Ep. 12 How to Create a Middle Earth Themed Garden If have ever had the desire to create a Lord of the Rings themed garden or food forest - this is for you. If you having, we just might inspire you to doing this very thing! Imagine a space in your yard that reminded you of the Shire, Rivendell, or the gardens of healing in Gondor. Yes, the knowledge of the lore of middle earth botany runs deep in this podcast episode, as does the knowledge of the plants in the Lord of the Rin...
Jul 3
32 min
Let's be real - farming and homesteading are a blast, but can also very exhausting. With all of the joy also come pain. Sometimes, even with lush gardens, we can feel a little barren inside our hearts. Both activity and rest are natural parts of our built in rhythms, but so is rest - deep and genuine rest. Once and a while though, we each face burn, but for whatever reason, homesteading burnout just seems to hit different. In this podcast episode, we'll talk a...
Jun 6
38 min
Weeds, which are often referred to as the right plants in the wrong places, can be a nuisance for some food foresters and gardeners. In this episode, we'll share ways to control weeds in a food forest or agroforestry system. Before we jump in, we'll talk a bit about why they are there in the first place. Understanding the concept behind their presence in the landscape will help us navigate them in our own garden spaces. This episode covers weeding strategies like hand-pul...
Apr 15
24 min
Should you hire a permaculture designer or simply do it yourself? Both are viable options, but it's important to understand the journey a bit before getting started. This podcast episode explores the benefits and drawbacks of Homesteading DIY vs Hiring. If you want to do it yourself, we have some really practical strategies on how to streamline the process for your homestead. Not to mention...a few pro-tips! If you are interested in hiring a designer (or installer), we al...
Mar 28
39 min
One of the most effective initial ways to cover, build, and protect your soil is to blanket new garden areas with a deep layer of wood chip mulch. As they decompose, the mulch builds organic matter and increases the soil biology, resulting in healthier plants and more abundant fruit. Although there are many benefits for a land steward when we choose to continue the wood chipping process, it's not a blanket scenario that needs to happen indefinitely. So, if you are wondering how long...
Mar 12
33 min
How do you help your garden or food forest after a natural disaster? Regardless of where you live, increasing weather extremes can have a massive impact on the food forest and home garden. If you are in the cooler climates, the harder (and dry) winter months can wreak havoc on your fruit trees. In the coastal regions, hurricanes can leave us in panic mode before or after the storm hits. And nation-wide, hail, drought, or tornado threats can cause unnecessary stress. ...
Feb 23
42 min
A successful food forest starts with rich and living soil. If you want to experience high yields of fruit and vegetables from your food forest, the soil life is the key to abundance. As with all things, there are many ways to approach soil building, amending, and fertilization within a regenerative system. Some methods require human interaction, while others invite animals within the system. Some methods are free, while others will cost money for the whole ingredients....
Jan 10
48 min
Crack the code on how to deal with pests in the garden and food forest. In this podcast, you will learn about how to deal with various insects, rodents, and other pests around the homestead. Learn how to stop songbirds from eating fruit, halt insect and rat problems, and how to prevent deer from eating your fruit trees. As a permaculturist, there are unique ways to deal with pest problems around the farm. This podcast will help you navigate the journey of living wit...
Jan 9
56 min
If your food forest is struggling to meet the expectations for annual food production, it is often beneficial to step back and analyze the system. No one wants a "food-less forest" when the initial goal was abundance. In this permaculture podcast episode, we will have a lengthy chat about what can cause a slowing of production and what can be one to bring back the abundance. Whether your new system (< 3 years old) has never started producing OR your mature food forest ...
Dec 24, 2025
38 min
Native species of plants are a multi-layered gift to the ecosystem. Not only are they hardy and resilient, but they also support soil life, insects, and songbirds. In this episode, your hosts (David and Kris) will interview Chris & Christie Leibner from Wild Garden Co. Chris and Christie specialize in Florida native plants and garden design, and have served many families in Central Florida by integrating natives into the food forest and home landscape.  ...
Nov 23, 2025
1 hr 8 min
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