The Food For Life Project‘s Mission…

To encourage, support and positively influence the planting and care of fruit and nut trees and fruit bearing shrubs and vines.

Where…
Planting is encouraged everywhere the climate is hospitable enough, where watering can be done during hot weather and even where shrubs and vines need to be protected from cold.

When…
The time for this kind of effort is very apparently now given current world conditions.

Why…
The prime reason for the Mission is to help ensure quality and availability of food for people.
The dependence on systems controlled by “special interests” that clearly have their own plans is precipitating large scale consequences and certainly does not ensure availability of high quality food.

The inappropriate quest for power by a few at the expense of the independance of the many seems to be a repeating pattern, throughout human history. The Food For Life Project’s Mission is one positive, tangible solution. Let’s imagine quality, local, independent, edible abundance and work strategically by planting to attain it!

How…
Set some personal planting goals today!

Help create and/or expand a local food forest! Encourage others to do the same! We will depend on it!

Speculation, Price Swings Threaten Security of Food Supply, Ministers Says

As distractions abound will people focus on food security to enough of an extent that they do more than slightly minimize the casualties? That remains to be known.

I hope that casualties will be minimized greatly. From what? The concequences of a long drawn out economic meldown, natural distasters, manipulation, lesser health and disease due to less than ideal food available, etc. At least if those interested are planting for themselves and family members and friends, then other will benefit as well indirectly. Full stomachs can make for less crime and safer neighborhoods true? Setting goals though seems to be key in beating distractions and procrastination especially if there is a strong enough “why”. So, meditate frequently on “why ” and “how” and perhaps motivation to take action will move us more. Planting is great experience if one has never done it. With the internet, movements can germinate and grow quickly. Remind yourself of this often… If it’s to be, it’s up to me.

Thoughts about grafting can occur any time of year. Dream the possibilities.

So, if in winter, decisively determine what the grafting rootstock is going to be and where to obtain your scions(grafting shoots). They can be kept refrigerated for a several days if wrapped in a moist towel and then in plastic. Grafting is done in early Spring when sap starts to flow. If it’s Summer, mark successful grafts well so no-one doing Summer pruning will mindlessly snip them. And mark them so that winter pruning doesn’t harm them. Remember that no-one has a perfect success rate. When starting grafting 3 that take out of 10 attempts is nothing to be disappointed at. By my experience an seasoned grafter will have 7 takes out of 10 and occasionally better.

Let’s remember that trees and even bushes are super air purifiers. They take Carbon Dioxide from the air and give off life granting Oxygen. They clean the air of other things to. They also reverse desertification. Not to be confused with the making of desserts but rather the reverse of desert landscapes.

Naturally, this is excellent and an added reason to plant trees and shrubs that bear food. It helps counteract the loss of plants happening so prevalently. Foodforests may yet again cover the lands if we increase planting and, if a holocaust happens meanwhile, at least more plantings will ensure survivability of species.  In other words, if one is an unrealistic idealist, paranoid survivalist or somewhere in between, planting makes sense no matter what.

I prefer drying, both in the sun and with an indoor dehydrator.  For drying outdoors, window screens are useful.

One can dip fruit slices in water and lemon as the Vitamin C helps prevent browning of fruit. For slicing I use an Mandolin slicer or an apple peeler/corer only I hold the peeling arm down so the peel is left on as it contains much nutrition and enhances flavor. Let’s not forget a simple paring knife either. If that’s all one has, then there’s no excuse. Oh, and screens above a woodstove will dry items well to.

Nuts can be stored in a cool dry place for months. 

Let’s become better at “putting food by” for off season times.

If in the Northern Hemisphere dormant time is now and while the trees don’t work the arborists do.

Here are my 3 basic considerations for pruning in order of importance.

1) Prune for tree health.

2) Prune for maximizing food production

3) Prune for shape.

Enjoy pruning!

We observe that they do grow by themselves in the tropics however even there can do well with some nurturing. Everywhere else they have to be built and do we ever need them. To study food foresting is highly recommended.

Let’s plant as if lives depend on it because the building perspective is that they do and will moreso…

If we all were to include more heart smart nuts as a protien source in diet rather than animal products then there definatly would not be enough nuts or anywhere near enough to satisfy the demand. Let’s plant like its important as the awareness of how to improve diet is happening… Filberts, Walnuts, Almonds etc.

It’s been proven that Summer pruning of fruit trees is fine if done right. Doing a Google search on that may be of interest.

In cold Winter climates, mulching around young trees can help prevent frost damage especially when growing trees and shrubs that are on the edge of their climate zone, like figs for example or colder yet, apples and pears. In hot Summer climates watering young trees during hot spells saves their lives, a task easy forgotten by those with busy schedules. Those food producers living in moderate climates without extremes are in envious locations.