Derrick Eads

Matt Maxon wrote:

It may be that the "scary" portion is your gut trying to tell you something?
I swear I remember a Permaculture expert mention that if one runs across a stand of trees, 20 years or older, at this point in the game, it is more helpful to the planet to leave those trees standing -- but that is just one person's thoughts. Maybe slowly harvest the trees selectively and transition to a more edible landscape?
How old are these trees?
This article has some nice words to consider
webpage

Under normal circumstances and untouched "woods", that is probably pretty decent advice, but this property was a pine plantation and was cleared back in 1997, and not replanted. What I have now is some random 6" pines, random (and I do mean random) oaks, maples etc, that are fairly well established, with the vast, vast, vast majority being 1-2", 6-8' scrubs trees and vines.

OK, I obviously left out some important info.
33 ac, the home plus 5 sections - woodlot, pasture, food forest, garden and greenhouse.
Home and pond just over 2 acres
Woodlot is 9 ac,
pasture(s) 4 ac
That leaves 18 acres for food forest, garden and greenhouses

In my experience, our fruit and nut trees have been REALLY slow to grow - and imo, unreliable until at least they have been in the ground for 2-3 years.
No, I do not intend on rushing into planting a 10ac garden, nor do I plan on building 20 greenhouses
BUT... I DO intend on "properly" designing the property, and planting 100+ fruit and nut trees right off the bat, as well as their companion ground cover and shrubs.
If I am fortunate "most" of those trees will survive. If not, I will suffer a setback and wait ANOTHER 2-3 years for those I have to replace to be even slightly productive
But knowing my long term plans - I am hoping that someone with far more experience would be able to help me with a master plan.

Not to start off my first post here being argumentative or to question your experience, but what exactly is it about 1 acre that you find so overwhelming? I hardly think I'm a superhuman/supergardener, but I keep a full time job and still manage a small rabbitry, a dozen chicks, a 20' greenhouse, a half acre of apples & peaches with an acre and a half of mostly square foot raised bed garden. The only time I feel even slightly stressed or pressured is planting, and harvest of course. What am I missing here?

I know, a problem many would like to have, but I still need help.

We have recently purchased 33ac in East Central Alabama, and what we hope to turn into our Permaculture Farm/Green Residence dream.
At the moment it is completely wooded, and with the exception of a steep slope on the very north and west side the property is primarily rolling to almost flat.
Our thinking at this point is to clear cut all but the steep hills and just start from scratch - planting alternating sections of food forests, pastures, greenhouses and gardens.

Despite my intensive self education and personal experience over the last few years, the idea of committing to a design of something so large - and so permanent - scares the snot out of me.
I have contacted the AG Dept at Auburn University (45 minutes south of the property) in hopes of getting some guidance - from anyone who may have more experience or knowledge than me, but have yet to get a response.

I knew in advance that contacting them (or any other college, including some AG specific colleges) was a potential long shot, especially since permaculture "knowledge" is not exactly conventional wisdom - even within the walls of "cutting edge" colleges, so any ideas as to where else I may turn to for (hopefully) on location advice or guidance on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your thoughts