DL EVERGREEN is an experiment in low-maintenance, sustainable permaculture, investing in long-lasting, attractive, edible plants that attempt to maximize the natural solar energy, water and space in my yard for caloric and nutritional food value. Instead of the normal trend toward mass diversification in food-forests, I search for crops that grow and produce with the least amount of inputs, stacking them in attractive, beneficial arrangements or guilds that attempt to fulfill a healthy human diet.

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When I started I thought I’d reliably grow more of my own food, but I probably still only grow about 10 % of my own food on average (mainly prickly pear and other fruits), though buffalo gourd seeds and pecans from my brother’s yard occasionally boost that to about 25 %. My brother also grows sugar beets and sweet potatoes, so he’s probably closer to a 20 % average year-round. Still a long ways from being self-sustainable.  We both just started processing mesquite beans, and I’m looking to do more water catchment for irrigation, and perhaps acquire chickens (some of these plants can be used as fodder foods), to move my percentage closer to the halfway point.

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Despite some of the disappointments in yields and calories, my yard now established takes little weeding. There is still some upkeep from overgrowth or dead growth, and trash that blows in which I have no control over, but now my yard is pretty low maintenance and requires no mowing. Also, I haven’t bought fresh produce for probably ten years because I haven’t had to.  Though I do take a daily multi-vitamin, it may be overkill. The fruits, greens and herbs from my yard can supply all of the vitamins and minerals I need. I’ve saved a decent amount of money because of this, too.

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