Touring The 9-Year-Old Food Forest I Planted in North Florida

[@funnywolffarm]

First good use of a crowd funding thing I've heard of: send David back to one of his old food forests to maintain it, document and teach people. I will donate to that.

[@FourHornsFarm]

This is the Florida food forest that inspired our food forest! It was nice seeing it again. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you.

[@allanturpin2023]

Thanks Big D. And thanks to the new owner for letting us visit too.

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

this video is making me miss my home. nothing like the scrub and swamps of north florida :-(

[@Patsa2001]

I live in Gainesville and have watched your original foodforest video 4 times through for inspiration and ideas... I've been waiting sooo patiently for this day David!

[@Patsa2001]

Just bought the book

[@denizwilson887]

Great video, don't tell my teacher what im secretly watching in class.

[@NS-pf2zc]

I'm going to try to push the zone for citrus here in central va. Those lemons and kumquats are too tasty looking! What a great foodforest you created!

[@jimallison6125]

Take a look at Satsumas too. They're supposed to survive down to mid teens. I would at least wrap the trunk of the tree for the first few years if a severe cold spell comes along. Maybe create a greenhouse around it that you can put up. They are a delicious fruit.

[@danam2584]

Kinda bittersweet.............. There's something in my eye! I'm not crying you're crying.

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

I love you David the Good. You are hilarious and wise

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. Happy new year.

[@growyourownveggies]

What a thrill to see how your food forest fared since your farewell tour. I remember the video where you staked the chickasaw plum. Such an abundance of life! Thanks for sharing the update! (I don´t know why I didn´t see this earlier?)

[@raleighsistrunk7123]

Just watching this video two years late. I live just an hour north of Anthony, FL. You have given me some great ideas. Thank you.

[@davidthegood]

Awesome - my old home town.

[@VCOOGAN]

i totally need this on my off grid property. well done sir!

[@paulkish007]

ThankYou David your videos have inspired us to grow edible trees and so much fun/satisfaction

[@ReidAnderson7]

I love the tongue oil tree bloom! Grandpa!

[@danielallouche2493]

That's what it is all about. Great visit . You should be proud to have created this .

[@Biscuitabuse]

Yep good old calistemon, I have a bunch in my yard to attract bees and native birds, great tree.

[@Florida_Bullfrog]

Anthony is my home town. I grew up off North Magnolia Avenue off the Martin Anthony road.

[@marielaretivesiccard7162]

With the Callistemon ( bottle brush) when it get lanky and leggy cutting it back severely after flowering and some rain .. add charcoal from the bbq around the dripline... smoked water simulates bushfires

[@nathanaelkitchen813]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Very inspiring! I have a plan for my yard now

[@tweetcrafts6077]

Nice work, David. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheHappyPianoTeacher]

That's so cool that now your friend has your old food forest! My son wants prickly pear so bad. Haha. We are trying to grow it from seed. Nice mullberies!!

[@organicgrow4440]

also if you can get your hands on a cutting, they are super easy just stick it in some soil.

[@TheHappyPianoTeacher]

@@organicgrow4440 Thanks for letting me know. I think I've seen some growing around that I could maybe cut from. 💕

[@CorJenFarm]

A few freezes we're pretty bad here in Florida in January 2018 so it seems good that all that citrus is doing great. We had 25 here in Lakeland that January so it would seem that area would have made it into the teens.

[@nimalkasuraweera7898]

Very good example for the world. Way to go. Thanks for the great job.Shared to facebook.

[@ashleyrichards9511]

That's cool. I live in North central Fl and now I know what to try

[@moniquegebeline4350]

We have Tung trees all over down here in MS and they have the prettiest blooms!

[@googly482]

Dear D.T.G., I am building an edible garden/orchard in Ocala Florida… What’s the tastiest yam you’ve grown in zone nineA? KIND THANKS for what you do, here! your videos are so helpful… The info that you share has changed my life, and it feels so good to have more of a connection with my land, AND have a food source. THANK YOU.

[@bettywhiti2025]

I wish I had a neighbor that had this wild setup. I would offer to clean up little by little and plant nice ground cover make it look professional, and for the owner to enjoy it better. in return letting me forage for food during the day any day ... my land is none existent .. so

[@topsecretbear9918]

Way over my head but always a pleasure. Looking forward to unauthorized.tv

[@GatorLife57]

Great job David ! Ty 4 sharing. Wolf🐺 👍

[@karynmccorcle3575]

David, we are so grateful for your wisdom and insight. You've opened a whole new world to us! I don't know if you still even see comments on videos from long ago and far away, but we were wondering if you might be able to tell us what the cultivar or name of that sweet tangerine at minute 5:37 or so? You mentioned that it could be eaten with peel and all. Really intriguing; we'd love to try to find it.

[@jimallison6125]

I think you're talking about his Kumquat. I've got them on my property and you can eat peel and all.

[@FloridaGirl-]

Meiwa kumquat. I am going to get one myself! 👍

[@jimallison6125]

@@FloridaGirl- That’s the kind I have. They're very cold hardy.

[@FloridaGirl-]

@@jimallison6125 cool I been on lookout for one! Called a nursery in Coral Gables. They had one left . Was gone the next day. In a 10 gal. I see them for sale online. Like twigs. Not that I need a huge starter but even a 5 gal size would be good. Do they grow fast? I am in sw fl. Am leaving a spot open for one!

[@jimallison6125]

@@FloridaGirl- I live in north Florida and have had mine survive low 20,

[@betty8173]

Is she interested in selling it? It is sad to see it not being tended well, even though it looks good...lots of potential! Thank you for showing it, I have been waiting to see (especially since your brother did his shining tour : )

[@unconventionalfarmer5943]

Awesome food forest. I cant wait until my food forest looks like this :-)

[@karenmayo4558]

Before we moved to the desert, we had mulberries, but they had webworms - so frustrating.

[@bellaspatiogarden3493]

up here in zone 3 I am envious of all the different fruit trees you can grow

[@danam2584]

Being in zone 4 I totally agree with you!

[@Erewhon2024]

On the other hand, yankees come to FL and are clueless because they try to grow what they know, and that stuff can't tolerate the climate.

[@EarthStudent7]

Very cool David! We are "planning" to relocate from Lake Mary to High Springs to homestead on 5 acres next year. My mother already owns the home. I've got several moringa trees growing that I plan to transplant up there and we want to grow chaya too. The only problem is, the soil is very acidic (We have a ton of pine trees on the property) and I hope we can amend it. Now this is going to come out of left field, but what are your thoughts on homesteading in FL and just staying in the U.S. in general? Intuitively, I feel like it will not be safe here in the next 5-10 years, so we are also thinking of relocating to a country that ideally has a high percentage of food sovereignty.

[@davidthegood]

I don't think the US is going to be safe, which is why I left. I have been to high Springs, though. The soil is quite acid but there is a lot of open land and wild blueberries.

[@EarthStudent7]

@@davidthegood so true! Blueberries grow great there, and the blackberries just show up out of nowhere! I learned about the acidic soil from your book Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening, which was extremely helpful in understanding why every fruit tree we planted is struggling and not producing fruit. We thought the area would be beneficial because of the abundance of fresh water springs right up the road in case things get dire, but we've just learned that they are polluted from agriculture in the area, so I'm sure it's leached into the aquifer as well. I also feel like it's not safe to stay on the U.S., and we are looking into B.C. Canada in a remote area on a pristine lake. The only problem is, a short growing season and LONG winters. I even researched Pitcairn Island, which is as remote as it can get, but you can grow coffee there! :)

[@jelatinosa]

What do you mean by "the US wont be safe"? Safe in what way?

[@theresadavis1834]

Wow you did a great job.

[@AraceaeFanatics]

I'm in Marion County also. Is that cactus a Peruvian Apple? Where are your bat boxes? Bats are also pollinators, they produce usable manure, and they eat pest insects.

[@em286]

Goals. ❤ I think that tall cactus is a Peruvian apple cactus.

[@davidthegood]

Thanks for watching. Florida gardening does not have to be difficult. I spent years testing crops until we found out what would grow with almost no work. Learn how to succeed today with my book Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening: amzn.to/3kGx9QD It will change your life! Also, if you're interested in digging deeper into Florida gardening and getting the calories to feed your family no matter what happens, then you should also grab my book Florida Survival Gardening: amzn.to/3tfMY4V Get my free composting booklet: www.thesurvivalgardener.com/simple-composting/ "Compost Your Enemies" T-shirts: www.aardvarktees.com/collections/vendors?q=The%20Survival%20Gardener

[@lazmartin1463]

What was that one thing you pull off the tree? Think you called it "bullbill" or something like that?

[@jettyeddie_m9130]

Heaven man , so awesome god bless 🙏

[@emilywong4601]

Mulberry trees grow in nyc. Action kid walks the boros, picking and eating mulberries. I've never seen them in a grocery store.

[@babetteisinthegarden6920]

you did good Mr Good TFS

[@ritabeitz9598]

The easiest part of gardening is planting. The hardest part is preparation and maintenance. I know now that if I want to take on any gardening project, I must recognize my limitations and only create what i can physically maintain.

[@davidthegood]

Yes - that is true.

[@sharonslife6153]

Thank you do much for the update. How did the cherries do fruiting wise? I forgot which cherries were planted.

[@davidthegood]

No luck, and one of them was cut down, unfortunately.

[@sharonslife6153]

@@davidthegood oh well, at least now you can grow mangos, hehe

[@c.j.rogers2422]

FLA misses you, brother.

[@elizabethtucker7613]

Amazing 😉 thank you 😊

[@773p]

We’re very professional lmao great video as usual

[@richardbird5697]

Amazing garden mate .i hope to have the same in a few years.hows it growing now

[@davidthegood]

It has been 4 years since I visited. Not sure.

[@richardbird5697]

Im pretty sure in 9 years your new garden will be even better

[@nancyfahey7518]

Cool.

[@maryedmo7798]

How much was the original investment for all those trees. Looks like a dream! Great job! It must be very satisfying to go back and see it's resilience.

[@davidthegood]

Probably around $1000. If I had started my nursery earlier, it would have been much less. A lot of them I propagated myself.

[@mindy779]

Were you able to bring some plants home with you? Thanks for the tour 😉

[@davidthegood]

Can't say. But you bet!

[@c.j.rogers2422]

@@davidthegood Smuggler!

[@guineverependragon9804]

Needs a lot more than chop and drop. Judicious pruning and shaping, remove the blackberries and other pests. Unfortunately most of the trees took on a very brushy habit and will be prone to breaking. Interesting to see what did survive. Dude. The swooping camera work. Please.

[@davidthegood]

I can swoop if I want to.

[@cindystrong9631]

When r u doing a food forest in Alabama?

[@dylan8285]

definitely still the bones of the food forest there but it is for-sure overgrown

[@RM-vk2cg]

nice video. gonna copy your notes for a ft mccoy version!

[@davidthegood]

Very cool.

[@firsttimefarmer4666]

We just got a couple acres near there to run our non profit therapy garden 👩🏻‍🌾👩🏽‍🌾👍🏿👍🏾👍

[@davidthegood]

Excellent!

[@richverreault]

I'm moving to ocala forest on 3 acres the end of the month. Paradise!

[@firsttimefarmer4666]

@@richverreault we should all stay in contact. #HomesteadersUnited

[@richverreault]

@@firsttimefarmer4666 I agree

[@firsttimefarmer4666]

@@richverreault ill follow you. You follow me. You'll see me posting as we move across country 😊

[@KyleTheShaman]

💚

[@roseannenorman7129]

I'm wondering...I've started one with seeds that I started from grocery store seeds/cuttings. Did you do that or start from bought plants?

[@davidthegood]

Both

[@thehomeplatespecial597]

you are good, David The Good.

[@eazypeazy33]

David the Great.. it’s time.

[@David-kd5mf]

Do you like living outside the usa wherever you are at? Do you recommend any books on expatriating?

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

I'm from PCB!!! Fountain.

[@LaHortetadeBussy]

Wow, great video friend. Que gran bosque de alimentos.

[@joelholstegge8283]

I live in north florida. Where are you located and would it be possible to visit or tour your land? Also how did you fair through Michael

[@davidthegood]

I used to live on this land, no longer, so cannot do tours. I was a bit south of Gainesville. Looks like everything came through okay.

[@NatureDiets]

How do you have citrus in fl with greening?

[@Erewhon2024]

I am not sure where Anthony is, but much of North Florida is beyond the commercial Citrus zone, so if you avoid introducing infected nursery stock, there is less of a disease reservoir than near the Citrus monocultures of Central and South FL. Supposedly growing under oaks helps too, but that has to reduce yields and probably sugar due to the drastically reduced sunlight.

[@ginnydare13]

You and your friend going to ship each other boxes of food forest produce?

[@bilaalmanselljones10]

That spiky thing looks like some form of yucca

[@GHumpty1965]

looked like a Spanish Dagger to me.

[@lindafoster8182]

You kept naming the plants as she went through but despite me trying to pronounce them correctly for my phone they couldn’t spell them.

[@billgatesfanclub]

Where do you source plants? We're Southeast Florida 🌿

[@davidthegood]

Lots of great nurseries in Davie. I like Spyke's Grove.

[@edenhomestead5382]

Wish I knew you visited Florida

[@davidthegood]

If you go to thesurvivalgardener.com and sign up for the newsletter, you will see the next time I visit. Probably next spring.

[@edenhomestead5382]

@@davidthegood If you get enough time when you visit, consider bringing your family to Vero Beach for a stay with us. We're going on three years into our food forest project.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you.

[@chintanaohl9698]

I need to fill up my yard with variety fruit trees and just don’t let my husband know about it. No more yard for him to mowing.

[@dfhepner]

Cans do that in north west Wyoming.

[@alsansoni5321]

With all that density, you don't get much disease among the fruit trees/plants ?

[@davidthegood]

No. I believe it is because of the wide range of plants.

[@poopypuppyproductions7409]

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, 'Father, my dog is dead. Could ya' be saying' a mass for the poor creature?' Father Patrick replied, 'I'm afraid not; we cannot have services for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the lane, and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature.' Muldoon said, 'I'll go right away Father. Do ya' think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?' Father Patrick exclaimed, 'Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic?'

[@SoulSeeker770]

POOPY PUPPY PRODUCTIONS lol

[@christinearmington]

Man, I always thought mulberries were a big, stainy nuisance!

[@baddriversofcolga]

Isn't the Bottlebrush Tree considered an invasive species?

[@davidthegood]

Not that I have heard. I've never seen it spread.

[@organicgrow4440]

never heard of that either might be confusing it with another plant.

[@baddriversofcolga]

@@davidthegood Oh, okay, good to know. It might be another plant with the same common name.

[@Erewhon2024]

One or more species of Meleleuca is a real problem in South Florida. He planted a Callistemon, probably citrinus. I have never seen that genus on a problem list, nor any member of the myrtle family in the panhandle at least. ("North" Florida is a fuzzy concept.)

[@FloridaGirl-]

They are probably thinking of the Brazilian pepper plant. Which is #1 on invasive list. It gets huge like a tree and has red berries all over it. And spread EVERYWHERE. Bottle brush trees are not invasive.

[@justynjonn]

Did you abandon this?

[@davidthegood]

I did not abandon it - I sold it.

[@stormus1111]

класс!

[@emilywong4601]

I also heard that a lot of forests are man made, by ancient peoples.

[@MAuroraCharvat]

At least it all stayed alive for several years. That would have cost a small fortune to plant all these fruit trees and it all dies.

[@justynjonn]

You couldn't tell that woman to be quiet.?

[@921mallen]

Sounds like you get run off from a lot of places

[@davidthegood]

People envy my fashion

[@c.j.rogers2422]

Honey locust! He said honey locust! THUMBS DOWN!

[@自由吗]

You need to take care of your fruit trees, all of them grew not very well.

[@davidthegood]

Do you realize it has been three and a half years since I even saw these trees? I do not own this land any more.

[@40rtypluss14]

"It's a testosterone booster . . . " Says the father of millions . . . Now we know.