Planning for next spring. Need a checklist, and seeds.

Hello all! My goal for my back (and part of the front) yard is to make a mini food forest. Why mini? I don't know how long I will be here and adding more trees may not be a good idea. I was thinking of getting a few shrubs (edible hopefully) and some basic guilds going.

So first thing's first - what are great (3 - 5 foot max) shrubs that are cheap and edible? I plan on having a mostly tomato / pepper garden with some beans and greens scattered in between.

My plan for the fall and winter is to accumulate as much carboard, leaves, yard scraps, straw, and compost as possible for free / cheap. Then in the spring I will make a huge garden. I want completely no - dig. I am located on the Eastern shore of MD if that matters. Thanks in advance!

p.s. I am currently making videos of my progress for other starting permies. There seems to be a lot of information (over-whelming) on already established food forest / permie garden, but not much on getting started.

Welcome to Permies, Dougan!

Why wait until spring? There are plenty of winter hardy veggies that you could plant now and clip all through the cool weather -- kale, onions, chicory, chard. As you accumulate more materials, just mulch them high, and maybe you will have to move some plants to the top of the pile. As for seeds, send me a PM with your address, I still have plenty of Egyptian walking onions I am giving away.

Thanks John! Is it too late to start kale / chard seeds now? I could get a few going in planters indoors for a few weeks. PMed you.