How I created my Permaculture Food Forest

Join me on the journey of transforming Goldifarms from a barren sand lot into a flourishing food forest. After sharing the design phase in a previous video, I'm excited to delve into the creation process and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Explore the magic of Goldifarms by visiting our Etsy shop: goldifarms.etsy.com
Art Ludwig’s Branched Drain Grey water System
oasisdesign.net/greywater/bra...
Art Ludwig’s book: amzn.to/3MyC3hg
Using Laundry greywater? Consider skipping the soap and using an Ozone Laundry system:
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For more information on these and other permaculture topics, I recommend the following books that have been helpful here at Goldifarms:
Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison
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The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming By Masanobu Fukuoka
amzn.to/4a25KR4
Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof
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Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins
amzn.to/441FP9w
Restoration Agriculture by Mark Stepard
amzn.to/422yG7k
Permaculture Design: A Step-by-Step Guide Paperback by Aranya
amzn.to/3T4HhUG
Sepp Holzer's Permaculture: A Practical Guide to Small-Scale, Integrative Farming and Gardening by Sepp Holzer
amzn.to/3Tq5kif
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren
amzn.to/4bXZlIN
Natural Way of Farming: The Theory and Practice of Green Philosophy by Masanobu Fukuoka
amzn.to/3IqUu5i
Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway
amzn.to/49XxNBl
(the above links are affiliate links that help Goldifarms by earning us a small commission at no additional cost to you, if you use them, thank you 🙏)
🌿 About Goldifarms:
Goldifarms was born in January 2020 as part of my personal healing journey and a commitment to restoring the land. We are in zone 9a on 1/3 acre. Following permaculture design principles, I aim to inspire you to connect with nature, grow your own food and medicine, and contribute to creating a more beautiful world.
🌼 In this video, you'll discover:
* The importance of earthworks in contouring the land and optimizing water flow.
* A cost-efficient water catchment method
* Building fertile soil
* The role of support species in creating a balanced ecosystem.
* The continual addition of seeds and fostering biodiversity for resilience
🌻 Goldifarms' Vision:
My intention is to provide inspiration, share knowledge, and encourage you to embark on your journey of regenerative living. Whether you have a backyard or a larger space, the principles shared in this video can be adapted to fit your needs.
🌟 Join the Goldifarms Community:
* Follow our Instagram for project updates: / goldifarms
* Visit our website to learn more and get in touch: Goldifarms.com
💛 Support Goldifarms:
* If you resonate with our mission, consider becoming a Patron: / goldifarms
* Subscribe to our KZbin channel to never miss a video: kzbin.info?sub_co...
🎶 Music:
* I hope you enjoyed the beautiful soundtracks from Epidemic Sound. If you create videos, here's a referral link for a free month: share.epidemicsound.com/hlg6dg
🔍 Chapters:
00:00- Intro
00:43 - Earthworks
02:11 - What is soil 🤔
03:56 - Hugelkultur
04:49 - The Water Battery
06:38 - Get that GoldiMountain Magic✨
07:44 - Watering the Garden
09:01 - Grey Water
10:28 - Plant Support Species
11:26 - Successive Plan
12:42 - Plant Diversely and Free!
13:32 - Golden Vitality 💪
15:07 - Amending the Soil
16:00 - My Composting Hack
16:35 - The Most Powerful Force 💛

[@annebird9195]

Theres the 3 soil types and then theres my yard: rocks.

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

😅

[@jackieo8693]

We moved from a super rocky soil to a heavy clay soil. We just can't win!

[@kaitlynharmer8459]

I’m about to move to a property that’s full of rocks. Honestly not sure how to go about planting since no one ever talks about this. I know roots will find their way if it’s Not too rocky

[@annebird9195]

@@kaitlynharmer8459 I called up tree cutting companies near me and they did a chip drop of their wood shavings and I've spread that around to give a nice mulch layer that's breaking down. Also the ruth something method with straw works pretty well, especially for potatoes. Grow boxes are also an option and I have those out front. I've tried picking the rocks out but i just dont have anything to do with them so it just ends up making random unorganized piles of rocks that's not ideal. So I'm just gonna try mulching a lot.

[@ebonywright9712]

When you can’t work with your soil type the best thing you can do, is build soil on top of it by doing raised beds. As long as you keep adding compost it will definitely be able to support anything you want to plant.

[@michaelzorro2738]

Thank you so much for sharing. I am planning on doing the same this year 2024 . I'll keep you posted.

[@caranicolewilcox]

P.S. I really appreciate the tip for burying the compost under the mulch. So smart. I am going to start doing that.

[@OlgaMurasev]

This was one of the most informative and well-structured videos I’ve seen on this topic. Thank you so much for breaking it down into clear steps and sharing all that valuable knowledge.🙏🙏🙏

[@CatherineandRob]

Well done on the water battery!

[@jeff6899]

As a nearly 30 yr gardener, I have a bevy of gardening, permaculture, food forest channels I subscribe to. There are those that I view regularly. I can see this added to them !😁🤗 The Narration is EXCELLENT. And her Passion & unbounded Joy shines through ! There are MANY things I wish I knew before I started !!! That I would do dramatically different if I had the time to start all over. I go through many of the same challenges in my dry, low interior Metro Phx desert as well. I have a ~20+ yr DRIP System I gradually installed myself that SUCCESSFULLY feeds the majority of my more than 600 plants (not counting raised beds) ! And many told me I could never succeed with that🤣 If I were younger (and not so immersed in my successful career), I would likely also have a regular posted KZbin channel. So I appreciate quality, descriptive channels such as this ! (FYI, a close friend started the Little Free Plant & Garden Stands, now in multiple states ! So we know about trading seeds, cuttings & small plants🤗)

[@leonsaquaponicsandhomegard6793]

It’s looking fantastic. 😊😊😊

[@susannescheper8350]

I think I would have a lot of fun building a food forest. I love that mulch / wood chips was the solution to your water issue. I love mulch.

[@sydneysowingseeds]

I love your videos and always finish them with more knowledge, faith and excitement for the life I wish to live. Thank you for creating and sharing your process❤

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

❤

[@PermaPasturesFarm21]

Great stuff!

[@SaveTheAyeAye]

Good to see someone actually achieving a life I hope to live someday! I would like to understand the specific logistics of how you acquired your land and the selection process that went into finding it. I am a native Californian who is a self proclaimed permaculture advocate, but find this state to be an extreme challenge trying to live a life like yours. You gained a follower, thank you for this amazing channel!

[@arfaabbas]

beAuTiFuL

[@goldiemandella7594]

Love the name of your farm! (My name is Goldie)

[@user-pi8hx3hl8q]

Awesome

[@siamese117]

So glad I found you. This is my exact dream but possibly in a colder wetter zone

[@MasonMcGowan95]

Yeah, over a year without rain I could not do!! Just as a person, let alone trying anything like this

[@pongop]

Awesome! Thank you! I love the Central Coast! I live in Central Valley, 9B.

[@charlesdevier8203]

Good job! I've been building my orchard for six years; trees are 20 feet apart with fruiting bushes planted between them. Mid-Missouri

[@xikano8573]

Te ganates la loteria Gilbertito. Muy inteligente y trabajadora que es esta mujercita. Felicidades a los dos por lo que han creado... 😊

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

❤😊❤

[@Goldifarms]

Muchísimas gracias 🙏🏼💙🦋

[@princesspamela1959]

Wow! Wow! Wow! ❤❤❤

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

💛✨🍄

[@hardstylelife5749]

Great video, loved the process and the inputs.

[@sues4370]

Very good advice, thank you!

[@NatureHerbsandTea.]

Very nice and Beautiful! Thank you!

[@SovereignDarina]

Thank you for sharing.. 🙏 Wishing you all the best on this beautiful journey 🤗🌱

[@MsCherokee70]

@Brokefarmer this is one great video you should watch. 😎👍🏽💯

[@justlooking4202]

Wildly attracted to this way of living

[@SambodhaWellness]

This is super inspiring, thank you for sharing. Seeing such profound growth in such a short period of time is quite uplfiting!

[@julzrouge369]

What you achieved together with mother nature is really remarkable and inspiring. I am always flabbergasted about how resilient plants & animals are and how quickly they go back to thriving again if treated with love (depending on the initial state, of course). 💚

[@MessyTimes]

Thanks for sharing some details of your journey. Good luck to you.

[@heatherburton1629]

Thank you! I’m inspired!

[@gobigandgohomeschool4882]

Beautiful videos!

[@HomesteadHarvest]

Great video and information from Zone 9B South Florida Food Forester 😊 🌴 🌱

[@heinrichvonofterdingen6789]

Beautiful jouney!

[@cecileheissr]

Omg this video is so uplifting! I have 2 1/2 acres in llano California. I have one toe in and the rest still in los Angeles. I’m gonna do what u are doing so thank you so much and please continue sharing ur journey ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@thesetruths1404]

Really enjoy your content and voice. Peace

[@awildapproach]

Such a beautiful and calming video. Thanks for sharing. I love your genius way of capturing water and the meandering paths and lush close plantings really add a charming cozy atmosphere. I hope to create a similar effect in my native plant garden in East Tennessee. Happy Saturday!

[@louisegogel7973]

Very nice video recap with great explanations and visuals alongside. Thank you!

[@stonedapefarmer]

I'm more of an everything at once, Syntropic-leaning, kind of guy, but your results speak for themselves.

[@gigglesandchaos5443]

Thank you for such an informative and enjoyable video 😊

[@meloniestewart2940]

Thank you for sharing. Inspiring 🙏🏼

[@judeevolves3347]

So much great information my brain is on 🔥🔥🤯😄🙏🙏💗

[@Vera-vk9ix]

Ummm... How beautiful! I'm in love with what you do! Blessings! ❤️🔥

[@Vera-vk9ix]

Subscribed 😊

[@chrisbrendandavis]

Your video was informative and also extremely relaxing

[@anulaluna]

I am so glad to have found your channel! (Just subscribed) I live on the mountains in Southern Spain which has a similar climate to yours.I have a lot to learn. Happy and prosperous new year to you!

[@elizabethhendriks9030]

Thank you🙏

[@cresentiae]

Thank you #savesoil

[@beth8775]

The water battery/mulch trench pathways are brilliant!

[@BroadwayGardener]

I absolutely love this detailed video! I'm also learning more about harvesting rain water for more efficiency in my garden. Your space is so beautiful!!

[@TonysSunnyGarden]

Halfway into the video: you got a new subscriber 🙏 Really like your peaceful vibe. And i took a look into your etsy store and it just made me smile 😊 Thank You Erin ☀️

[@user-jp7zh7mq6k]

Awesome video

[@VerdantSoul]

Bravo to the 2 of you 😊 what a beautiful place you've created!

[@mavisdavisify]

Look up Brad Lancaster. He’s in dry Texas.

[@lorebrown5307]

Make sure you know what's in your city's "free compost" Our county's free compost is mixed with "biosolids" i.e. human waste, septic sludge which has pharmaceuticals, cleaning product residue etc.., I wouldn't want that anywhere near my organic garden/property. Love all the work you're doing, Beautiful!

[@mrpinify]

If you have ever used bagged potting mix you have experienced the same compounds

[@SaveTheAyeAye]

+1 on this, the “free” compost I got from my city was not even fully finished and was basically an herbicide. It killed anything I planted in it. @mrpinify Bagged compost is often much more consistent and depending on the brand is tested for toxic elements.

[@sallydavidson2026]

Absolultely love this video and the wise words at the end. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@ooo6o6]

Your garden looks so beautiful. It must be a pure joy experience it from first hand. Thanks for sharing your videos with us.

[@GardenerRose]

So amazing what you can accomplish with friends and a passionate vision ! I really enjoyed your video so inspiring 😊

[@DJG19870]

Beautiful transformation 😍

[@pietsnot7002]

My grey water goes into a big mulchpit, it’s not the best growing system for these hot&dry summers for annuals but it’s fabulous in the cooler seasons and it gives sooo much compost.. l’m sure trees would do really well on this system but l have different plans for it 🤪

[@donnavorce8856]

Thanks for sharing your work. There are more folks all the time investing in this type of living! Passive gray water systems are my next area of development. As it is now I use a bucket under taps to capture tons of water.

[@nic.h]

I've been amazed at how much water I waste. Just waiting for my hot water to arrive is half a bucket of completely clean water that usually goes to waste and that doesn't even get to the proper grey water.

[@mariofraga3377]

Great work. Really inspiring. ❤

[@aleksandarvasilev526]

Hi, what you have done is wonderful! How big is your yard?

[@Goldifarms]

Thank you 🙏🏼 the entire property is 1/3 of an acre. The actually food forest is just under 2,000 square feet (40x45 feet)

[@keter70]

Hi from Argentina and thank you for your videos. Can you tell me the size of your plot? I wonder how big it is in order to give place to everything you show. Thank you!

[@LobsterLover530]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@theredfox27]

Id be weary of PFAS/PFOS forever chemicals in the free compost from city dumps. It has been a farm ending problem in the past in other states a lot. 🤞 Love the design and function of your farm. Any future plans for a large pond at property top to create a flowing creek through or is that too wet?

[@Goldifarms]

Thank you for your comment. This is something I was deeply concerned about in the past as well because our city has admitted they are in our city water supply (which we don’t drink but many people do as it’s “allegedly safe”) but Gilberto and I attended a talk about fungi being used to clean up toxic dumps in LA and it was so inspiring. Certain types of mushrooms can clean up these supposedly forever chemicals. The solution to this problem is already here. Another reason having Woodchips is important- They create a beautiful fungal environment to support this clean up crew of fungi. Of course in an ideal world the air, earth and water would be pure and we wouldn’t have to worry about what’s in our compost or our water- but the more I learn and the deeper I allow nature to guide me on this journey the more hopeful I feel.

[@krisbrubakertrader7197]

Question: Erin, What is the height and width of your berms and swale/pathways? Thank you.

[@visamedic]

Looks like So Cal ? What elevation are you at?

[@karenr7931]

Curious... Is the reason you use chicken wire around new plantings to keep out critters?

[@anulaluna]

I have a question for you. Do you have any pests and how do you manage them? In the hot summertime our plot is still relatively lush in an otherwise arid surrounding as our neighbours lands have been grazed and cut down. This has attracted so many wild animals to take permanent residence on our land. Badgers, Wild boar and moles being the most destructive. I don't want the hunting to go through my plot but at the same time, some of these animals have destroyed so much of my garden.

[@ilyaschreiber8848]

thanks for the video, what is the name of the tree behind you on 08:37? with blue flowerssss 🤤

[@Goldifarms]

Ceanothus (dark star) commonly called California Mountain lilac. They are so gorgeous in the spring!! California native. Drought tolerant. Some of the hills here are just covered in them 💙💜💙💜💗

[@zizy6516]

how did you get so many truck loads of wood chips?

[@caranicolewilcox]

I love what you have done with your slice of earth! As a fellow Central Californian, I wanted to let you know that Acacia species are on the invasive species lists in our state. Acacia trees are one of the most invasive species along our roadways. They sow millions of seeds per tree. They are also highly flammable. I encourage you to look for a native alternative for your trees, or at least one that doesn’t put out so many seeds.

[@boldpicturesgardeners]

❤❤❤

[@tri3609]

No offense but your voice really sounds good, especially listening with headset. It was like an ASMR

[@IntuitiveHealthSolutions]

how much of your groceries are you getting from your food forest

[@pastihijau5043]

🎉

[@ericaennis3088]

Any vegan friendly alternatives to beeswax?

[@agpawpaw5912]

Why do you wire cage roots?

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

Hungry gopher's

[@adamtash2891]

tell us your inventory of everything you have :) also, did you think of getting chickens or other animals?

[@Goldifarms]

Hi Adam! I actually have a spreadsheet that’s pretty thorough linked in my “how I select plants” video and I go into more detail on plants in that one. We have chickens. Bees are next 🐝 💛

[@adamtash2891]

@@Goldifarms cool! I will have to check it out!! great content btw ;)

[@ayatti26]

Ive wondered about gray water system, would they benefit from having hardwood charcoal mix in with the soil or in the pot where the hose enters?

[@dalebillings6703]

Does anyone know the tree/bush at 17:09?

[@Goldifarms]

Ceanthous! Can’t remember which one though 🙃 possibly dark star

[@Goldifarms]

Wait! Actually it’s a ceanothus ray Hartman 💜💜💜

[@dalebillings6703]

@@Goldifarms TY for the info!!

[@MrMilio]

Woodchips for free? How is this possible? In germany its so expensive..

[@1brandongriffin]

Do you own the land? How do you work full time and do this?

[@Goldifarms]

I do own the land. Lots of Saturdays!!!

[@arifkhan3946]

Here in Bangladesh🇧🇩 More people,less land😒

[@saikatsen8037]

first problem is costly land

[@juliewholohan2850]

Why have you put a ring of chicken wire around your trees root ball before burying please?

[@Goldifarms]

Hi ✨ thank you for your question. It’s gopher wire to stop the gophers. Ive gotten a lot of questions so I’m going to do a video about it. Unfortunately we have a lot of gophers. The cats help but we’ve had the most success planting in gopher baskets and prevent all our perennials from getting eaten.

[@MrNickEarly]

no twitter?

[@GardeningforFreedom]

looks like you could have saved a lot of work by just living somewhere else

[@FallofftheMap]

Mid video, a sales pitch and lost internet

[@mariahmarshall3585]

Commenting to hold myself accountable that I will bring this longterm vision into reality. 🤍

[@Byrod1]

Why is the Man completely eliminated from her videos ?

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

The wizard behind the curtain likes it that way!🙀✨🍄

[@wedruskimistrz5122]

You need huge amount of Nitrogen Fixers (Mycorrhiza and Lichen) at your Land and loads of Black Soil decomposed from rotting tree logs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp7MaaiCqbKhq68 Wood-chips are great for the start (Paul Gautschi Back to Eden No-Till Organic Gardening), yet with digging holes above 1 metre ( 3 ish feet) deep and throwing huge logs will keep Your composting/mulching pile for 10-15 years without a service from you. And when You have lots of deciduous trees, especially Birches and Poplars pioneer Trees growing mainly on Swamps, their Leaves as well as Wood decompose super fast into Black Soil like the one in Ukraine. After, 4-5 years You will have your own tiny Ukraine. Yet, Your region California might be far too hot and windy for Poplars and Birches as those are from my region of Eastern Europe, so You might look for equivalent, native in your area, maybe Maple Trees would do. Hugelkultur aka “mound culture” is only valid for damp, moistures areas where there is proper raining season like Sepp Holzer and his Son's mountain range in Austria above 1000 metres (around 3300 ish feet) Sea level or Charles Dowding's No-Dig Gardening approach in England. Masanobu Fukuoka has pretty great ideas in his book too as Japan has lots of Water to grow Rice. However, the best idea for You would be creating Vulcano Beds (I saw that idea with guys from Permaculture in Phoenix, Arizona) like Ant-eater does to hunt Ants in sandpits, so all the Water gathers in there and stays put. You can use Clay on bottom as it keeps Water in 90-95% of leaking, leaching, however if You have access to Loess (clastic rock) that would be ideal. I Believe You have that near Mississipi River as it is almost Waterproof like Birch bark. There are nations within Africa and India where they show how to do proper Land Revitalization into Greenery from Dessert to Eden Oasis. Those Land restoral practices would be perfect for You I suppose, all the best. Now I have some old variety of Fruit Trees to Plant Myself with Lunar Calendar to aid me. Now having small Forest Garden You can start playing with Plant Guilds, etc. Have a BLAST!!! DovaKiin

[@wedruskimistrz5122]

You need huge amount of Nitrogen Fixers (Mycorrhiza and Lichen) at your Land and loads of Black Soil decomposed from rotting tree logs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp7MaaiCqbKhq68 Wood-chips are great for the start (Paul Gautschi Back to Eden No-Till Organic Gardening), yet with digging holes above 1 metre ( 3 ish feet) deep and throwing huge logs will keep Your composting/mulching pile for 10-15 years without a service from you. And when You have lots of deciduous trees, especially Birches and Poplars pioneer Trees growing mainly on Swamps, their Leaves as well as Wood decompose super fast into Black Soil like the one in Ukraine. After, 4-5 years You will have your own tiny Ukraine. Yet, Your region California might be far too hot and windy for Poplars and Birches as those are from my region of Eastern Europe, so You might look for equivalent, native in your area, maybe Maple Trees would do. Hugelkultur aka “mound culture” is only valid for damp, moistures areas where there is proper raining season like Sepp Holzer and his Son's mountain range in Austria above 1000 metres (around 3300 ish feet) Sea level or Charles Dowding's No-Dig Gardening approach in England. Masanobu Fukuoka has pretty great ideas in his book too as Japan has lots of Water to grow Rice. However, the best idea for You would be creating Vulcano Beds (I saw that idea with guys from Permaculture in Phoenix, Arizona) like Ant-eater does to hunt Ants in sandpits, so all the Water gathers in there and stays put. You can use Clay on bottom as it keeps Water in 90-95% of leaking, leaching, however if You have access to Loess (clastic rock) that would be ideal. I Believe You have that near Mississipi River as it is almost Waterproof like Birch bark. There are nations within Africa and India where they show how to do proper Land Revitalization into Greenery from Dessert to Eden Oasis. Those Land restoral practices would be perfect for You I suppose, all the best. Now I have some old variety of Fruit Trees to Plant Myself with Lunar Calendar to aid me. Now having small Forest Garden You can start playing with Plant Guilds, etc. Have a BLAST!!! DovaKiin