The Survival Gardener

by David The Good

A Food Forest in Alaska? A Food Forest in Maryland?

November 16, 2015

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I was asked about food forests in two remarkably different climates from Florida – Alaska and Maryland.

Here’s my answer:

Starting a Food Forest in Alaska

Here’s the original e-mail on starting a food forest in Alaska:

Hi Dave,

I am a Master Canner, unfortunately, not a Master Gardener. I would like to develop a food forest that will grow in ______ Alaska. I have five acres and a lot of space to put plants if I knew where to start. Is there anyone in my area I could contact? Do you have any suggestions or plans that would give me a starting point? We have gotten down to minus sixty fifteen years ago. Lately minus twenty has been the worse. I would like to build a greenhouse this coming summer. I have done some research on compost pile heating for the far north and I will try it out next winter. I could use ANY information you might want to pass on. Thank you for reading this.

Luetta

First of all, I would look at the trees that live in your region and see if I could find any natives that are edible or useful – and then I would see if they have other cold-hardy cousins that might work.

Secondly, ask the local agricultural extension or any farmers/orchardists you meet about what they grow and what can grow in that climate.

Thirdly, go to permies.com, sign up, and start asking your questions about far-north food forests in their forest gardening forum. There are some brilliant folks over there.

I know that the further north you get, the harder it is to live off plants. Many cultures lived off hunting since agriculture was tough. You might buck the trend, though – and I would REALLY love to see pictures and hear more about what you manage to pull off!

All the best,

David The Good

Starting a Food Forest in Maryland

Since I’m more familiar with the species that grow well in Maryland, I was able to also provide a list of species for a Maryland food forest project. Here’s the original comment I received from Fredericka:

I saw you on Marjorie’s summit. I live in Maryland and have 2 apple trees in my back yard next to my compost bin and garden. Its getting colder now so my garden is not being used. I would like you to recommend some plants and flowers I could put around the apple trees. I am 64 and hope to live long enough to build even a small food forest. My yard is part sun and lots of shade, but my apple trees are in a sunny part of the yard on the north side. I want to do the challenge….will you please help me with some suggestions? I thank you sir. My son will be so excited I took this step.

NOTE: The challenge she mentions was the one I posted here.

This question I answered directly in the video – check it out for my list of suggested Maryland Food Forest species. You’ll like them – I wish I could grow a lot of them here!

No matter where you are, if there are trees… you can grow a food forest of some sort. A cold-climate food forest basically started this whole modern food forest thing (go look up Robert Hart!).

Be creative, experiment, and make it happen! There’s no real way to fail other than NOT trying.

And I definitely recommend getting this book if you’re in a cold climate. It’s helped me even here in Florida.