Year 6 of Dr. Rudy's Food Forest

Year six was, among of things, the year of the deer. Rabbits were also more noticable because my cat dissapeared. However, deer had the greatest impact. They feasted on cucumber leaves, greenbeans, watermelon vines, okra leaves, and sweet potatoes vines. Consequently, production was down for all these foods.

On the positive side, the harvest from perennial food plants (trees and bushes) was substantially higher than the previous year, because they are becoming more established. For example, I was able to freeze about 35 pounds of figs, which means I probably harvested a total of about 70 pounds. Apples and persimmons also showed a nice increase. I also harvested more blackberries, and goumi berries. Blueberries, peach trees, and plum tree have been slow to get started. This year, I will give them more attention.

In summary, I estimate that about 15% of total production came from perennial trees and bushes. That may seem modest, but it reperesents a big jump from about 3% the previous year. Again the substantially higher percentage represents a sharp rise in the productivity of perennial plants, and a sharp reduction of annual crops -- courtesy of the deer and rabbits.

1. January. Garden is sleeping. Fig trees covered.

2. Potted fig trees in basement beginning to wake up, around Groundhog Day.

3. Kale and other greens in early Spring.

4. Freshly squeezed green juice from garden greens.

5. Middle of Spring. West side of garden as seen from front porch,

6. Baby Moringa tree. Middle of May, I think.

7. Green beans and fava beans.

8. Red potatoes in basement.

9. Potato and mushroom stew.

10. One of many volunteer butternut squash vines.

11. Summer salad of cucumbers, tomotoes and green beans.

12. Early summer. Watermelon vines amoung wild flowers.

13. Comfrey.

14. Moringa trees being exuberant in mid summer.

15. Fig trees on south side of house.

16. Early (Breba) fig. Early June, I think.

17. Cherry tomatoes hiding.

18. Fuji apples.

19. Honey crisp apples.

20. Accordion tomatoes.

21. Yellow Long Neck figs ripening.

22. Midsummer fig harvest.

23. Blackberry on the vine.

24. Blackberries.

25. Moringa trees overpowering okra.

26. Overdue okra.

27. Drying moringa leaves. Late October.

28. Sweet potato harvest.

29. Persimmons

30. Thanksgiving feast witha few friends.

31. The usual live Christmas tree.