How To Create Your Own Food Forest Island

You can use sheet mulching to improve your food forest, one island of fertility at a time!
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Today we work on creating a food forest one piece at a time. We planted a food forest at the end of last year, and have continued to plant it through spring. However, now we're dealing with grass taking over around our trees and plants. To beat this, and to give our trees the very best start possible, we are now creating islands of fertility around our plant guilds so they can beat the grass, be fed better, have more water, and generally thrive and outcompete the grass and weeds.
This is like lasagna gardening in the food forest! Just use sheet mulching to improve the soil and fix bad sand, then you get stronger trees and make fruit trees grow faster. Today we're improving a "food forest island" comprised of a pear tree, some cannas, turmeric, ginger, and a goumi berry. We are composting grass clippings, ragweed, pokeweed, mimosa branches and even chunks of oak limbs on top of a cardboard weed-block layer, underneath which we added a good layer of manure from the cow pasture. Once you water really well and deep mulch a piece of the food forest like this, the resultant life and growth is exceptional!
Thank you for watching.

[@davidthegood]

You can use sheet mulching to improve your food forest, one island of fertility at a time! Green Thumbs Tee: www.etsy.com/listing/1509045210/may-your-thumbs-always-be-green-tee CREATE YOUR OWN FLORIDA FOOD FOREST: amzn.to/3OfIaaw We try to keep things simple and find ways to build awesome gardens over time, without huge expenditures of money and time all at once. This method has worked really well for us when building food forests. I hope you find it inspiring. Thanks for watching! -DTG

[@creameedwards9518]

Hey any ideas where to get good bamboo seeds everyone I see on Amazon is 2out of 300 popped or none I just don't want to waste money lol

[@davidthegood]

They are much more efficient to grow from root cuttings. I haven't bothered with seeds.

[@agapefield]

@@creameedwards9518I worked in a huge wholesale nursery and we propagated all types of bamboo from cuttings or dug & divided huge clumps for sale.

[@ReapWhatYouSowGardening]

This is the most GARDENEST and amazing channel in the WORLD 🌎

[@davidthegood]

I dunno about that. Have you seen Pete Kanaris's channel?

[@joleaneshmoleane8358]

@@davidthegoodhaha he’s pretty ambitious 😂

[@michellebarnhill5130]

​@@davidthegoodno, but I will check it out after this😊

[@ReapWhatYouSowGardening]

@@davidthegood who's Pete kanaris?

[@johnshawngrubb4675]

My husband just said he sees how my listening to you has really improved our food forests. The excitement of gardening comes from your encouragement to keep it uncomplicated and SIMPLE! “What lives, lives and what dies, dies!”

[@mandywinter8871]

My brain: "a permaculture guild? Sounds complicated, I'll do nothing forever." Also my brain: "oh, just make a teeny island of perennials? Done."

[@midwestribeye7820]

I just prepared a new garden bed with cardboard, grass clippings, and compost for next spring. I love making a bed with this method. Much less work! I made friends with the owner of a lawn/tree company and he will drop off all the mulched leaves and stump grindings I want. God bless!

[@darlenepreston8836]

I’ve been doing this for years- I thought I was just being lazy. 🙏👍🌻

[@davidthegood]

You nailed it without even trying!

[@chessman483]

This is exactly what we did 3 years ago. Similar sandy soil, it’s completely come to life now. 👍

[@davidthegood]

Great work

[@ibelieveinpandas]

Nice touch holding your daughter with the right hand and picking up the cow cakes with the other, hahaha. That first shot reminds me of a farmer friend who lost his wedding ring and found it ten years later when he let a friend take some compost... the friend found the ring in the compost! Since hearing that story I try to leave my wedding band in the house before I go out to the garden :)

[@k.p.1139]

Well, that was not intimidating at all! I could actually do that! Thanks David! 😃😃

[@davidthegood]

Absolutely!

[@isabelladavis1363]

Anyone can do this! I love it…no excuses guys! Weed block Mulch is everywhere I go to the liquor store and get their empty boxes …then go inside get 100 proof liquor to tincture the herbs that have been growing in the beds …a win win thanks David for sharing with us all…stay blessed

[@rat-a-tatranch579]

David, you are CLEARLY One of the most genuine people doing videos on KZbin RE: the topics you love and have knowledge in! You are my inspiration for buying an acre, instead of a tract-home!!! Thank you for all your KZbin'z,

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. An acre allows you to do a lot!

[@uschiaala]

This is exactly what I do. When the couch grass starts to make a comeback, I just add more mulch and pretend it's not there 😁

[@Darkfyre755]

Thank you for making gardening so accessible!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you - that is kind of you.

[@ss-kz9ee]

These last two videos I have absolutely enjoyed watching. This is what I di in garden and love watching the progress of seeing instant garden. So easy and free. Nice that people see this.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you.

[@mike_au]

Speaking from experience , trying to establish my own food forest that is 37 metres by 5m and having to deal with 6 chickens that are mini excavators creating craters and flicking mulch everywhere, this approach is far better

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

Thank you for this :) I need to get back to my Food Forest building. Way to shock your girly girls like me grabbing cow dung while with other hand holding your adorably dressed daughters hand. So nice to see your photographer was back with all her awesome angles and panning of activity. Love it all but please no cow dirt on the tutu Dad! Also THAT SHIRT IS AWESOME!!!!

[@davidthegood]

I forget that normal people don't pick up the manure. It's really not bad - the sun dries it out for the most part.

[@robertsoliani7729]

Thank you David the Good. You bring hope to my gardening dreams. May God continue to bless you and your family.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@connieclayton1414]

Thank you so much for taking something that seems so overwhelming and put it in the simplest form.

[@darecofreedomfarm3]

Poke weed is good to get rid of fire ants. Mulch over the mounds with it and they disappear.

[@melanielinkous8746]

David, was wondering if you guys have a collection of bloopers? Also, do you ever get bit my snakes or spiders when messing around with woodpiles?

[@davidthegood]

Not really a collection. If something strikes me as entertaining during the editing, I tack it onto the end. No, have not been bit yet. Though my daughter almost was before she realized rattlesnakes were a thing in Alabama.

[@MRSGRANOLA]

That is my biggest concern when I see you piling on .. I do some of this but a bit worried about snakes

[@oneperson5760]

Rakes for snakes. The length of a rake handle is a little safety buffer when gathering mulch stuff.

[@PiedmontFoodForest-kz9fi]

I'm building informal food forest islands starting with cardboard similar to yours, but I'm also laying them out in rows and files to make watering them easier and more efficient, using 1/2" irrigation tubing and 1/8" drip lines. Thanks...keep up the good work!

[@johnliberty3647]

When I need to take a shade break I have a chair, a machete a file and a pile of fan palm trunks. By the end of my shade break I have a pile of palm trunk mulch. Remember, it’s not work if you are bored and cooling off and playing around with a machete. I like those palm chunks better than wood chips and sometimes I soak those palm logs in urine if they fit in the soaking bucket.

[@davidthegood]

That's great.

[@hawkspiritweaver6664]

Thank you again David... I am showing a group of people in Michigan your tips and tricks... I am hoping they will do as I did and start growing with the Zone friendly plants for up here.

[@UrbanHomesteadArtist]

I watched your “easy” gardening video yesterday. I’m a long time follower but so grateful for the reminder not to stress about a perfect garden. Through circumstances my garden got away from me and I felt deflated. After seeing you make islands with the weeds I got out there this morning to make war on the weeds 😅 One Island at a time got me going again. 🙏 Bless you and love your videos.

[@davidthegood]

Good work. One bite at a time.

[@rosaarias7128]

thank you. i needed this video. one small space at a time.

[@legalyzeit]

Great stuff DAVE!! One of our biggest game changer was our lawn mower bagger system, when we collect the grass we can easily turn it into our beds. WE also love it for pickiing up our leaves in the fall. The other option is to drive around the neighborhood on yard waste pickup day! FOOD FOREST FTW!

[@davidthegood]

Yes! I have been known to stop for bags of leaves.

[@GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Picking up poop with your bare hands shows dedication 😂

[@yamomanemjazz]

Totally doing this with this alley behind my house. Trash and dumping. Just creating islands of heinous invasives. It's kinda working.

[@lleestimer2547]

I saw the beginnings of an island when you moved the grass clippings!

[@debrabeghtol4332]

That shirt design is awesome! Hands are difficult...great job.

[@davidthegood]

He is very good at design. Thank you.

[@Kinjo2008]

*D to the G. I haven't tuned in for some time or posted a comment. I am glad to see you're well. Just watching this video makes me smile knowing just how damn much I have personally learned from you over the years. I did almost this exact process of layering with grass, clippings, cardboard, branches, up rooted weeds and tithonia diversifolia to my calamondin tree last week.* *We had a bumper crop last year from this little tree. Peace and blessings to you my friend.*

[@LSinclair]

Incredibly helpful, David..as always. I was afraid to use cardboard around our trees (against monster weeds), but now know how to do it safely, and so richly for our trees! THANK YOU!!!

[@renanruiz8851]

I always cut my cardboard down as much as i can as im paranoid i didnt water enough. Like to leave crevices where water can sneak in when it rains or when i water. Have learned quite a bit from David the Good. I also am not too worried about weeds 🤷‍♂️

[@angelaespinet4035]

Thank you so much for all the encouragement especially since the heat is so discouraging, here in 8b!

[@davidthegood]

Yes, for sure. But we'll get a break soon.

[@angelaespinet4035]

@@davidthegood If you ever get a chance to come this way, could you try stopping by, I would love some help? I am in between Dunnellon and Crystal River. I tried getting in touch with you via website but was unsuccessful!

[@user-ug1vc6ie4y]

Greatest idea ever

[@heysuz701]

We have a few acres to develop…this will make it so easy to get started!!

[@davidthegood]

One bite at a time.

[@craggyoakhomestead3476]

Hello everyone from hot got Central Texas 👋

[@robertsoliani7729]

Hello from Boerne TX. New to the atea. How do you garden in this type of weather and soil? Thanks!

[@craggyoakhomestead3476]

@robertsoliani7729 we've built up a lot of beds with compost and use a lot of mulch. We also use rain catch systems to water through the hot summer months. We are in the process of creating a gray water system to supplement during the year also

[@midwestribeye7820]

November through March I always wish we lived further south. However, July and August I feel so blessed to live in Northern Iowa. Hope you are staying cool! God bless!

[@sherry5282]

Wow.. Love that!

[@brockberrick2727]

Its not David the Good, it’s David the GREAT!!

[@davidthegood]

Technically, I am "David the Sinner Saved By Grace." "Great" is definitely too much, but thank you.

[@magpier.5761]

this almost looks like reverse hügelkultur, brilliant

[@MrsAliKey]

Great info!

[@FlavorsandTextures]

Excellent one!

[@breaking_bear]

Great video! Thank you David!

[@babetteisinthegarden6920]

Great job

[@sparky6020]

Love this!

[@robertromatowski6938]

Excellent video!

[@BethOvertonCPMmidwife]

You are such an inspiration! 😊

[@takeitslowhomestead5218]

THANK YOU once again!!! 🌱

[@elyria649]

This is absolute gold, thank you so much for making food forests not so intimidating. I wish I could get your book… I’m zone 6a unfortunately and will move in a few years to 8a. So not even 8b lol

[@kriswhite1344]

Great design Perry! Ordered mine..today

[@melanieallen3655]

Best most inspiring video ever!!

[@StevoJN]

Thanks man!

[@user-gh8sl7iu3y]

That looked like fun with long term benefits.

[@bethsands7665]

Awesome food forest skills.

[@beverlyd3464]

Quite inspiring!!!

[@mtscovideos8042]

Awsome videos! Nice to have met you.

[@IntoTheMissed]

Jeff from @bobbleheadhomestead told me to check you out glad he did beautiful place you have!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@huhbruheditz]

You are a breathe of fresh air and extremely informative. Im starting my food forrest in the atchafalaya basin and the knowledge you have shown has been life changing. Thank you kind sir

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. Good luck.

[@huhbruheditz]

@davidthegood being that Florida is swampy also, what would be the ideal choices for a tree island in the swamp? Fruit tree, shrub, vine etc?

[@phyllisclark3896]

Thank you so much. I can do this 🙏🙏🙏

[@writethisthat3613]

Love this, fantastic approach!

[@tanarehbein7768]

Love it.🎉 Any variation on this approach seems to mamy fruit trees so happy 😊 Thanks for the continued inspiration!

[@teresathomley3703]

Thanks David

[@patti2969]

Awesome!!

[@rebeccapurdon3531]

Wow..now I know what I'm doing today!

[@antoinettezaczkiewicz8620]

You are wonderful! Thank you so much for all your information but mostly for your 'this is easy' attitude! I love it! Just plant it.

[@rithphun1032]

Oh your farm So good

[@kenbrown438]

@DavidTheGood : I'm watching this video over and over again !!!! Thanks for your ideas !!!!

[@vinnettepope8255]

Thank you for sharing this 🙏 wonderful video garden tutorial ❤️ ❤❤❤❤

[@susanm9078]

This is great! Just starting my food forest. This is great to get it going in a few spotts, tbe will eventually merge into one large island.

[@BrokeFarmer]

Organic matter is all that is needed for successful trees

[@scrqqge]

Ok David, we are moving to a small plot on the tropical island of Aruba and my long long wish is to create a food forest, have some poultry and try to (mostly) live of our own garden. I have seen a lot of food forest ‘easy’ ways and most gave me crossed eyes and performance fear in advance. Your video is by far, no the only one and the most down to earth that i have ever seen (and i have seen a lot of them). Thank you! It all makes so much sense now! Garden life makes so much sense now and to be frank, in a way i always knew.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. That is a great climate.

[@scrqqge]

We really hope so, thnx

[@terencechandler845]

You are a paint legend

[@melanieallen3655]

Great video! Im inspired! Cheers from Sydney Australuia.😁

[@janebadon3988]

❤ the cardboard!

[@dankeener3307]

Love your videos! For our suburban neat-and-tidy area in PA I edge the borders throwing the sod, roots faced up, onto the bed. Then it gets covered with wet newspapers I’ve rolled up into a half bucket of water layered section by section until area is covered. Finally gets topped with wood chips to the cut edge. Looks great and prevents water runoff as well. On our beds I also add twigs, branches and garden clippings because I’m not so concerned with appearance though I think it looks quite natural as your does. It’s a great support to the trees and a time saver not needing to bag and haul thing to the curb. Thanks for broadcasting these practical and beneficial ideas. Peace! Garden as though your life depends on it.

[@doraw7766]

Your advice always helps me with my style of gardening/food forest. Thank you.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@HelloitsmeTara]

Trying it now ❤

[@davidthegood]

Good work!

[@vinagerie427]

East PA here...Home of the Pennsy-potatoes (aka. rocks & boulders). I started making compost piles so I had some dirt to work with, & then just started these little islands...Sooo fun to make & satisfying to connect the dots! Not at a lack for rock walls here & there, too. Thanks for the idea, Mr. David!...fits right in with my chaotic-garden Nature. :)

[@kriswhite1344]

Thanks 😊 👍🏻

[@shanoymiller6498]

Awesome info. I am so enthusiastic to try it. We want a food forest as well. Can't wait to try! Thank you David and family for all that you do!

[@davidthegood]

You can do it!

[@vIaLExiAcHiCK]

David, THANK YOU so much! Thx to your content, I grew an amazing garden without putting much work into it. It is JULY & I have super healthy potato & tomato plants growing in TAMPA, FL zone 10A. Buried some potato peels under cassava plants on the West side of my house (partly shaded) & the peels came up as plants, been growing strong for 1.5 months. The tomatoes grew from table scraps underneath a cranberry hibiscus bush. They're big tomatoes too, not the small cherry kind. Unbelievable! Thank you, thank you, thank you! God bless! :)

[@PrintrBear]

Good day ! Blessings all from CT

[@davidthegood]

Glad you're here.

[@oneperson5760]

You are blessed with life all around you. From your children, to the dung beetles, to the mushroom fungi, to the praying mantis. And lastly, almost as an afterthought, the actual plants you are growing. Its wonderful to work with God’s creation rather than against it. Many blessings!

[@ritamoreno7431]

Love your channel. We live in Texas and it’s HOT. I had to choose between starting a garden or our trees and home use because this heat has hurt our water well. We use well water for slow watering our smaller trees and hubby brings water from other source to water bigger trees. I plan on using your method as soon as I can. You are full of knowledge and funny. God bless you and your family!

[@gardenweedsgrower]

Wow. Amazing. Thanks for sharing this video and showing others this technique. I do this and it is the easiest way to garden, build fertility and get rid of organic waste and debris. I call them my debris beds. 🙌🏾

[@fredrickjoseph6545]

Nice video...I like how you use invasive species for your own benefit...that pile will be a fungi heaven for years

[@noxot13]

that crepe myrtle looks like it will be useful, they supposedly have a bit of rot resistance too. we had to get ours cut down then lawnmower guy kept cutting it back because it's a "weed" but now that it was allowed to regrow it came up really nice very quickly.

[@inchristalone25]

Excellent video! I use leaves because that's all we have in my neighborhood (other than some other thing I grow like bananas and mexican sunflower). I collect the bags of leaves in February when everyone is raking the oak leaves.

[@joeld3556]

love the shirt

[@prakashnaik-hc3ze]

Great 👌👌👌

[@monkeyfoodgarden]

I wish I had your bravery when it comes to these methods. I already look and wonder.

[@davidthegood]

Just do it - the bravery will come with experience.

[@Mantras-and-Mystics]

My backyard is so tiny. But I'm going to make a food island in the corner! 😂 Thanks for the tip!

[@gazellecarlson6543]

im doing it tomorrow

[@davidthegood]

Yes! Good for you.

[@angelaespinet4035]

Thanks!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you very much, Angela.

[@terencechandler845]

Food islands sound gold. I was just about to plant an apple tree I sprouted with a lemon tree flowing in the same pot . See what happens hay ? ❤️🙏

[@kathleensanderson3082]

I've raised three bottle calves this year -- the purebred Jersey heifer and the steer are almost six months old now, and the Jersey X Angus heifer is not quite a month old. Primarily they are for milk and meat -- I plan to use the heifers as nurse cows (we don't tolerate cow milk very well, so if I milk them it will just be to make butter, and then make ghee out of the butter), and we'll eat the steer. I'd like to use the cow patties for fertilizer, but like you, the soil bugs eat them up so fast I'll have to be quick in order to collect them!

[@michaellittlefield8629]

How do we keep the animals etc out of the forest gardens? Great information in these videos! Thanks!

[@HennoS]

I was sitting outside a grocery store waiting with the dog. In front of me sat a tray of 4 decent cannas. I had to bring them home because of you! You owe me 12€ 😅

[@danfay4860]

I do this sort of thing to my beds in the early Fall and let it rot fall winter and early spring it seems to do the trick. Who is this fun guy you keep talking about ??

[@tamathagreen8574]

VERY COOL!!!!!! I live in up state NY ..... I live where I only get about 6 hrs of sun because of all the surrounding trees..... love your videos.... any suggestions for my place???

[@mattpeacock5208]

DUDE! Im the least germophobic person I know, but breaking apart fresh cow crap is totally a glove needing job!

[@davidthegood]

Naw. It builds the immune system.