The Fernmount Food Forest is situated on a north facing, sloping acre on the border of warm temperate and subtropical climate zones on the mid north coast of NSW, 3 minutes from Bellingen. The land is roughly divided into four of the five permaculture zones and horticultural practice generally follows permaculture principles.
The property has sold but the original posts are maintained for reference purposes.
A walk around the food forest in the bright, midwinter (late July) sun is always interesting. Citrus are providing buckets of fruit. The odd Custard Apple still hangs on and we collect the pumpkins before the bush rats can attack them. As far as our plants are concerned Spring is almost here and the peaches are coming into flower.
After
a six week absence we returned home in mid-winter to see these four
vegetables flourishing and providing. With no actual frosts, despite the
sometimes near zero temperatures, and watered by only a few showers of
rain these green vegetables in raised beds just continue to thrive. Despite
the benign neglect this glut of greens could feed a large family and
will provide smoothies and greens for stir-fries for months. No person
need be without a green vegetables if they have a couple of square
metres of land or a balcony that will hold a few pots.
