In this edition, we celebrate the incredible journey from garden to table by highlighting real-life examples of harvests from backyard food forests right here in Georgia. These stories showcase the tangible benefits of food forests and the joy they bring to our community.
A Bounty of Berries:
The Johnson Family’s Success Story
The Johnson family transformed their suburban backyard into a thriving food forest just two years ago. Last year they enjoyed a bountiful harvest of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The kids love picking fresh berries for their breakfast and snacks, and the family has started making homemade jams to share with neighbors.
Johnson’s Tip: “Start small with plants that are easy to manage. Berries are a great choice for beginners and provide a quick reward!”
Vegetable Victory:
Maria and Carlos’ Garden Transformation
Maria and Carlos turned an unused corner of their yard into a productive food forest. This season, they harvested an impressive array of vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers. Their kitchen is now stocked with fresh produce, and they’ve begun experimenting with new recipes to make the most of their garden’s offerings.
Maria’s Tip: “Mix in companion plants to naturally deter pests and improve crop yield. Marigolds, herbs, and other flowers work wonders in our vegetable garden!”
Fruitful Feasts:
The Thompson Family’s Orchard Adventure
The Thompson family planted a variety of fruit trees and shrubs in their backyard food forest five years ago. This year, they’re enjoying the fruits of their labor with abundant harvests of apples, peaches, and pears. The family loves making fresh fruit salads, pies, and smoothies, and they’ve even started a small fruit stand to share their surplus with the community.
Thompson’s Tip: “Patience is key. Fruit trees take time to mature, but the rewards are worth the wait. In the meantime, focus on maintaining healthy soil and proper care.”
Front Yard Food Forest:
Sara’s Culinary Garden
Sara, an avid cook, dedicated her front yard food forest to culinary and medicinal herbs, fruits, legumes, and edible and decorative flowers. This past year, her home-cooked meals have never been more flavorful, and she’s even preserving some of her harvest to use throughout the year.
Sara’s Tip: “Herbs are low-maintenance and can be grown in pots if space is limited. They’re perfect for adding fresh flavors to any dish.”
Neighborhood Food Forest:
The Lakewood-Browns Mill Neighborhood in East Atlanta
For residents of the Lakewood-Browns Mill neighborhood in East Atlanta, it’s not easy to stock up on healthy food. The closest grocery store requires a 30-minute bus ride, and with more than one-third of the residents living below the poverty line, even those who make the trek might not be able to afford to fill their carts with fresh produce.
The City of Atlanta wants to change that; in 2016, it purchased at 7.1 -acre former farm in the underserved neighborhood and turned the land into the nation’s largest food forest. Dozens of walnut, pecan, mulberry, and serviceberry tress were already established on the site, and the project plan calls for the addition of raised beds planted with berries, herbs, root vegetables, and more to transform the edible landscape into a powerful community resource.
We hope these success stories have inspired you to grow something new! If you need help with your garden, please Contact Us.
Thank you for being part of our community and supporting our mission to create food security through backyard food forests. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and useful tips in future newsletters! If you would like to help others become more food secure, please see our Donation page.
Kind regards,
Your Friends at Shaome Cooperative
