take a tour of our neighbor-friendly edible landscape.

What: Advanced Permaculture Design with Eric Toensmeier, author of Perennial Vegetables and co-author of Edible Forest Gardens with Dave Jacke When: May 18 - 23, 2012 Where: Hosted by Earth Learning i

The blue sausage shrub is a hardy shrub that initially grew at an altitude up to 3000 meters high in the Himalayas, with blue-green leaves and purple branches. The blue fruits are about 10 cm in length and contain a sweet, edible pulp that is similar to the flavour of the watermelon. The seeds and skin are inedible and even poisonous! The shrub can be six meters high, but it is good to prune. Sowing description: First soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours. Then sow them in sowing mix and put the jars in the fridge for 2 months (cold stratification). Let them germinate afterwards at around 20 degrees Celcius and thereby keep the soil constantly moist. Family: Lardizabalaceae Scientific name: Decaisnea fargesii Common name: Blue sausage shrub Native to: Himalaya Sowing time: November - May Difficulty: Intermediate Minimum temperature: -20 degrees Celcius Photo 2: Milan Havlis

While most plants are planted in the spring for fall harvest, garlic is just the opposite. Usually, garlic is planted in the fall and harvested mid-summer the following year. Why is garlic so different? Because

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Growing vegetables and fruits in the home garden is rewarding, but many people are put off by the backbreaking work involved at the start of the growing season. Perennial edibles are the answer to this

As you know forests are completely self-sustaining. Interestingly, no one maintains a natural forest, yet they are the most productive part of ecosystems on Earth. …

If you have an edible landscape on your property, then you can live off the land. Here are 40 great plants for edible landscaping.

Heirloom. This hot pepper is used to make the famous Tabasco® Sauce. Peppers mature from yellow-green to orange to red and have a unique, smoky flavor that contributes to Tabasco's distinctive taste. While adapted to all areas of the US, plants produce continuously and will therefore produce the most peppers in the South and Southwest, where the growing season is longest. In frost-free areas, plants can live for several years. Easy to grow, the compact Tabasco is also a good choice for containers.

Vertical gardening is a concept that is well promoted these days, especially when considering urban and suburban gardens in confined spaces. A quick search on any server will reveal a great collection of reused plastic

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You’ve probably used groundcovers in your garden for some time now, whether it’s to control erosion, replace lawn under a shady tree, or simply to decrease garden labor. But here’s the thing — you can’t really eat ivy, mondo grass, or Asian jasmine, can you? Which brings us to our topic of the day: edible groundcovers. I love it when a plant does double-duty, don’t you? And when one of those duties is serving up a side helping of food, I’ll take seconds, thank you. If you’ve got some ground to cover and would like more food to eat, plant some of these and watch them take off. Edible Herb Ground Cover Plants Creeping Thyme: (Thymus serpyllum) This tiny aromatic herb offers a wide array of leaf color, tiny flower color, and heights. But they’re all adorable, edible, ready to choke out weeds and light up your pathways. Give it full to part sun (a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight a day) in order for it to perform its best, and extra soil moisture as it’s getting established. Once it’s established, it’s actually fairly drought tolerant, but it will still appreciate a little care every now and then. Because there are seemingly endless varieties of creeping thyme, each will have its own flavor, scent, and culinary uses. Prostrate Rosemary: (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’) This fragrant herb is often passed over in favor of its more upright, bushy form, but this trailing variety is a scented keeper. It’s more commonly observed spilling over walls, but it’s that very same growth habit that makes it an excellent evergreen groundcover. Pinch off some rosemary to garnish salad, add to marinades, and pump up your cocktails (rosemary simple syrup is divine) — just give it plenty of sun, well-drained soil, and enough water to get it going. Read More: Spiral Herb Garden Edible Desert Ground Cover Plants Mint: (Mentha spp.) Who doesn’t love mint? This fragrant, fast-growing herb can be quite the vigorous grower, so don’t plant it if you don’t truly want it to cover some territory. It grows best in full sun (but will take a bit of shade) and ample soil moisture. Harvest the tips regularly for salads, marinades, teas, lemonades, and cocktails — I even throw mint into my chocolate-flavored smoothies. Mint is a particularly ideal groundcover in-between stepping stones in walkways; it’ll release its fragrance as it’s brushed against. Alpine Strawberries: (Fragaria vesca) Now, while alpine strawberries don’t serve up the large fruits of the garden strawberry (Fragaria ananassa), their fruit in nonetheless amazingly delectable. And though you may not opt to cover a hillside with Alpine strawberries, you can successfully interplant them among your other veggies. Their ground-hugging habits are more manageable than garden strawberries because they don’t spread by underground runners, so you can plant them without anxiety. Give them full to part sun (if you live in a hotter climate), rich, well-drained soil, and consistent moisture. See Also: Cover Crops for Your Edible Garden Share The Garden Love

Stáhněte si zdarma tyto photo různých Borůvky Fialová Lesní Plody z rozsáhlé knihovny Pixabay, která obsahuje mnoho stock obrázků, videí a hudby.

Many small farm operators and fruit enthusiasts see blueberries as Plan A. We all know that blueberries are popular, tasty, and they practically market

Permaculture food forests are autopilot gardens that need little human intervention except in the beginning. Here's how to build one.

In 2015 hebben we een van onze oudste dromen kunnen verwezenlijken door een tuin van 950 vierkante meter te kopen in Twekkelo en onze bostuin op te schalen naar een voedselbos dat op den duur in de…

This backyard food forest hosts a diverse planting of fruit trees and berries, with a mixed-species meadow understory to support pollinators and repair soil. Here's what we did.

Groundcover Raspberries (like this Rubus pentalobus) are great additions to any garden. http://wilsonbrosonline.com/images/plants/source/Creeping-Raspberry-Rubus.jpg Common Name: Groundcover Raspberries Scientific Name: Rubus nepalensis (Nepalese Raspberries) Rubus pentalobus/rolfei/calycinoides (Creeping Bramble) Rubus tricolor (Chinese Bramble/Groundcover Raspberry) Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family) Groundcover Raspberries are not as large, but just as flavorful, as their full-sized relatives. http://www.southlancsflora.co.uk/Brambles%20Pics/T/Rubus-tricolor-1.jpg Groundcover Raspberries are low-growing and evergreen. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Rubus_nepalensis_-_Berlin_Botanical_Garden_-_IMG_8740.JPG Description: I consider any of the low-growing, shade tolerant Rubus species to be Groundcover Raspberries. They come from around the world, and they all produce raspberry-like fruit. They tolerate light to medium foot traffic well. They are great nectar plants for beneficial insects, especially honeybees. These plants are growing quickly in popularity as more and more people hear about them, and they will be a major groundcover species in my Forest Garden. There are a variety of fruit colors with Groundcover Raspberries, Rubus pentalobus are orange. http://anthrome.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/img_7652.jpg There are a variety of flower designs depending on the species. http://www.alpiner.se/images/Rubus%20nepalensis%20060608%20hs.jpg USING THIS PLANT Primary Uses: Fresh eating – just like small raspberries Preserves (jams, jellies) Secondary Uses: Groundcover General insect (especially bees) nectar plant Wildlife food, especially birds, in Summer Leaves make a mild tea Frozen fresh Dehydrated Yields are not high, but any food production from a ground cover plant is great! http://www.aphotoflora.com/images/rosaceae/rubus_tricolor_chinese_bramble_fruit_fruiting_31-07-10_1.jpg Yield: This is a ground cover plant which means that many individual plants are used in a single planting area, and as such there are no good yield numbers recorded; however, yields are not very high. Harvesting: Summer (July-September) Storage: Use fresh. Can be frozen (individually on a cookie sheet is best, then stored in a freeze bag). Can be dehydrated. Use within a few days at most. Great use of Rubus pentalobus around structures in a garden. http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5fa3p_duOao/RogU667BOgI/AAAAAAAAIB0/se9Z8tXoCu4/IMG_2448.JPG DESIGNING WITH THIS PLANT USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-7 AHS Heat Zone: None recorded Chill Requirement: None recorded, but likely produces better with some chilling. Plant Type: Small Perennial Shrub Leaf Type: Evergreen Forest Garden Use: Groundcover Cultivars/Varieties: A number of species and varieties available Pollination: Some are Self-Pollinating/Self-Fertile but most will only produce with cross-pollination from another or similar plans Flowering: June-August depending on the species and latitude Life Span: Years to Begin Bearing: 1-2 years Years to Maximum Bearing: 2-3 years Years of Useful Life: 6-10 years There are many closely related Groundcover Raspberry species that can only be found locally. This is Rubus lasiococcus native to the Pacific Northwest. http://www.portlandnursery.com/plants/images/rubus/rubus_lasiococcus500.jpg PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PLANT Size: Rubus nepalensis (Nepalese Raspberries) – 1 foot (0.3 meter) high and widely spreading Rubus pentalobus/rolfei/calycinoides (Creeping Bramble) – 4 inches (0.1 meter) high and widely spreading Rubus tricolor (Chinese Bramble/Groundcover Raspberry) – 2 feet (0.6 meter) tall and widely spreading Roots: Shallow and flat, suckering roots – widely spreading Growth Rate: Medium to Fast Stems can root which makes propagation rather easy. http://www.kevockgarden.co.uk/plantlist/media/rubus_tricolor2.jpg GROWING CONDITIONS FOR THIS PLANT Light: Prefers full sun to light shade Shade: Tolerates light to full shade Moisture: Medium (Rubus tricolor Chinese Bramble, is quite drought tolerant, but it yields less) pH: most species prefer fairly neutral soil (6.1 - 7.0), but can handle a wide variety Special Considerations for Growing: These are rather vigorous plants. They tolerate light to medium foot traffic. Some areas can become weedy, so it makes sense to grow other goundcover plants with groundcover raspberries (Mint is a great choice). Rubus pentalobus/rolfei/calycinoides (Creeping Bramble) – space plantings 1-3 feet apart Rubus tricolor (Chinese Bramble/Groundcover Raspberry) – space plantings 3-5 feet apart Propagation: Usually by detaching rooting stems… meaning that as taller stems grow up tall, they will eventually bend over and touch the ground. When this happens, these stems will take root. The bent over stem can be cut when roots have formed, and another individual plant is ready to replant to another location. These plants can be easily layered into pots by pinning taller stems into a small pot of soil. Plants can propagate through seeds, but need some cold stratification. Maintenance: Minimal. Occasional weeding may be necessary. May need to cut back, or mow back, when it grows into areas that we don’t want it to grow… this is not a matter of if, but when. Concerns: May be slowly and locally invasive if not kept in check… regular mowing on paths works quite well.

Extremely hardy, Bearberry forms an attractive dense groundcover in situations where few other plants can survive. Spreading gradually by surface rhizomes to form a mat, it grows naturally near sandy beaches and dry rocky slopes. Perfect for rock gardens, Bearberry looks great trailing over a garden wall …

Based on theory or anecdotal evidence, not science, the idea is that certain plants that accumulate high concentrations of minerals in their tissue release

Description Edible Hibiscus, Abelmoschus manihot, bele or abika, is a nutritious, high in protein, perennial shrub grown for its large leaves. The plant grows up to 12 feet tall, has leaves as large or larger than a plate, and a beautiful hibiscus flower. This plant is extremely hardy, vigorous and abundant. What a perfect food … Continue reading Edible Hibiscus (Abelmoschus manihot)

If you’re looking to have a food garden, why not create an edible front yard landscape? Learn how you can create an eye-pleasing design.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat. I have 10 gross scat facts and how to make edible scat. Too, you'll like Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop.

The Blueberry, one of the most perfect fruits! http://www.immortalhumans.com/wp-content/uploads/Blueberry__23651_zoom.jpg Common Name: Blueberries Scientific Name: Species in the Vaccinium genus and the Cyanococcus section Family: Ericaceae (the Heather family) There are so many species and varieties of blueberries available Here is a patented variety of Southern Highbush Blueberry named Jewel. http://www.floridahillnursery.com/images/JewelBlueberry.jpg Common Species: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) Rabbiteye/Southern Black Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei or Vaccinium virgatum) Northern/Alpine Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) Highbush Blueberry (Northern) (Vaccinium corymbosum) Highbush Blueberry (Southern) (Vaccinium darrowii) Creeping Blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium) Velvet Leaf/Canadian Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) Kids love to help pick blueberries - a great way to get kids in Nature http://benhewittvermont.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/blueberry-kids.jpg Description: The Blueberry is one of the most well known fruit around the world. It is highly nutritious, highly flavorful, and used in a variety of ways. Primarily used for its fruit, there are blueberries that can be grown in almost any Temperate Climate around the world. A little work is needed to get their acidic soil needs met, but after that we are left with a moderately long-lived, productive plant needing very little maintenance. Blueberries are on my list of mandatory plants in the Forest Garden. Vaccinium corymbosum http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/bigphoto/VACCOR_.jpg History: Native to North America, blueberries were used my Native Americans for thousands of years before Europeans took this plant around the world. The first cultivated blueberries (Highbush Blueberries) were introduced in Europe in the 1930’s. Trivia: The Bilberry, aka “European Blueberry” (Vaccinium myrtillus) is closely related to the North American blueberry species, but it is not in the Cyanococcus section of the Vaccinium genus, so they are not true blueberries. Bilberries have red flesh unlike the white or light green flesh of true blueberries. “Huckleberry” refers to a plant that is either a true huckleberry in the Gaylussacia or Vaccinium genus like the Blue Huckleberry (G. frondosa) or Red Huckleberry (V. parvifolium). The name “Huckleberry” is often a local name given to plants, typically in the Appalacia area of Eastern North America, that are really true blueberries. "Half-High" Blueberries are a cross between Highbush and Lowbush types. They are very tolerant of cold weather, but reportedly are not too flavorful. Blueberry Tart... enough said! Here's the recipe USING THIS PLANT Primary Uses: Fresh Fruit Cooked Fruit Baked Goods, Pies, Tarts, Pancakes (!), etc. Preserves, Jams, Jellies, etc. Dried Frozen (place washed and dried fruit in a single layer on a wax-paper lined baking sheet and place into the freezer for 20-30 minutes before placing in a container – this will keep the berries from freezing together into one large chunk) Juiced Used as primary or flavoring agent in beers, wine, liquors, cordials, etc. The Creeping Blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium) is a great, evergreen ground cover http://www.briggsnursery.com/assets/photos/Original/VAC_cWellsDelight.jpg Secondary Uses: General insect (especially bees) nectar plant Wildlife food source Hummingbird plant Ground cover plant (mainly the Lowbush Blueberry in cooler climates and the Creeping Blueberry in warmer climates) Edible Hedging Tea Plant – dried fruit and leaves Dye Plant - purple, from fruit and leaves Yield: 3-8 quarts (3.5-9 liters) or 8-15 lbs (3.5-6.8 kg) per mature plant Harvesting: Late Summer – Early Autumn (July - September). The best fruits are ones that fall from the branch with a little shake. Most blueberries in grocery stores were harvested once the fruit turned blue (and sometimes not even quite blue!). Blueberries to not "ripen" after picked, so harvest the berries when they have been blue for a few days. Storage: Fresh fruits will keep for 1, maybe 2, weeks in a cool, humid location Lowbush/Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) is a small, cooler weather shrub http://nhfruitgrowers.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wild-blue-1.jpg DESIGNING WITH THIS PLANT USDA Hardiness Zone: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 2-7 (Deciduous) Rabbiteye Blueberry: 7-9 (Deciduous) Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 2-8 (Deciduous) Highbush Blueberry (Southern): 5-10 (Deciduous) Creeping Blueberry: 6-9 (Evergreen) AHS Heat Zone: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 8-1 Rabbiteye Blueberry: 7-9, said to “love the heat” Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 7-1 Highbush Blueberry (Southern): No reliable information available Creeping Blueberry: No reliable information available Chill Requirement: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 1,000-1,200 hours Rabbiteye Blueberry: 350-700 hours Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 800-1,000 hours Highbush Blueberry (Southern): 150-800 hours Creeping Blueberry: No reliable information available Blueberry bushes in Autumn... beautiful https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsbP_at5GWfGE7tVcLxMZjaQRHfgVSDhuSnswhBgWIE_fZxQ9UxDUAiukEL4bEc6JGtn2-eUDC9wGmRqgCLZc_cqWXuPTkc57g4uxIWdfnBSbT5yYOIZGOxlyR7ZhOsu8NeJ-P3ljtg92/s1600/FallBB.jpg Plant Type: Small Shrub (including prostrate forms) to Large Shrub Leaf Type: Most are Deciduous, few are Evergreen Forest Garden Use: Shrub Layer, Groundcover/Creeper Layer Cultivars/Varieties: Wide variety of species and varieties available – there will be at least one type well suited to your location. Most blueberries available for purchase are hybrids of multiple species. Pollination: Most are Self-Fertile; however, Blueberries will produce significantly more fruit if another cultivar/variety is in the immediate area. Pollinated by bees and other insects. Flowering: Late Spring-Early Summer (May-June) Life Span: Years to Begin Bearing: 3-5 years Years to Mature Bearing: 6-8 years Years of Useful Life: Average 10-15 years, but some plants have been productive for over 50 years Blueberry flowers attract beneficial insects, like this Mason Bee http://blueberrytalk.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/may-6-2012-011.jpg PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PLANT Size: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall and 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) wide Rabbiteye/Southern Black Blueberry: 6-18 feet (1.8-5.4 meters) tall and wide Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 meters) tall and wide Highbush Blueberry (Southern): 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall and wide Creeping Blueberry: 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm) tall and spread up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide Roots: Relatively shallow and flat. Most have a suckering or stoloniferous growth habit… sending up new plants from underground roots or putting down roots from creeping stems. Growth Rate: Slow Blueberries can be used as an edible hedge Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei or Vaccinium virgatum) http://www.acuffirrigation.com/files/QuickSiteImages/Rabbiteye_Blueberries.JPG GROWING CONDITIONS FOR THIS PLANT Light: Prefers full sun Shade: Tolerates medium shade, but reducing sunlight also reduces yields Moisture: Dry to moist soils, depending on the species/variety pH: prefers more acidic soil (3.5-5.5) Special Considerations for Growing: The acidic soil the blueberries love can help be maintained with pine needle mulch if available Blueberries can be early-, mid-, or late-season cropping which provides a longer harvesting season Does not tolerate juglone (natural growth inhibitor produced by Black Walnut and its relatives). Consider using another plant as a buffer between your blueberries and walnuts. Propagation: From seed. Up to 90 days of cold stratification may be required. Cuttings are possible but take some skill - softwood cuttings in Summer. Division of suckers are easier and can be taken in Spring or Autumn. Maintenance: Minimal. Cut back the “twiggy” branches at planting to encourage good initial root development. Prune after 3 years or so to open up the plant; blueberries can develop into less productive, thicket-like shrubs if left un-pruned. Yearly pruning of older woody growth will encourage new growth and larger berries. Remember that berries grow on wood that is one year or older, so don’t get too carried away every year. Netting may be required to protect the harvest from the birds If the leaves start to yellow, then the plant likely needs more acid. Concerns: None.

Journey to a Sustainable life. Permaculture, Edible Gardening and Urban Homesteading.

If you’re looking to have a food garden, why not create an edible front yard landscape? Learn how you can create an eye-pleasing design.

I have a raised bed in my garden that barely gets any sun in the winter. Whatever's growing there in the summer usually stays there until spring, when the days are longer and I plant anew. Being a bienniel, that means my chard is the last of the crops to linger after the rest of the plants have bol

Plantain is amazing! Forage for and use this common backyard weed! You'll never spray it again! The Homesteading Hippy

An edible hedge provides privacy, food, and fun in a small space. Here are 23 varieties to consider, plus planting tips for success.

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own! Read my full disclaimer here !Let’s be friends! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagramand Pinterest! Have you ever seen “moss” on baked goodies and wondered “how in the world did they do that?!” Yea, me too! So I determined last year to figure... Read More

Perennial 9 Star Broccoli Brassica Oleracea Botrytis Asparagoides produces a central head and multiple mini cauliflowers and can grow for up to 5 years

Edible Climbing Vines help maximise our growing space we can double the amount of food in each garden bed or container.

If you, like myself, dislike cabbage as a general rule, have I got a cabbage for you - savoy cabbage. What is savoy cabbage and how does savoy cabbage vs. green cabbage stack up? Click on this article

Ground cover plants can be both beautiful, beneficial and edible! Edible ground cover plants enhance landscapes, manage weeds, retain soil and expand food..