How We Created a Thriving Permaculture Food Forest on .03 Acres

I've gotten a lot of questions about the size of this property. While the entire property is 1/3 of an acre, the food forest itself is just 35 feet x 40 feet, around 0.03 acres. In this video, I share a few strategies for how we planted over 100 perennials and a whole bunch of annuals in the space. My hope is that this video inspires you to reimagine your backyard, property, or maybe community garden plot, as I think many will be surprised at just how much can be grown in a relatively small space.
Here’s a link to my plant spreadsheet:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
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
amzn.to/3ToRtsg
The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming By Masanobu Fukuoka
amzn.to/4a25KR4
Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof
amzn.to/3OPwaxj
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:
We are Erin & Gilberto. We started Goldifarms in January 2020 as part of pur journey to heal ourselves and restore this land. We follow permaculture design principles to create regenerative abundance here on the Central Coast of California in zone 9a. The intention with this KZbin channel is to provide inspiration to connect with nature, grow your own food and medicine, and help create a more beautiful world together.
Thank you for all your support, we hope these videos will inspire you to follow your heart and pursue what lights up your life ✨ 🌼💛
Sending so much love to you on your journey. Thank you for watching 🐝💛🌻
Want to experience the magic of Goldifarms? Visit our Etsy shop: goldifarms.etsy.com
For a brief history of Goldifarms, check out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u5z7...
For pics of the whole project, visit: / goldifarms
To learn more and contact Goldifarms, visit our website: Goldifarms.com
To support Goldifarms (which would mean the world to me!), you can become a Patron: / goldifarms
If you never want to miss a Goldifarms video, subscribe by clicking here: kzbin.info?sub_co...
Music from Epidemic Sound. If you create videos and are looking for a huge selection of music, feel free to use my epidemic referral for a free month: share.epidemicsound.com/hlg6dg
Chapters
00:00- Where's Goldifarms
01:01- Keyholes for efficient planting
01:29 - Our regenerative planting pattern
02:58 - Examples of dense and diverse planting
04:00 - Leaf eatin'
04:40 - Stacking functions with your paths
05:27 - Planting up on berms
05:48 - Using hog panels to plant vertically
06:21- Grafting fruit trees
07:05 - Get that GoldiGlow

[@Goldifarms]

Want to experience the magic of Goldifarms? Visit our Etsy shop, to get your Goldiglow and more: goldifarms.etsy.com

[@jantellfowler5883]

Wish i found this channel earlier, i live in THE BAHAMAS 🇧🇸 and we have almost the same climate, only difference is we do get some rain during summer months. I wanted to plant more berries but not sure exactly what i could, now thanks to you I'm starting up my list of fruits I'd love to incorperate😊

[@Caitlin-os1vd]

I love these videos girl! It’s really refreshing to see a California permaculture KZbin page. I’m zone 9b, and I’m taking the plunge to convert my large yard to a food forest too. Definitely incorporating some of your ideas in to mine. Thank you for sharing and creating!

[@justinsutherlin]

Same! SoCal, zone 9b. Just finished sheet mulching about 1/4 acre with cardboard, 2 commercial dump trucks of compost, & 2 commercial dump trucks of mulch. Best of luck!

[@Acts-1322]

Best advice I've heard is to not feel pressured to get it all put together all at once. Get your free arborist wood chips (or from ChipDrop), start a few fruit tree guilds and learn how to propagate those for free over time. Guilds are basically some combo of the tree, a couple bushes , ground cover, herbs/roots, etc. that is repeatable or different in "pockets" of the garden. It's been so rewarding for me, I feel really talented now that I can take a cutting of almost anything and make a new plant of it!! 😊 Happy growing to both of you guys!

[@justinsutherlin]

@@Acts-1322 thank you so much for the reply! Guilds are something I haven’t tried, but I can’t wait to start playing with them!

[@Acts-1322]

@@justinsutherlin absolutely, love to hear more joining this movement!! Retaking our health. Don't forget, grow what grows like a weed in your area! If you force it, it's going to struggle and take lots of time & labor from you

[@Caitlin-os1vd]

@@justinsutherlin amazing! Best of luck!! Such an exciting adventure! Where did you source your compost?

[@williammcpherson1193]

It’s great to see this level of a combination of knowledge and common sense being applied to caring for the earth

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

✨🌄💛

[@chessman483]

We live in a similar climate in Australia. We have quite a few acres , so we don’t uterlise our land as well as yourself . But we follow similar principles. A great video to encourage people to produce what they can.

[@rachelirvin968]

Beautiful! Definitely a long term goal of mine to have a food forest like this!

[@Goldifarms]

And you will! 💕✨🌳

[@ruthbarnes9229]

Yeah girl, your food forest is Rocking! Thanks for sharing your journey

[@mikeb3167]

Wow! Your special! God bless you

[@soniatriana9091]

Hello, I really enjoyed watching your video. I’ve done much the same thing, 40+ years ago, except I’ve now downsized my fruit trees only 23-25(?) - bc I literally got tired of all the rodents coming into my yard!! Plus, we aren’t 4-5 people anymore - so it becomes overwhelming to keep up & harvest. My exception is that my yard doesn’t look like a forest. I also have zero grass anywhere on my property, but it looks well maintained & it’s been great for my grandkids to run around in, ride their bikes, scooters, etc & entertain/dine under a nice patio. Best of luck!

[@Avoidiac]

I started planting trees, bushes, cover crops etc. around 8 years ago, mostly on about a quarter acre of fairly open space with a few tall pines. It's kind of experimental, I'm telling myself, since I'm learning by experience as I go more than anything, and I really didn't do enough research or observation of the land before I started. I lean more toward the East in general, so my approach is trying to be more like a "natural orchard" than a "forest garden". Also, there're several acres of woods on the property which I've started "editing", trying to use a minimalist touch. And the edge of those woods adjacent to the open orchard area is south-facing, so that's a useful area. I'm on a shoestring budget, so I make compost, harvest bark from the woods for mulch, use only hand tools, a hose, watering can, wheelbarrow and self-propelled mower when it's working. I'm not throwing cardboard down or anything, though I've tried that. There's a lot of grass and all kinds of herbaceous plants and suckers popping up everywhere right now, since the lawnmower's taking a break from working. And of course the vines that want to pull it all down. Some vines, they're just not that cool. Yeah, I could prattle on about it for much longer than that. My results have been mixed so far. The site, soil, and climate are all definitely less than ideal in my mind, but as the years go by and the painfully slow growth happens, it starts to look better. Main food so far has been a bunch of goumi berries, a bunch of blueberries, and whatever dewberries I can get before some unidentified force comes in and cleans them all out overnight or whatever. I do have a few serviceberries on my one tree of that kind this year. Never ate one before. I'm not just a berry farmer, but it seems all kinds of berry trees and bushes generally pay off before larger fruit or nuts. Time will tell. I'm in the U.S. in the South, about the border between zones 7 and 8. Winters get down to single digits sometimes, summers can get over 100 with somehow both drought and high humidity. Soil is sandy loam with reddish clay underneath and very acidic, hence my focus on blueberries. Apparently, nitrogen-fixing doesn't work very well when you get down towards 5.0 PH, which I only learned a couple years ago. I'd be interested in hearing more about your situation, your trees/plants and general location/climate, if you're interested in sharing. Also, do you have cats, for the fruit-raiding rodents? Or is it just too many rodents and would require too many cats?

[@justinsutherlin]

Absolutely love your page! Please keep posting videos as much as possible. It’s a great inspiration for someone on the same size property & in the same CA zone (9b) as you. Very, very well done 👏 👏 👏

[@Goldifarms]

We love hearing from someone in the same California zone! We're glad you found this video helpful and will keep making more for you ✨🌼

[@stevefujii9132]

Hello Erin. Enjoyed this video, showing all that can be grown in a small area. Really like your keyhole approach. Thank you so much for your inspirational videos. Keep up the great videos!

[@Theeannmariee]

I recently found your channel and you’ve inspired me so much, I’ve watched all your videos. I got to the end of the list the other day so am so excited to see a new one posted today! Thank you so much for sharing Goldifarms with us 🌻

[@Goldifarms]

Your message warms my heart 💛🧡Thank you 🙏🏼 🥰 I will be making more 🌷💕🌷

[@automatonfan5697]

Wow! This is the video I needed, I was wanting to make cozy garden paths but didn't know how!!!! Plus your voice is like the Holistic Habits of gardening!😊

[@shannonalaminski2619]

I planted a passion fruit vine in the ground behind my spineless prickly pear cactus, next to a pigeon pea tree in a giant pot, next my steps and porch. I added a simple trellis up and over my front door. Now I have a living wind/ sun/ privacy screen around and over my front door that I'm reaching up and picking passion fruit from. The vine grew up the cactus to the pea then up it to the trellis. Go vertical, maximize space and when possible let nature work for you.

[@missannetteslittlefarminth9069]

It's amazing how far your food forest has come, you are an inspiration. P.S..I added some mini fruit trees this year!!

[@Goldifarms]

Thank you Miss Annette! So glad to hear you added some mini fruit trees. They are just delightful 💖

[@gardentours]

So great to see how many trees you've been able to plant in a small place. I'm adding more and more trees to my food forest as well.

[@MuslimahBuilder]

So much bounty and growth in 3 years! Love it

[@user-oo3vf7zk6b]

This is amazing! So excited seeing your food forest thriving. I’m at the beginning of my planning/dreaming journey in Sacramento. And wow, I am thrilled you shared your Google sheet plant list! It’s amazing and will be so helpful for me!

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

🙌💛🌄

[@tedpreston4155]

Your garden is so far ahead of us! Thanks for reminding me whats coming, once winter subsides in the Rockies!

[@Goldifarms]

Woohoo- I’m glad I could share some sunshine with ya! ✨☀️Wishing you an abundant and joyful spring!

[@BerrybelleGarden]

Your food forest looks amazing! I like the connected keyhole layout. I recently tried grafting and it was a lot harder than I expected.

[@LobsterLover530]

I’ve already ordered several Goldie glows and love them! And your tea is absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing all of this with us it takes us to another world. ❤❤

[@Goldifarms]

So much love and appreciation to our #1 GoldiGlow fan!! 🧡🌼🙏

[@thomaspitto5663]

I love your multiple keyhole design! Wishing you abundance

[@OfftoShambala]

Scribed… we need more of this.

[@eduardoHMYT]

Great video!

[@anzac90vap]

Just subscribed. Excellent videos, love your design strategies :) and what a lovely garden!

[@laonongtrendinhdk]

nhiều cây trái đẹp lắm bạn ơi

[@natalie526]

Hi! It's exciting to see such a diverse and happy foodscape! Do you cut back your NFTs to bring the nitrogen to the soil (ie, the trimmings eventually decompose)? My place has an acacia and am wondering how to do this. I'm hoping this would take place before they set seed since they are technically invasive here in CA

[@erschaffenswert]

thats awesome! great job =) enjoy this beautiful place!

[@sharriceowens913]

U voice is so relaxing ever thought about doing meditations

[@angrybees8122]

Wow 🤩

[@junejewell]

Yes to grafting video please!

[@RobbertvanHaaften]

Beautiful work! Very inspirational. I'm starting a food forest in the mideterranian europe :)

[@Goldifarms]

Wonderful! We've always wanted to visit other Mediterranean zones around the world, maybe one day we'll get to see your food forest!

[@Avoidiac]

Great vid, impressive garden and use of the space. Thanks for mentioning goumi leaves are edible. Why did I not know that? Claude AI says you can even eat the young tender leaves raw.

[@jefjef1283]

Wow, that's even smaller than my garden

[@joekunin]

Fascinating! How large do you tend to make the keyholes, and the spacing of the trees within them? Thanks!

[@homesteaderrachel2086]

Hello, new subscriber here!!

[@Goldifarms]

Welcome!! Thank you for subscribing 💛🌷✨

[@tedpreston4155]

When will we see persimmon leaf tea in your etsy store? 😉

[@Goldifarms]

Hopefully soon! Just gotta get the right blend to make it taste divine 🌷🦋🌳

[@pathofthewarlord6192]

I want to learn how the annual plants (like carrots, cabbage, corn) spread/expand and what kinds of plants are the best to plant together in a pretty cold middle european climate,

[@NickGrimshawe]

Is there a book with more info on Keyhole gardening? I love what you did here. And I am hoping to have a chance to use this design later this year.

[@Goldifarms]

For sure! The keyhole graphics were adapted from Gias garden. I have included links in the description 🙏🏼✨

[@aislingmp333]

i love the repetetive keyhole design but i don't quite understand it :(( could you possibly expand on it in another video?

[@JohnFerrerAkaEric]

How do you control your chocolate mint? Mine seems to try to take over everything.

[@littlebear444]

Where would you recommend buying the zone specific plants? I live in a similar climate and it's often hard to find reliable and affordable suppliers

[@ThriftingandThriving]

Where do you get your mulch paths? I have places to get it but I am affriad of maybe chemicals on it. Also Where would you suggest buying plants for a zone 10? Thanks!

[@TheRealDonLayton]

Hello, I see you were growing mint in your food forest. Do you have a hard time keeping it confined to certain areas, or does it try to take over everything in sight?

[@Goldifarms]

Thank you, yes great question ✨Mint can be very invasive. Where we are, it’s very hot and very dry and we use very little water, so we aren’t concerned about it taking over. But if your garden receives more water and it’s a concern, it would likely be best to keep in containers 🪴 💚

[@RisenUponTomorrow]

More videos like this!

[@user-on8ti9cp4r]

✨🌄💛

[@seaanimalsixseven1418]

How about canopy layer?

[@Goldifarms]

The canopy layer is growing! 🌳💚🌳💚🌳

[@sharriceowens913]

Which trees are nitrogen fixing

[@pathofthewarlord6192]

what is a nitrogen fixing tree?

[@basilsmith62]

0.3 акра = 13000 м2, а не 130:Р))) В такой жаре у вас чудесный сад. Успехов!:)

[@Goldifarms]

The food forest is 0.03 acres 💛. Thank you, always wonderful to hear that from someone who understands what it's like to garden in such a hot dry climate 🙏

[@TheZippyMark]

Yeah I was going to say, that doesn't sound quite right, your plot looks a lot bigger than that . 0.03 of an acre is about 121m², which is 11m x 11m.

[@sampedro9316]

If I just bury compost like that I get digging varmints.

[@Ms95670]

Great job on the garden..need to work on your math. That is not 3% of an acre .

[@Goldifarms]

It is 3.21% of an acre.

[@mbahmarijan789]

im Indoneisan. Please marry me 😅

[@Avocado740]

I think it's 0.30 acres.

[@CK-eq6fr]

No it’s 0.03 acres alright. One acre is 4046m2, so 0.3 acres will be around a third of that, more than 1000m2. Do the math before trying to point out someone else’s nonexistent mistake mate.