About this episode
Learn how to transform your backyard into a food forest, integrating existing fruit trees and shrubs into the design. Dani Baker, author of The Home-Scale Forest Garden: How to Plan, Plant and Tend a Resilient Edible Landscape is our show guest. Dani is the owner of Cross Island Farms in Wellesley Island, NY and the creator of The Enchanted Edible Forest . The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website http://www.orchardpeople.com . Formerly known as the Urban Forestry Radio Show, from germination in January 2016 until December 2023, we have grown over the years, thanks to the collective knowledge and collaboration of our monthly guests, organizations, and audience from around the world. We offer something for everyone to support your fruit tree care journey, whether you prefer to learn through listening, watching, and/or reading. RADIO SHOW and PODCAST - FOUR WAYS TO TUNE IN Join our live show on the last Tuesday of every month at 1:00 PM ET and submit your questions and comments! Can’t make it live? No worries – catch the podcast later. Here’s how: Live Audio: Listen on RealityRadio101 at 1:00 PM on Tuesday Live Video: Watch live on the Orchard People YouTube Channel at 1:00 PM on Tuesday Audio Podcast: Download the podcast after the show Video Podcast: Watch the recorded video on our YouTube Podcast Playlist NEWSLETTER Do you want to learn to grow fruit trees successfully, organically, and beyond? Sign up for the free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/ PREMIUM EDUCATION Are you ready to dig deeper and further your relationship with your fruit trees? Visit https://learn.orchardpeople.com/ for five-star rated premium fruit tree care education. CONNECT AND GROW WITH US We continually adapt our presence to the communities that resonate with us. Check out the current ways to connect with us in the footer ↓ Let’s grow together! (00:00) - Introduction to Community Orchards (00:51) - Introducing Dani Baker and Her Book (01:38) - Understanding Food Forests (03:11) - Planning and Challenges of Food Forests (04:50) - Benefits of Food Forests (05:54) - Steps to Create a Food Forest (07:34) - Audience Questions and Answers: Origin of the guest's name Dani, Species to Consider and Considerations of Species, First Step of Food Forest Preparation (11:12) - Nitrogen Fixing Plants for Food Forests (18:52) - Nutrient Accumulators and Their Benefits (20:27) - Revamping the Garden: Dandelions' Role (21:49) - Listener Questions: Food Forest Planning (22:57) - Cover Crops and Soil Management (25:22) - Maintenance and Labor in Food Forests (26:30) - Permaculture and Climate Change (29:10) - Integrating Herbs for Pollinators (32:06) - Empathy in Gardening: A Psychologist's Perspective (34:45) - Practical Tips for Food Forest Success (38:22) - Exploring the Enchanted Edible Forest (41:20) - Conclusion and Book Promotion