Hey there, dear reader, welcome to part 2 of our little journey into polyculture and holistic fruit growin.’ In this piece ya get to follow along as I dive into the plan‑nin’ phase of my own garden at Alhaga, even though I still don’t have a finished garden yet. Just a bunch of scribbles on paper (and a whole lot more runnin’ ’round in my head). This here’s also the perfect place for you to take what you learned in part 1 and put it into practice in your own everyday life. Whether you live out in the country, in the ’burbs or on the fourth floor of an apartment down town.

When I bought the land for Alhaga and everything finally settled in, my mind filled up with pictures real fast. I saw fruit trees risin’ out of their own little guilds, berry bushes heavy with harvest, and herbs that smelled sweet every time you walked by. But in real life, I was just standin’ there starin’ at an empty lot with run down buildings – what used to be a proud ol’ cozy farmhouse now overrun with weeds and trash. Yeah, trash and broken glass every time you stuck a shovel in the ground.

At the same time it was exciting, and if I’m honest, a bit scary – but also mighty liberatin.’ Now I finally had the chance to do it my own way, from the ground up, with no one tellin’ me what I could or couldn’t do. If I wanna grow somethin,’ I can grow whatever my heart desires without a landlord puttin’ on the brakes for my little projects.

My first question to myself was simple: what do I really want?
Not just which crops, but also:

What part of my everyday life do I wanna see change?

How much time do I actually have?

What do I wanna learn along the way?

And most of all: How can this exciting journey affect my closest neighbors? And at the same time inspire more folks to take their first steps toward a more self‑sufficient life, both on the blog and in real life?

From there I started thinkin’ in layers and sections, just like in polyculture:

Trees as the core (apples, pears, stone fruit).

Ground covers that protect the soil and cut down on weeds. Herbs and berry bushes.

Nitrogen fixers that build up the soil’s nutrient capacity.

Pollinator magnets that boost fruit set and draw in good bugs like my bees.

This is also where holistic fruit growin’ comes in., seein’ fruit trees not as lonely harvest machines. But as the center of a livin’ ecosystem where every plant, insect and microbe plays a part in the whole system’s health.

You don’t need a big plot of land to start with polyculture. Here are a few simple steps ya can take today.

Start with one tree or bush.
If you’ve got an apple tree or even a pot with a berry bush on your balcony, you can already start buildin’ a guild around it.

Pick a ground cover (like strawberries or kitchen herbs).

Add a nitrogen fixer (like clover or other legumes).
Throw in a pollinator magnet (like marigolds, borage, or other flowery plants that draw in bees).

Test it on a small patch.
Grab a square meter or two and make a mini guild. Write down which plants you put in and watch ’em over the season. Notice how they’re doin,’ how the weeds back off, and how the insects react.

Let nature be your teacher.
It ain’t always gonna turn out like ya pictured. But every “fail” is a lesson. Think of it as an experiment – you try, you learn, you tweak, you grow.

Over at Alhaga, I’m right in the middle of sketchin’ out the land, map‑pin’ sun and shade, risks and hazards, soil type and water flow. I’m thinkin’ in layers:

Tree layer (fruit trees, nut bearin’ trees).

Shrub layer (berry bushes, useful bushes).

Grass and herb layer (spices, medicinal herbs, ground covers).

Ground huggin’ layer (low growin’ berries, onion kin, etc.)

But this here is the perfect chance for you, the reader, to be part of Alhaga’s future. I’d love to hear your ideas on which plants you think fit well in a guild around an apple tree or another fruit tree. Whether it’s ’cause they’re tasty, medicinal, good at coverin’ the ground, or just plain pretty. Drop your thoughts in the comments down below. Together I hope we can build a modern garden that’s delicious, healthy and beautiful. Built on ol’ school, time tested tricks from grandma and grandpa’s day – polished up with modern science and hard facts.

Picture that you design your life the way nature shapes a forest, permaculture’s own design manual. Every piece has its place and nothin’ goes to waste. It’s a philosophy and a design system for creatin’ sustainable, self‑sufficient ecosystems where everything cycles back in an endless loop.

It’s kinda like playin’ Sim City in real life, with mother earth sittin’ right there at the table. Every plant, every bug, every drop of water gets a role. Not just in your garden, but in your whole way of livin.’ Maybe even in the communities around ya? Permaculture’s about takin’ care of the land, sharin’ resources fair and lettin’ nature’s own rules light the way.

While permaculture is the design toolbox and the big picture philosophy, homesteading is the day to day practice of livin’ that out on your own piece of land.

Homesteading, the way I’m tryin’ to live it here at Alhaga, is a lifestyle of independence. It looks different for everyone, but for me it’s like bein’ the main character in my own adventure novel where I get to write the story.

It can be anything from small scale crafts and textiles, like becomin’ an expert at goat cheese from your own animals or sewin’ clothes from wool ya sheared yourself. No rules, just possibilities. Maybe ya build your own tiny house, grow for self‑sufficiency, or start a mushroom patch. It’s about a life that feels meaningful and fits you.

A lot of folks think homesteading means total isolation from society. But I say, make it your own. Urban homesteading on a balcony or rural homesteading out in the sticks, it’s up to you friend.

Live in town? No problem. Urban homesteading is a bit like bein’ a secret agent for sustainability smack in the middle of the beatin’ concrete jungle. It’s built on self‑sufficiency principles in a city setting – small‑scale growin,’ resource smart livin,’ all on your own terms.

Ya don’t gotta sit out the game just ’cause you’re short on land. Start growin’ micro sprouts on your windowsill, put up the season’s berries in jars, or cut your energy dependence with a little solar charger. Produce protein rich harvests in vertical spirals (salad, herbs, edible flowers.), Make smart bulk buys ya can draw on over time. Learn to can, smoke, and ferment – skills that turn your kitchen into a self‑sufficiency hub. Or pick up cookin’ outdoors with simple gear like a camp stove and a fire steel when you’re out adventurin’ with the fam among the rocks and islands.

Creativity runs the show, from balcony to shared gardens. In the city you’re the adventurous pioneer, not the victim.

This idea walks hand in hand with homesteading, but it cranks up the focus on minimizing outside dependence. Like givin’ yourself superpowers in a world full of fast food and throwaway packaging from the grocery store shelves every week. Picture the taste of a sun warmed tomato from your own compost rich soil, or the warmth of a fire fed by wood you cut yourself. That’s takin’ control of your life, one skill at a time.

Every little win builds confidence. Before long you’ve got a lifestyle that feels downright heroic. Not ’cause you do everything, but ’cause you do what matters to ya.

A way of growin’ without synthetic fertilizer or chemical pesticides. A natural part of both polyculture, permaculture, and homesteading. Organic growin’ is a bit like bein’ a detective in your own garden. Instead of chemicals, you use nature’s own tricks to keep plants healthy and strong.

It’s hide and seek with pests and weeds, where your wits and creativity spell victory. Marigolds draw in good bugs, nettles turn into liquid feed, compost brings the soil back to life, and suddenly the whole system’s workin’ for ya.

Tips for choosin’ the right plants

Match ’em to shade, soil type, and climate – not all plants do well in the half shade under a big tree.

Start with 3–5 plants and add more once you see what works.

Avoid plants that are too invasive (like comfrey if it is not the bocking variety 14 or mint) if you don’t wanna find ’em everywhere.

Whether you’re growin’ in a backyard, on a balcony or out in the country. Organic is the glue that holds your self‑sufficiency dream together.

Starting my own self‑sufficiency journey was daunting at first, especially when the day came that I had to face all the ups and downs on my own. But the rewards have been incredible. From learning how to can my own veggies to setting up and making my own beeswax products, each step has empowered me to live more sustainably. It’s a lifestyle change I wish I’d embraced sooner!