Why I abandoned my FOOD FOREST

Summary

In this video, the creator shares the evolution of their garden journey, from the initial creation of a food forest to its eventual transformation into a more aesthetically pleasing and balanced garden. While grappling with the realities of nature and gardening failures, they explore the tension between practicality and beauty. As they move towards a more artistic approach, blending edible plants with ornamental flowers, the garden becomes a place of belonging, both nourishing the body and soul. The story reflects a personal and creative exploration of gardening and self-expression, ultimately leading to the creation of a cottage garden with a strong sense of place.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker initially tried creating a food forest in a front yard, aiming to balance beauty and practicality.
• 😀 Gardening requires flexibility as nature can quickly overpower human efforts if too rigid a system is followed.
• 😀 Despite the initial success of vegetables, the speaker was dissatisfied with the aesthetics and overall feel of the food forest.
• 😀 The journey involved constant reevaluation of priorities, with the speaker eventually prioritizing beauty over pure productivity.
• 😀 The experience of 2020-2021, amid the pandemic, led to a shift in approach, where gardening became more therapeutic and introspective.
• 😀 The speaker's previous food forest experiment was ultimately abandoned as the garden became too conventional and lacked creativity.
• 😀 Despite some challenges like plant diseases and pests, the speaker found that the true value of the garden was in the emotional and sensory benefits it provided.
• 😀 A 'sense of place' became the guiding concept, where the garden's aesthetic value and emotional comfort outweighed strict functionality.
• 😀 Flowers played a significant role in the garden’s evolution, adding visual and emotional appeal that vegetables could not.
• 😀 The transition to a more ornamental and cottage-style garden was inspired by a desire to create a visually cohesive and comforting space that also nourished the soul.
• 😀 A key realization was that gardens don't have to be purely practical; they can serve as artistic expressions that cater to emotional well-being as much as physical nourishment.

Q & A

Why did the creator decide to abandon the food forest in the first place?

The creator found that the food forest, while productive, did not meet their artistic vision. They valued beauty in their garden and felt the food forest's chaotic nature did not align with their aesthetic preferences. The desire to blend beauty with practicality led to a shift in strategy.

What lesson did the creator learn from their food forest experiment?

The experiment showed the creator how fertile the space was, but it also revealed that a true food forest, which requires low maintenance and relies on perennial plants, was difficult to maintain in their setting. The lesson was that balancing practicality and beauty was key.

How did the global events between 2020 and 2021 influence the creator's gardening approach?

During the pandemic, gardening became a popular hobby for many, which motivated the creator to reframe their gardening efforts as an opportunity to inspire others. They began focusing on creating a model home garden, hoping to teach people how to grow food at home while also engaging with the therapeutic aspects of gardening.

What challenges did the creator face while trying to grow their vegetable garden?

The creator faced several challenges, including pests like flea beetles and the alien leaf miner, which caused crops like eggplants and onions to fail. Despite their efforts, including hand-pollinating plants and using row covers, the garden didn't perform as expected.

What was the creator’s realization about the importance of flowers in the garden?

As the vegetables struggled, the creator began to notice the value of flowers on the edges of the garden. These flowers provided not only visual beauty but also a deeper sense of place, nourishing the soul and creating a more comfortable, memorable environment.

How does the concept of 'sense of place' relate to the creator's garden vision?

The 'sense of place' refers to an emotional connection with a space that feels familiar, comforting, and memorable. The creator sought to achieve this in their garden, blending beauty and functionality to create a garden that nourished both the body and the soul.

What led the creator to shift their focus towards a cottage garden style?

After experimenting with various garden styles, the creator realized that their front yard had the potential for a beautiful, visually captivating cottage garden. The decision was also influenced by the success of a video about cottage garden design that resonated with viewers, inspiring them to pursue this direction.

How did the elevation of the hill in the front yard influence the creator's design decisions?

The hill’s elevation provided the perfect opportunity to create a visually stunning garden with cascading plants. This natural feature allowed the creator to design a garden that would have maximum visual impact, presenting an inviting, nostalgic image to anyone who passed by.

What does the creator mean by 'nourishing both body and soul' in the context of their garden?

By 'nourishing both body and soul,' the creator refers to the balance of growing edible plants that provide physical sustenance while also cultivating an environment of beauty and comfort that feeds the spirit, offering a sense of belonging and peace.

What were the creator’s feelings after reflecting on their gardening journey over the years?

The creator felt that, while they had made significant progress towards their vision, they were still not fully satisfied. However, by early 2022, they had found a clearer direction and began seeing the transformation they sought, eventually creating a garden with the desired 'sense of place.'