I am in the same boat! But I have read "Gaia's Garden" by Toby Hemenway. It was REALLY good! It helped me clear up several parts of a food forest that I was unsure about and it has really great examples in it as well. And it is not a hard read! Definitely worth reading!
I also just finished volume one of "Edible Forest Gardens" by Eric Toensmeier and Dave Jacke. It was very informative but was A LOT OF INFORMATION. It took me a month to read (which is a really long time for me) because I found it to be a bit overwhelming with information and I found myself not reading it as fast or as often just to soak it in. I do have the second volume but I haven't started it yet. Being a beginner myself, I learned a lot from the book, but I will want to reread it when I have more knowledge and experience. I suspect I only understood one layer of the information in the book. After working in my own food forest and rereading, I think there will be more insight I am able to use from the book that I didn't catch the first time I read it. Oh, but I need to add it is for temperate climates.. I don't know where you are located to know if this book would be applicable to you!
I hope that helped! Good luck in your food forest!
