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The "Food Forest" videos show the construction of our largely self-tending gardens. This was created with the design and construction support of N'credible Edibles , a local permaculture applications service.
Viewers serious about food production are encourage to follow this link on wicking systems by Colin Austin. It is excellent! Be sure to check "wicking bed technology" file.
Videos:
Food Forest, Tour of new kitchen gardens
Food Forest, Organic mushroom compost ("Black
Gold")
Food Forest, Use and construction of spiral gardens
Food Forest, Impact of pioneer plants, the coyote bush
Food Forest, A nurse tree called "Mimosa"
Food Forest, Two Good Nasty Plants
Omelette Loop
Chicken System
Text:
We think of our food production as belonging to several different systems: These are:
 1. Chicken System: Besides food (we harvest eggs but haven't slaughtered yet), the hens produce quick compost, concentrated fertilizer, feathers, heat, insect/weed control, and amusement. The system is designed to be very farmer, cook, and chicken friendly. Check out the chicken system video (6.5 min)
 2. The Greywater Gardens: There are three sealed beds sized about nine inches deep, 30 feet long, and four feet wide (one is only 15 feet long). The continuous flow of our recycling greywater throuugh each bed creates micro reparian zones that feed contained plants. The final bed returns water to the reservoir. You can see them near the end of the grey water update video.
 3. Gardens watered both by excess greywater and by aquifer water: The Herb Herb Garden was replaced by a much larger Food Forest and and kitchen garden. Several of the videos show how the garden was created.
 4. The orchards: We planted trees shortly after arrival, and the fruit trees now produce fruit. However, we've neglected them and have not designed a real fruit and nut system. That too is a chapter to be written. Some of our trees are seen in the herb garden and some can be seen near the bee hives.
 5. Bee Hives: Until recently, we had three hives. We arranged a two-person lounge area a few feet from the hives and spent many summer mornings having breakfast with these extraordinary beings. I guess we experienced "Colony Collapse Syndrome" because two of the hives died. The one that remains is a mystery. I thought it was dying. Then is showed activity, and I believed I was seeing honey raiders from another hive. I did not interfere. The activity has continued and now these bees seem to be resident. They seem friendlier than members of my old hive, yet the old hive never seemed to quite die off and no swams were observed. A mystery, but I'm no expert in this area. I can only tell you that we mourn the loss of our old friends who gave us such wonderful honey. And, we miss their teachings. To see the hive as the being rather than the bees is to free perception and understanding.
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