Food Forest Future

Always hesitant to declare anything as being perfect, it's getting harder each day as analysis of the new parcel progresses to avoid judging it as anything but perfect for my food forestry.

With its sickle-shaped perimeter bisected by seasonal stream running along the full length of its densely-wooded southern boundary, its established pecan grove, garlic bed, water wells, water tower, and infrastructure supporting main house, auxiliary housing, and shop building, there isn't much more I could desire as a starting point canvas for establishing a food forest. Its six acres are not too little, and not too much for me to manage without heavy machinery. Building access paths carefully to accomodate powered wheelchair traffic will allow easy tending and picking of produce if I'm unable to get around on my own at some future date. Utilizing remote-controlled drip irrigation system during times of drought will incorporate a level of resilence required in this cross timbers climate zone. And if desired, monitoring it using drones, and possibly even personal hovercraft, it's laid out perfectly for easy utilization.

This year's goal: All planting beds, swales and pocket ponds constructed and well hydrated.

The two-year goal: All zones prepared and planted with target orchard and perennial plants.

The five-year goal: All orchard trees and berry bush patches well established and producing.

The ten-year goal: All perennials established with duplication planting and producing well.

The fifteen-year goal: All access paths cut and surfaced for easy walking and wheeled access.

The twenty-year goal: Kicking back to enjoy the food forest by living off of its annual bounty.

A nearly perfect outcome utilizing a nearly perfect raw resource from a nearly perfect start.