Future food forest?
QUICK Q & A
What makes your orchard different from conventional orange groves?
Our orchards are a new hybrid of agricultural practices that integrates both biodynamics and the principles of regenerative farming. As part of our productive tree rows we also include, livestock, diversified tree species, and wildlife habitat 'housing'
Description of your 10% wildlife habitat and diversity.
Our 10% wildlife and beneficial habitat can be seen in the interior of the rows and on the fringes of the property,
where we have planted a various varieties of wildflowers and natives and exotics to increase biodiversity and naturally build the landscape with beneficial insect attractants The myriad of flowers and plants that have arrived as a result are, including hundred of specie, aswell as Alyssum, Vetch, Roselle, Chicory, Calendula, California Poppy, Mallow, Comfrey, Oats, Peas, Lavender, Sages, Yarrow, Salvia's, and Sunflowers. Aswell fruiting tree species other than citrus achieve new goals among them forage, nitrogen fixation and shade creation with species like Mimosa(Albizia julibrissin), Guaje(Leucaena leucocephala) Carob(Ceratonia siliqua), Black Locust(Robinia pseudoacacia), Mulberry, Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) and many more subtropical fruit trees. Aswell we keep substantial Kune Kune (polynesian pig) and chickens amongst and in the orchard as vital and necessary components of the biodynamic methods. Although non of our flowers are for a commercial market we grow these in all areas possible to reduce pest pressure and resulting cut pesticides out of our IPM. In the entire orchards we have allowed for local ground cover to become established as a frequently and densely as possible to also encourage a diversity of actors and also produce natural nitrogen that we then can use to bolster N levels in the soil.
Along with our plantings we also create habitat in the form of owl boxes and bee boxes. These provide the natural inhabitants of our ecosystem an enhanced sense of safety and comfort that leads to larger populations within our acreage and beneficial effects to the landscape as a whole.