Growing vertical in a food forest

Welcome to the forum Mary. Your experience and expertise will continue to be needed on a greater and greater scale. Your methods can apply to not only my life, but there are many others that I would like to help as I get my own systems in place and growing.

I have fibromyalgia that has been progressing over time and seems to have been progressing more rapidly over the past year or two. Currently I am working on trying to get my lot converted over to a food forest using permaculture principles. One thing that I have struggled with is filling in the middle layer. I have some low ground covers in place and I am working on getting fruit and nut trees in place for the upper level elements. How would you manage the middle layer? I understand that initially I will have to focus on more annuals, but I want to migrate toward more perennials. Annuals will always be a part of the garden, though. As the garden progresses, I can see that there will have to be much more flexibility in where and how I grow them as the vegetation of the perennial system fills in. I would also like to get some of the lower growing things like strawberries elevated a bit to make it easier to continually harvest. Any suggestions that you can make would be greatly appreciated.

Jen, I'm doing a lot of the same things here in my food forest gardens..I have a lot of baby fruit trees, some minis some dwarfs, some semi dwarfs and some full size standards..I also am growing grapes, kiwi and currants upwards..and my melons, cukes, peas, etc..up trellises or stakes..and tomatoes also.

I love the idea of permanence of the trees and vines..and so I have tried also to put in some permanent types of trellises with lattice and fencing..and am using some bamboo stakes to help things to climb upwards..so much easier than bending down