We are Growing a Food Forest in our Dallas Backyard
Enjoy the ride
Who We Are at Dallas Food Forest Project
Our Vision
Our vision at the Dallas Food Forest Project is to create a food jungle where we can harvest healthy and sustainable food right in our backyard. We believe that tasty food can heal the body, mind, and soul, and we are committed to making that a reality for our future.
My Blog
Esther's Bee Yard
Our Honey Bees
Our Honey Bees
Our Honey Bees
Our Honey
Our Honey Bees
Our Honey Bees
The Bee Keeper
Our Honey Bees
The Bee Keeper
Photos from our backyard
Delightful Photo Gallery of Our Activities and Visitors at Dallas Food Forest Project
Welcome to Dallas Food Forest Project
What We Do During the Wintertime.
Ordering truckloads of free mulch is not just a good first step, but a responsible act to protect the base of tree trunks and other plants from the few deep-freezing days we experience in our area.
Initiating a new set of seedlings is a pivotal part of our winter activities, laying the foundation for a successful and bountiful gardening season.
Sharing the joy of gardening, we cut figs and scions from other fruit tree varieties for exchange and sales, fostering a sense of community among like-minded individuals.
All this mulch attracts all sorts of rodents. Our cat and nightly visitors do their best, but we support them by setting out traps for rats and mice.
All the wood we collected late fall after the storm has nicely dried up and is being split during the cooler winter days.
The Bees.
The bees are in decent shape, strong, and provided with sugar patties. This is done as a backup; if the honey left for the bees is insufficient for the winter, the sugar patties are a lifesaver. They also help absorb moisture from the hive. During the first week of February 2025, the weather was mild, allowing me to inspect my hives. The bees were in perfect condition during my first inspection. Inspection involves carefully opening the hive, checking the frames, and observing the bees' behavior. It was a delight to see all my bees thriving. February 2025 was very mild, and I had a chance to inspect my hives. What a delight to see all my girls thriving.
Preparing all the hive equipment for the coming season is a significant task. It involves assembling new equipment, thorough cleaning, repairs, and treatments. Each step is crucial for the well-being of our bees.
African Spur Tortoise, our SULCATA Boy
Mr. Chesther, the tortoise with a unique sense of humor, was rescued from the Central Texas Tortoise Rescue in Pflugerville. When we first met him, he was 8 years old, 22 pounds, and bore the scars of a dog attack. Today, he has grown to 65 pounds and has a unique companion-one of our watering cans, which he has affectionately chosen as his 'girlfriend. '
His housing is located inside our large shed. Mr. Chesther's area is always heated, including floor heating and an insulated makeshift shelter we built for him. However, a new housing project is scheduled for this coming summer, and he will camp out primarily until late fall when temperatures fall below F60 again.
Our Chickens
Our Ladies; Goldie and Silvie, Yvonne and Louann, Elaine and Kamala, and last Irene. We found it funny to name them according to their characters and folks we know who seem to have similar character traits.
Our chickens follow a daily routine that keeps them healthy and happy. They're quite productive, laying an impressive average of 5 eggs daily. The chicken run, with its uncovered section by the creekside, provides them with plenty of space to scratch and dust bathe. Every night, about one and a half hours before nightfall, we have them scout the whole yard, and they seem to thoroughly enjoy this evening activity. We're also in the process of extending and reinforcing the chicken house to accommodate our growing flock.
Neighborhood Cat
"our" cat, we call him Newmann. Again, this name reminds us of a TV show character that fits the cat perfectly.
When we moved in, we noticed him hunting in our backyard. Newmann quickly realized how easily I am influenced by his 'schmusing' attitude. He has trained us well; he calls at the door, triggers the cameras until we notice, and hits a small cowbell hanging at the door if he wants to go out. His influence on our behavior not only amuses us but also brings us a lot of joy.
Special visitors.
Every day, like clockwork, we are treated to the spectacle of birdwatching in our backyard. It's a routine that never gets old: Chickadees, Wrens, Goldfinches, Pigeons, Red Bellied Woodpecker, White-bearded house finches, Red Finches, Cardinals, Titmouse, Blue Jais, Red Tail Hawks... so many. And then there are the chicky squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and the rare coyote, adding a touch of anticipation just around nightfall and throughout the night.
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