I have been growing food enough for myself and other households on a less than a 1/4 acre in central Florida. The smartest thing I have done was incorporate native flower beds and medicinals. These native plants brought in bird biodiversity and the birds eat the bugs in my vegetable garden. They get in there and look under every kale leaf for insects and I have had very little problems. I do get aphids for a short time each year. But If I am patient the lady bugs find them and eat them. So my advice is native plants and wildflowers in and around your food forest.
