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I just started my food forest adventure! I was given permission to build a food forest in an overgrown field that used to have horses. The soil is a mix of old manure, clay and some gravel it appears.

Planted 3 cherry, 3 apple, 2 peach and 1 pear, still waiting on 2 pears to arrive and will buy a couple more fruit tree plants to fill the holes and I will put edible shrubs or plants between the trees.

Planted the 9 trees with no problem. I did 10 feet spacing between them and left a bit more for standard size apple at the end.

My biggest concern is not enough light and pests, mainly deer and bugs. What are the first steps I need to do to protect them? I was told I could put up an electric fence around field if needed.

I know people always have a lot to say about chipmunks digging things up in their garden and being a pest but I’m gonna be honest, my food system and our home wouldn’t be the same without them.

Do they dig stuff up? Not as often as they dig small, stable holes directly next to my plants that provide aeration and a place for water to get down to the roots. Do they get into stuff on the porch? Sure they do. But they also teach my rambunctious seven year old patience, and how to be mindful of the other creatures we live amongst who also need to eat. They dont make a mess, (other than the large seed shells that contribute to the soil.) Rarely has a problem in the garden actually been a chipmunk. Usually it’s a bird, whose presence and contribution we also embrace. We feed them, they hang out with us, and are usually underfoot right around our garden beds. We haven’t been at the current house long enough to see the fruits of their seed stashing labor, but there are a few sprouts in the garden that I recon are black oil sunflowers. I honestly believe they are integral, and contribute to our soil health. Love these little turds.

I moved to a new farm which has several hundred feet of irrigated garden beds. However, it is on a northern slope (in zone 3) and the soil is pretty poor–loamy sand, and some I’d even call gravel. (Miss you, black gold of the plains) There is also a ton of quack grass, and it is shaded after 4/5pm by huge trees from neighbors to the west.

So…what do I do with this stuff? I’m considering a large plot of asparagus. I also am thinking to trail some peach trees, or other fruit trees. Maybe honeyberries.

I dont want to continue buying drip tape, but there is a lot to use up until it isn’t good anymore. Might as well use it to establish something right?

Any thoughts?

Im in zone 7b and recently just got several apple and peach trees. I was researching companion planting and I’ve seen a lot of recommendations but also many saying that it doesn’t make a difference and just causes competition for space and nutrients especially when they’re young.

I was considering comfrey, chamomile, marigold, and/or lavender, but not really sure if those are good combinations or too similar/repetitive?