When it comes to designing and planting your Edible and Herbal Food Forest, here's another powerful piece of advice:

Let your landscape speak first!

Maybe you've made your list of dream plants or sketched out neat little rows, like a traditional garden. But if you really want a thriving, self-sufficient paradise, it’s time to get low to the ground and let the land itself guide you.

I am sure we have all done this, I know I have–you make a trip to the local nursery and come home with 25 new plants that need planted immediately! So you scramble for hours, or even the whole weekend, to get them all in, usually ending with some last minute, very sloppy choices.

Try to avoid that as much as possible. 

Take your time, do not rush. Buy and/or acquire with purpose, knowing already where the plants will go! This is a much better approach if you can twist your way of thinking just a little.

I spent a lot of extra time just observing. I watched the way water flowed after a rain, noticed where the deer walked through (trust me—you don’t want to plant their favorite snack, like tulips, right in their path), and got down in the dirt to study the soil and the bugs.

What I learned changed everything.

Soil Will Tell You the Truth

There were so many times I stood there with plants in hand, trying to figure out the perfect spot to place them—second guessing, stalling, or just overwhelmed with choices.

But here’s the secret: Don’t choose the plant first. Choose the location.
Observe the land. Is the soil dry, sandy, boggy, clay-heavy, or rich and loamy? Is it sunny all day or shaded by trees come afternoon? Once you’ve noticed the character of that spot, then go to your list, or your local nursery, and choose a plant that matches the conditions right in front of you.

It’s a total mindset shift—and it works.

Observation Leads to Intuition

The more you pay attention, the easier it becomes to know exactly where your plants want to go. You’ll start to feel more connected and more confident in your choices. You’ll know that your lavender and echinacea belong in that sunny, open stretch, because that’s where they’ll thrive. And you’ll naturally tuck your lettuces and arugula behind something that gives them afternoon shade—because you’ve seen how quickly they wilt in the full blast of sun.

Build With Nature, Not Against It

This approach removes so much stress from planting. You’re no longer forcing anything to survive. You’re placing plants where they already belong. And in return, they will reward you with better growth, fewer problems, and a landscape that looks like it was meant to be.

So, don’t be afraid to slow down and get a little dirt on your knees. Pay attention to what your land is trying to tell you. It’s the most valuable gardening advice I could ever give!

If you liked this topic and want to learn the FULL shortcut to your very own, backyard-friendly,  Edible & Herbal Food Forest, check out my GUIDE. Skip all the common mistakes and let me help you flourish!

Always remember:

The Future Is Worth The Patience Of The Present

-Michele

The Homemade Gardener