I started a food forest last year placed card board down first. Used those leaves you were talking about plus twigs for my bottom layer. Then added wood chips on that. Then a layer of mulch. Then straw from the chicken house. Then some soil on top. Planted 6 trees. 2 apple 2 pear and 2 peach. Started 12 raspberry 2 per tree. Found 2 comfrey plants put them in. Started bee balm and 2 types of mint. Lots of onion and chives. And garlic. Placed some climbing beans and sweet potatoes for my vine layer. Place some flowers in to draw bees.my mistake was I didn't put logs or any other support to keep it all in the bed. This year both ends are flat. Lost the raspberry also planted BlackBerry they did make it.Used strawberry for my ground cover they are doing great. This year started a new guild with 3 plum trees. Did the same as last year to build my soil but this time I placed wood around the edges. Hoping for a better outcome. I now have lots more comfrey in my first year bed. I'm able to move strawberry around already. They love it. I planted a couple of fig trees this year. Will see how they do.the wood I used is from the forest. It's starting to decay. This will help feed the beds. But still stout enough to hold in place.I put my first walkway down this year. Between the first bed and this year's bed using those decaying logs cardboard and wood chips on top..l like it. I just planted some carrots beans squash cucumber in any areas showing dirt. So using more leaves and mulch for the ends to build them back up. This time using logs to hold it in place. This fall I plan on moving the mint to the back of the garden. It wants more room to grow. I'm learning by my mistakes. Hope this helps. In rose Oklahoma.
