Derrick Saxon

Thanks for teh links folks!

I had never even heard of CRMPI so that is a great resource. I am hoping since they are Zone 4a-4b that I can expand the diviersity of species in our own Forest Garden. However, all of the species shown in the video will be great as well!

Hoping for some cold hardy grapes, blue berries, kiwis, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecan etc. Basically, I want to grow as many berries and nuts that the property will allow. Fruit trees will be kept to the basic staples and I will expand it further once those take off.

I am going to get crazy a few years down the road and attempt a glass house grow with avacados, olives, figs, and a few other hot weather species.

Edit: Found this link as well... http://www.apiosinstitute.org/forestgardens/central-rocky-mountain-permaculture Seems like I certainly need to pay them a vist lol

I am looking for help establishing a food forest for Zone 5b just outside of Colorado Springs. (possibly 5a depending on elevation)

We are originally from the deep south (Zones 8 and 9) so I find myself lacking in knowledge of colder weather pioneer and nurse species (particularly of the nitrogen fixing variety)

We will be using swales on contour, possibly some hugelkulture, along with chicken tractoring land prep for the overgrown patches of the property.

Using the 'establishing a food forest' method by Geoff Lawton, I need some ideas for an annual and perennial nitrogen fixing ground cover, short term leguminous bushes that will germinate from seed, medium term nitrogen fixing trees (some that will germ from seed as well), and long term overstory nitrogen fixing tree species. All of these obviously need to be able to thrive in Zone 5 with some drought resistance due to colorado weather patterns.

Any help on the most beneficial pioneer species for this environment would be a great help to get us started. Thanks!