Growing native fruit trees    

Native trees’ natural habitats are being lost and biodiversity is declining as a result. 

What can we do to make a difference?  We can start by using indigenous plants in our landscaping.  Secondly, we can grow a food forest. Most commercially grown crops are genetically modified and the longer they are in storage or transportation the fewer nutrients they have available.  Mass mono-agriculture farms use heavy pesticides that may also end up on your plate. The healthiest fruit is the one fresh from your garden.

 Even a mini “food forest” with one or two fruit trees or berries can benefit your health.  You can go one step further by planting fruit trees that are specifically adapted to your region's climate, indigenous plants are well suited to local environment conditions and require little to no maintenance to keep them healthy.

 Creating a food forest is a big endeavor and it may take several seasons before you start "bearing the fruit" as a reward.  However, unlike annual vegetable gardens that need hard labor year after year, once a food forest is established it will produce an abundance of fresh healthy food with little effort.

 Find out what fruit trees and other edible plants are native to your region to help start you on your food forest journey, or add some natives to your already established forest garden and improve local biodiversity.