Episode Details

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.

 In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists podcast, we dive into the world of food forests with Dr. Jason Crean, a biologist and animal nutrition expert. After moving to Florida, Dr. Crean transformed his suburban yard into a thriving "food oasis" to provide diverse, nutritious diets for his animals, including toucans and fruit doves, while reducing grocery costs.

 Dr. Crean shares how he optimized every bit of space, from raised beds to marginal areas, and cultivated a wide variety of plants—figs, bananas, papayas, berries, herbs, and native species like beautyberry—to support his animals and attract more wildlife. He offers practical tips for creating your own food forest, from choosing climate-appropriate plants to keeping maintenance low with careful planning and flexible watering.

Whether you're a nature lover, an aspiring gardener, or just looking for unique ways to invite wildlife to your yard, this episode will inspire you to start your own food forest journey!

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