Wow. This is a mountain of a post. With so much good advice and great ideas inside!
Love seeing more people preaching the truth about regenerative gardens and also about the lawns being turned into food spots. I hate seeing wasted lawn. What's the point and what's the joy in that? You have to constantly mow it... and all it does is grow back and offer nothing other than ground covering... I'd much rather have a flower garden for the pollinators or have rows of beautiful raised garden beds and treat them like my own personal grocery store.
So many great things in this post. Thank you for sharing it!
I have found this post here at the end of October but not at all too late. I did start my first garden in 2025. It was 4x8 feet and a lot of fun. You have given me so much inspiration. Tomorrow I am getting some beautiful soil delivered to a new 12x16 foot garden patch. I have all winter to decide what to put in it. In the meantime I am inspired to read about growing mushrooms indoors with my leftover coffee grounds.
That is so great to hear that you are excited about gardening ! I can send you some heirloom seeds to get you started and give you some options for what to grow if you like ? I have a section in my book that pertains to homescale mushroom cultivation and I’ll share the link where I share part of that in a post below.
Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain has some great supplies available on his website site for getting started cultivating gourmet / medicinal mushrooms at home.
Thank you Gavin! I sent your book info to my husband with a note that if he wanted ideas for future Solstice/Bday gifts that I would LOVE to have your book. It was a not very subtle hint ha ha. We moved to the Western slope of Colorado a year ago. We are at 7000 feet in very dry conditions. I was thrilled to find a seed trust locally (www.seedstrust.com) that sells heirloom seeds specifically for high altitude and I bought some seeds and their little book on how to save seeds. My friend gave me a rain barrel and composter that she didn’t want and we built a raised bed near the kitchen. My beets were the biggest success and were absolutely the best I have ever tasted. Challenges included: a short growing season, how much to water, aphids, deer, not understanding rate of growth so some plants shaded others etc. I would love to hear any planting suggestions. My new area will have tons of sun and will need to be “water wise.” I have loved the idea of a “food forest” when I read about it years ago. I also found crmpi.org (Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute) and I am so inspired. They are growing at higher altitude so I can too right!?! There are so many awful things going on the world right now but I need to remember there are so many good people out there. I feel it in my heart that growing food is in my future. Whether it’s for animals and pollinators or for people or both. I have just read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book The Serviceberry for the 3rd time. I am grateful for having found your Substack.
Hey Shar! My pleasure. hahaha I like your subtle hinting, what should I look out for if I see an order come through so I know to sign the book for you?
When you described the elevation and growing situation for your garden this species immediately came to mind:
I have seen it growing wild at 7500 ft above sea level in BC so I imagine it would do well where you are as well. Powerful medicinal benefits and nice to look at too.
I`ll think on the food forest aspect and get back to you.
RE: "There are so many awful things going on the world right now but I need to remember there are so many good people out there. I feel it in my heart that growing food is in my future. "
Well said, I agree and me too!
What you wrote there reminds me of something I wrote a while back when everyone was doom and gloom posting during the Covid lockdowns, i`ll re-share below..
An increasing amount of people are now being forced to take a long honest look at what the most financially influential human beings and transnational institutions/NGOs are really up to behind the scenes. They are being forced to do so in the wake of devastation left by a class war that is being waged by the oligarchs on small businesses, a time when dangerous untested products have been forced on the general population via coercion (for profit), violent totalitarian police abuse/oppression of peaceful protestors is becoming normalized and intentional hyper-inflationary and food system crippling policies which are being consciously engaged in by governments all over the world. This increasing awareness of systemic corruption seems to be attached to another trend where I am hearing more and more people point out things that they are describing as "evil" all around them in dominant institutions and in today's modern culture in general.
While I do not personally subscribe to the pseudo-religious concept of “evil” (as it being a fundamental part of our existence) I can understand why after living on Earth for a few decades and closely observing the modus operendi of those that are self interested and obscenely rich one might begin to see the various manifestations (and ripple effects) of such behavior everywhere (especially after the last 2 plus years of especially intense, overt and vicious economic/psychological warfare).
When one utilizes and develops their pattern recognition capabilities to see what the self interested (and sometimes nefarious/parasitic) choices of the few are doing to the many, the patterns one can begin to see all around them are myriad (and the detrimental impacts of said behavior patterns are ubiquitous). Given all of this, I can totally understand how people can internalize states of 'learned helplessness', defeatism and/or seeing "evil" lurking around every corner (in the context of today's hyper-centralized, materialistic, reductionist dominant culture guided by a transnational corporatocracy).
On the other hand, I believe there is also truth in the saying ‘if you gaze into the abyss long enough the abyss gazes also into you.’ and the saying “what you fear you empower, and what you love you empower, and what you empower, you attract”.
Thus, I feel that while it is wise to take an honest look at the ugliness of humanity, analyzing how it’s most deranged members are actively seeking to murder, poison and/or enslave their fellow humans (so that one can avoid such pitfalls, withdraw our support from their systems of oppression and help others do the same) I also feel it is even more important to apply one’s pattern recognition capabilities to seeing (and acting upon) that which is beautiful, creative, hopeful and empowering on this world. That includes the behaviors of human beings that serve to uplift, nurture, heal, inspire, unify and illuminate and it includes perceiving the beauty, geometry and wisdom present in the more than human world as well.
For just as if we gaze into the abyss long enough, the abyss will gaze back, so too if we gaze long enough into the radiant light emanating from the spiritual spark that exists within all beings and so too if we gaze into the workings and mind of the living planet Earth the source of that light and conscious spirit gazes back at us as well.
Therefore we are now called to realize that in, is the only way out, for it is within that we may re-kindle the spark that we were born with to become a flame and illuminate a safe path forward, not by shedding light onto a path that others have walked before us, but to trail blaze a new path forward. Do not allow the fleeting shadows in our midst distract you from the sacred tasks you came here to accomplish. You are the story tellers and the dreamers of the dreams, weaving threads together to become the fabric of reality. Where you focus your attention, thoughts, emotions and actions are paint brush strokes across the fabric of the canvas that becomes our shared experience... so let us choose our thoughts, emotions and actions with the knowing we shape the pathways we now find before our feet. We are the ones we have been waiting for.
Thanks so much for your kind words and support, I am glad you found my substack too! :)
Wow wow wow. These words have helped me find my way. Also it is fun that you recommended Rhodiola. I read somewhere that it is helpful for altitude sickness so I ordered Rhodiola rosea and took it for 2 months when we moved to our house at ~7000 feet. Also, your book is on the way and I am so excited!!
This article is a (another) masterpiece! I am in a condo and trying to find that home that offers an opportunity to garden... and doesn't cost two arms and two legs. One of my pet peeves is that lawns are wasteful - sure they look good but people add chemicals to kill dandelions and keep their lawn green. I would like to have a garden in the city / suburb but I think vermin would have to be addressed. We have snakes, rabbits, opossums, racoons, sterlings, wasps, hornets, and stray pets. I've been reluctant to look at properties with large lawns because of the maintenance and believe a garden would be a hundred time better. Barring a move to country, is anyone aware of city or county ordinances that prevent you from having a garden (e.g. some places prohibit you from collecting rain water like Commiefornia)?
I WILL plant seeds...outside...and find a way to make some compost and imagine I'll hall it around the "hood" with me hoing it into the soil around the as I tend the various crop we've planted. I've condidered gardening inside but I am concened about a conditionI've e struggled with a condition called Morgellons diagnosed after a biopsy by Dr. Karoo over a decade ago and due to the relationship it has or may have with insects, fungus etc. the doctor cautioned me, an avid Gardner all my life, I may not touch soil any longer due to chestrails contamination and I've just recently got my gloved hands in some soil to plant some cuttings in front of the massive senior apartment complex I live in on a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed it so! I'm putting the idea of many small crops throughout the neighborhood. Stepping up what is already happening here in a predominantly Hispanic town. Friends, families, neighbors, and the city campers who live here many I know will welcome the opportunity to offer a helping hand and elders from the 400 will love imparting their ideas. Everyone will enjoy the birds, bees, flowers and trees not to forget the bounty of fresh organic food we will enjoy! Holy Spirit Come! 😇
I love this message so much! Yes to growing and planting food and medicine. I am a holistic vet who fell in love with the plants as a kid spending hours in the Ponderosa pine forests of Colorado. I now prescribe herbs for all of my patients. I live in the subtropics and manage to have a potted herb garden on my patio. Tulsi and turmeric love it here! I am trying out a nettle and mugwort plant for the first time- we will see how it goes.
Wow that is beautiful, I am so glad to hear that our four legged and winged friends have allies like you helping them heal with natural substances.
I also have fond memories of the Ponderosa pines but at the most northern extreme of the Sonoran Desert in my case (in the South Okanagan, of BC). While hiking up on the desert plateau above an ancient canyon there I met a herd of wild horses and befriended the stallion that watched over their tribe (well he befriended me really, I was just open to the experience and chose to reciprocate). It was a beautiful experience.
Sounds like you have a lovely apothecary going, have you looked into ancient chinese herbs at all? I have an article on Ginkgo and Five Flavor berries I can share if your interested.
Its so interesting you mention a stallion- it is an animal archetype that has been haunting my dreams these past couple of weeks!
I love Chi ese herbs. I have studied TCVeterinaryM for the past 25 years and teach acupuncture to other vets at Chi university. I would love to read your article!
That is a very interesting synchronicity regarding the stallion! :)
Wow that is wonderful, perhaps you could help suggest some herbs for our elder kitty that is having some respiratory/sinus issues (sneezing a lot) and also something for mitigating the pain of her deformed ear (another cat shredded her ear up and it healed all "cauliflower" shaped and causes her a lot of pain now).
I drink nettle tea to help with my allergies and I am wondering if I can give that to our cat somehow to potentially help her. I also wondered about Turmeric for the inflammation and cannabis salve applied topically as an analgesic. Have you treated cats with anything like that before? Thanks in advance for your time.
Here is my article on Schisandra chinensis (aka "five flavor fruit")
Chronic sinus issues are a problem in cats. it is commonly cats who had severe respiratory infections when they were younger or can be herpes virus that reactivates. Some antiviral, like lemon balm or thyme may be helpful. If you could get her to breathe in an herbal steam that can help. Cats can take nettles as well.
Many have the cauliflower ears. make sure her ear can al is cleaned out, that can cause them to shake their heads. CBD ointment is fine as well.
I am wondering if our kitty has Hyperthyroidism now (we have yet to get her blood tested) and I am wondering if you can speak to any sort of natural treatment options for that?
A whole food clean diet - no canned, no kibble. Cats are pure carnivores and require fresh meat. Raw goats milk is full of taurine to support the heart. Cats cannot make taurine and must get it from their diet. Increesed thyroid hormone puts stress on the heart. Hyperthyroid can also be the body’s response to kidneys that are not functioning optimally. There are also Chinese herbal remedies that can also help, prescribed based upon the patient’s pattern of imbalance.
Cheers Buddy, If you email me at recipesforreciprocity@proton.me and share your mailing address i`ll send you some of those Pawpaw seeds I had told you about from our wild strain here.
Hey I have been meaning to ask you, do you know anyone growing Shagbark or Shellbark Hickory down there in the lower mainland?
Had a bunch of trees and plants put in this year. I now live in the tropics so it should be fun to have my own avocados, passionfruit, mangoes, bananas, etc. PLUS the tomato seeds I got from you
That is awesome! I am happy for you. What an adventure to be able to explore a different realm of trees and plants in that climate zone. Will you be able to grow Cacao?
I also recommend checking out the posts and how to videos on this website: https://www.sdvforest.com/agroforestry as there are many interesting ideas for tropical forest gardening.
Wishing you many bountiful harvests this year and I hope you`ll share how your adventures in tropical gardening go throughout the year :)
Not sure about cacao, I know it does in Costa Rica. I'm learning what grows easily here. Still waiting for banana and avocado and mango to develop but next yr should show something. The Ackee(sp?) tree grew like mad after seeds blew into the yard and walking pushed them in. Fruit the 1st yr when it was still really small. We picked them off to give the tree more time to mature. Nothing the next year and now fruit again. I've never tried it. Something like mashed potatoes they say. We'll see 😃
Wow. This is a mountain of a post. With so much good advice and great ideas inside!
Love seeing more people preaching the truth about regenerative gardens and also about the lawns being turned into food spots. I hate seeing wasted lawn. What's the point and what's the joy in that? You have to constantly mow it... and all it does is grow back and offer nothing other than ground covering... I'd much rather have a flower garden for the pollinators or have rows of beautiful raised garden beds and treat them like my own personal grocery store.
So many great things in this post. Thank you for sharing it!
I have found this post here at the end of October but not at all too late. I did start my first garden in 2025. It was 4x8 feet and a lot of fun. You have given me so much inspiration. Tomorrow I am getting some beautiful soil delivered to a new 12x16 foot garden patch. I have all winter to decide what to put in it. In the meantime I am inspired to read about growing mushrooms indoors with my leftover coffee grounds.
Here is a mushroom mountain link :
https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/coffee-cultivator
Thanks! I just ordered this, as well as one for my friend who drinks a lot of coffee. I will get started saving our coffee grounds in the freezer. 💕
That is so great to hear that you are excited about gardening ! I can send you some heirloom seeds to get you started and give you some options for what to grow if you like ? I have a section in my book that pertains to homescale mushroom cultivation and I’ll share the link where I share part of that in a post below.
https://open.substack.com/pub/gavinmounsey/p/making-allies-in-the-fungal-queendom?r=q2yay&utm_medium=ios
Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain has some great supplies available on his website site for getting started cultivating gourmet / medicinal mushrooms at home.
Thank you Gavin! I sent your book info to my husband with a note that if he wanted ideas for future Solstice/Bday gifts that I would LOVE to have your book. It was a not very subtle hint ha ha. We moved to the Western slope of Colorado a year ago. We are at 7000 feet in very dry conditions. I was thrilled to find a seed trust locally (www.seedstrust.com) that sells heirloom seeds specifically for high altitude and I bought some seeds and their little book on how to save seeds. My friend gave me a rain barrel and composter that she didn’t want and we built a raised bed near the kitchen. My beets were the biggest success and were absolutely the best I have ever tasted. Challenges included: a short growing season, how much to water, aphids, deer, not understanding rate of growth so some plants shaded others etc. I would love to hear any planting suggestions. My new area will have tons of sun and will need to be “water wise.” I have loved the idea of a “food forest” when I read about it years ago. I also found crmpi.org (Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute) and I am so inspired. They are growing at higher altitude so I can too right!?! There are so many awful things going on the world right now but I need to remember there are so many good people out there. I feel it in my heart that growing food is in my future. Whether it’s for animals and pollinators or for people or both. I have just read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book The Serviceberry for the 3rd time. I am grateful for having found your Substack.
Hey Shar! My pleasure. hahaha I like your subtle hinting, what should I look out for if I see an order come through so I know to sign the book for you?
When you described the elevation and growing situation for your garden this species immediately came to mind:
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/golden-root-rhodiola-rosea-and-rhodiola
I have seen it growing wild at 7500 ft above sea level in BC so I imagine it would do well where you are as well. Powerful medicinal benefits and nice to look at too.
I`ll think on the food forest aspect and get back to you.
RE: "There are so many awful things going on the world right now but I need to remember there are so many good people out there. I feel it in my heart that growing food is in my future. "
Well said, I agree and me too!
What you wrote there reminds me of something I wrote a while back when everyone was doom and gloom posting during the Covid lockdowns, i`ll re-share below..
An increasing amount of people are now being forced to take a long honest look at what the most financially influential human beings and transnational institutions/NGOs are really up to behind the scenes. They are being forced to do so in the wake of devastation left by a class war that is being waged by the oligarchs on small businesses, a time when dangerous untested products have been forced on the general population via coercion (for profit), violent totalitarian police abuse/oppression of peaceful protestors is becoming normalized and intentional hyper-inflationary and food system crippling policies which are being consciously engaged in by governments all over the world. This increasing awareness of systemic corruption seems to be attached to another trend where I am hearing more and more people point out things that they are describing as "evil" all around them in dominant institutions and in today's modern culture in general.
While I do not personally subscribe to the pseudo-religious concept of “evil” (as it being a fundamental part of our existence) I can understand why after living on Earth for a few decades and closely observing the modus operendi of those that are self interested and obscenely rich one might begin to see the various manifestations (and ripple effects) of such behavior everywhere (especially after the last 2 plus years of especially intense, overt and vicious economic/psychological warfare).
When one utilizes and develops their pattern recognition capabilities to see what the self interested (and sometimes nefarious/parasitic) choices of the few are doing to the many, the patterns one can begin to see all around them are myriad (and the detrimental impacts of said behavior patterns are ubiquitous). Given all of this, I can totally understand how people can internalize states of 'learned helplessness', defeatism and/or seeing "evil" lurking around every corner (in the context of today's hyper-centralized, materialistic, reductionist dominant culture guided by a transnational corporatocracy).
On the other hand, I believe there is also truth in the saying ‘if you gaze into the abyss long enough the abyss gazes also into you.’ and the saying “what you fear you empower, and what you love you empower, and what you empower, you attract”.
Thus, I feel that while it is wise to take an honest look at the ugliness of humanity, analyzing how it’s most deranged members are actively seeking to murder, poison and/or enslave their fellow humans (so that one can avoid such pitfalls, withdraw our support from their systems of oppression and help others do the same) I also feel it is even more important to apply one’s pattern recognition capabilities to seeing (and acting upon) that which is beautiful, creative, hopeful and empowering on this world. That includes the behaviors of human beings that serve to uplift, nurture, heal, inspire, unify and illuminate and it includes perceiving the beauty, geometry and wisdom present in the more than human world as well.
For just as if we gaze into the abyss long enough, the abyss will gaze back, so too if we gaze long enough into the radiant light emanating from the spiritual spark that exists within all beings and so too if we gaze into the workings and mind of the living planet Earth the source of that light and conscious spirit gazes back at us as well.
Therefore we are now called to realize that in, is the only way out, for it is within that we may re-kindle the spark that we were born with to become a flame and illuminate a safe path forward, not by shedding light onto a path that others have walked before us, but to trail blaze a new path forward. Do not allow the fleeting shadows in our midst distract you from the sacred tasks you came here to accomplish. You are the story tellers and the dreamers of the dreams, weaving threads together to become the fabric of reality. Where you focus your attention, thoughts, emotions and actions are paint brush strokes across the fabric of the canvas that becomes our shared experience... so let us choose our thoughts, emotions and actions with the knowing we shape the pathways we now find before our feet. We are the ones we have been waiting for.
Thanks so much for your kind words and support, I am glad you found my substack too! :)
Wow wow wow. These words have helped me find my way. Also it is fun that you recommended Rhodiola. I read somewhere that it is helpful for altitude sickness so I ordered Rhodiola rosea and took it for 2 months when we moved to our house at ~7000 feet. Also, your book is on the way and I am so excited!!
Garden for independence, health and even wealth.
Corruption is the work product of government. What do you expect from a group that takes wealth by force and redistributes it to their allies?
Get wise to the regulation/regulatory prison for your mind, because that is how they control you. Learn about it in my podcast here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/soberchristiangentlemanpodcast/p/s2-ep-46-the-regulation-deception?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=31s3eo
Thanks for the comment and link.
My approach is to use work around like this https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/covert-food-gardening-in-the-era when it comes to absurd government regulations. :)
This article is a (another) masterpiece! I am in a condo and trying to find that home that offers an opportunity to garden... and doesn't cost two arms and two legs. One of my pet peeves is that lawns are wasteful - sure they look good but people add chemicals to kill dandelions and keep their lawn green. I would like to have a garden in the city / suburb but I think vermin would have to be addressed. We have snakes, rabbits, opossums, racoons, sterlings, wasps, hornets, and stray pets. I've been reluctant to look at properties with large lawns because of the maintenance and believe a garden would be a hundred time better. Barring a move to country, is anyone aware of city or county ordinances that prevent you from having a garden (e.g. some places prohibit you from collecting rain water like Commiefornia)?
I WILL plant seeds...outside...and find a way to make some compost and imagine I'll hall it around the "hood" with me hoing it into the soil around the as I tend the various crop we've planted. I've condidered gardening inside but I am concened about a conditionI've e struggled with a condition called Morgellons diagnosed after a biopsy by Dr. Karoo over a decade ago and due to the relationship it has or may have with insects, fungus etc. the doctor cautioned me, an avid Gardner all my life, I may not touch soil any longer due to chestrails contamination and I've just recently got my gloved hands in some soil to plant some cuttings in front of the massive senior apartment complex I live in on a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed it so! I'm putting the idea of many small crops throughout the neighborhood. Stepping up what is already happening here in a predominantly Hispanic town. Friends, families, neighbors, and the city campers who live here many I know will welcome the opportunity to offer a helping hand and elders from the 400 will love imparting their ideas. Everyone will enjoy the birds, bees, flowers and trees not to forget the bounty of fresh organic food we will enjoy! Holy Spirit Come! 😇
I love this message so much! Yes to growing and planting food and medicine. I am a holistic vet who fell in love with the plants as a kid spending hours in the Ponderosa pine forests of Colorado. I now prescribe herbs for all of my patients. I live in the subtropics and manage to have a potted herb garden on my patio. Tulsi and turmeric love it here! I am trying out a nettle and mugwort plant for the first time- we will see how it goes.
Wow that is beautiful, I am so glad to hear that our four legged and winged friends have allies like you helping them heal with natural substances.
I also have fond memories of the Ponderosa pines but at the most northern extreme of the Sonoran Desert in my case (in the South Okanagan, of BC). While hiking up on the desert plateau above an ancient canyon there I met a herd of wild horses and befriended the stallion that watched over their tribe (well he befriended me really, I was just open to the experience and chose to reciprocate). It was a beautiful experience.
For more info on those horses: https://youtu.be/jq6E9HlOqWw?si=duDgdm4rFakC2KV_
Sounds like you have a lovely apothecary going, have you looked into ancient chinese herbs at all? I have an article on Ginkgo and Five Flavor berries I can share if your interested.
Thanks for the comment :)
Its so interesting you mention a stallion- it is an animal archetype that has been haunting my dreams these past couple of weeks!
I love Chi ese herbs. I have studied TCVeterinaryM for the past 25 years and teach acupuncture to other vets at Chi university. I would love to read your article!
That is a very interesting synchronicity regarding the stallion! :)
Wow that is wonderful, perhaps you could help suggest some herbs for our elder kitty that is having some respiratory/sinus issues (sneezing a lot) and also something for mitigating the pain of her deformed ear (another cat shredded her ear up and it healed all "cauliflower" shaped and causes her a lot of pain now).
I drink nettle tea to help with my allergies and I am wondering if I can give that to our cat somehow to potentially help her. I also wondered about Turmeric for the inflammation and cannabis salve applied topically as an analgesic. Have you treated cats with anything like that before? Thanks in advance for your time.
Here is my article on Schisandra chinensis (aka "five flavor fruit")
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/schisandra-chinensis-aka-five-flavor
and here is my article on Ginkgo trees:
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/ginkgo-biloba
Chronic sinus issues are a problem in cats. it is commonly cats who had severe respiratory infections when they were younger or can be herpes virus that reactivates. Some antiviral, like lemon balm or thyme may be helpful. If you could get her to breathe in an herbal steam that can help. Cats can take nettles as well.
Many have the cauliflower ears. make sure her ear can al is cleaned out, that can cause them to shake their heads. CBD ointment is fine as well.
I am wondering if our kitty has Hyperthyroidism now (we have yet to get her blood tested) and I am wondering if you can speak to any sort of natural treatment options for that?
Thank you very much in advance for your time.
A whole food clean diet - no canned, no kibble. Cats are pure carnivores and require fresh meat. Raw goats milk is full of taurine to support the heart. Cats cannot make taurine and must get it from their diet. Increesed thyroid hormone puts stress on the heart. Hyperthyroid can also be the body’s response to kidneys that are not functioning optimally. There are also Chinese herbal remedies that can also help, prescribed based upon the patient’s pattern of imbalance.
Thanks Josie.
I had not thought of lemon balm but I have lots dried from the garden. Great idea.
I appreciate your time and suggestions.
Some great and inspiring info - and excellent photography - in this article. Thanks Gavin!
-Perma Phil
Cheers Buddy, If you email me at recipesforreciprocity@proton.me and share your mailing address i`ll send you some of those Pawpaw seeds I had told you about from our wild strain here.
Hey I have been meaning to ask you, do you know anyone growing Shagbark or Shellbark Hickory down there in the lower mainland?
Had a bunch of trees and plants put in this year. I now live in the tropics so it should be fun to have my own avocados, passionfruit, mangoes, bananas, etc. PLUS the tomato seeds I got from you
That is awesome! I am happy for you. What an adventure to be able to explore a different realm of trees and plants in that climate zone. Will you be able to grow Cacao?
Here is an article I posted on that tree for more info https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/theobroma-cacao-mana-from-the-rain
I also recommend checking out the posts and how to videos on this website: https://www.sdvforest.com/agroforestry as there are many interesting ideas for tropical forest gardening.
Wishing you many bountiful harvests this year and I hope you`ll share how your adventures in tropical gardening go throughout the year :)
Not sure about cacao, I know it does in Costa Rica. I'm learning what grows easily here. Still waiting for banana and avocado and mango to develop but next yr should show something. The Ackee(sp?) tree grew like mad after seeds blew into the yard and walking pushed them in. Fruit the 1st yr when it was still really small. We picked them off to give the tree more time to mature. Nothing the next year and now fruit again. I've never tried it. Something like mashed potatoes they say. We'll see 😃
Thanks I appreciate you taking the time to comment and I look forward to hearing how your garden and apothecary go this year :)