The Garden - Turning Dallas Fort Worth into a Food Forest

Most of us dream of buying a piece of countryside land to create the farm of our dreams. But why wait? Start your journey back to the land right where you are. Building a sustainable urban garden is possible, step by step, and it’s never too late. With commitment, your urban space can flourish into a food forest within 5-10 years. Here is a comprehensive 12-month guide based on the principles from The Gardener’s Art of War to help you achieve just that.

This page is dedicated to helping us grow our own food. Pushing on these 12 Steps will result in a budding food forest within 5 years - 10 years within your region.

Start your journey back to the land right where you are!

It's step by step and never too late.
So let's get started!

We've made it easy through our Collections to find the tools and resources you need. A downloadable google and outlook calendar will be available on our LeafCycle Calendar soon.  Please share with us your growing and do stay in touch!

This calendar is part of:

Vision for 2025 - The Year of 1 Million

2024 November: The Nine Situations

• Planting 🌱: Collect and share seeds.

• Operational 🛠️: Prune dormant perennials.

• Sharing 🤝: Adopt a daycare or church on your block to seed vault. Daycare and schools are hungry for a seed projects and ripe for a Spring push.

• Growth Tip 🤔: Reflect on the gardening year.

• Seasonal Tip 🛠️: Clean and store tools.

2024 December: The Attack by Fire & The Use of Spies

• Planting 🌱: Plan new strategies.

• Operational 🛠️: Organize tools and supplies.

• Sharing 📚: Share gardening books.

• Growth Tip 🖥️: Use digital tools for mapping.

• Seasonal Tip 🌟: Review successes and lessons.

Vision for 2025 - The Year of 1 Million

2025 January: Laying Plans

Step 1: Strategize and Prepare

• Assess community needs and plot out shared garden spaces.
• Begin soil preparation and composting plans.
• Engage local volunteers to plan infrastructure and support.

 

• Planting 🌱: Start seeds for winter greens like kale and spinach indoors.

• Operational 🛠️: Test soil for nutrient levels and pH; start a compost system with kitchen scraps.

• Sharing 🤝: Distribute soil testing kits or host a composting workshop.

• Growth Tip 📒: Plan garden layout, including companion planting.

• Seasonal Tip ❄️: Use row covers and mulch for frost protection.

February: Waging War

Step 2: Prepare for the Challenges Ahead

• Identify potential threats such as weather variability and pests.
• Implement early pest prevention measures.
• Equip community members with organic pesticide options.

 

• Planting 🌱: Sow hardy crops (e.g., lettuce, broccoli) indoors.

• Operational 🛠️: Build cold frames or hoop houses.

• Sharing 🤝: Host a seed-swap event.

• Growth Tip ✂️: Clear old plant debris to avoid pests.

• Seasonal Tip 🌳: Prune fruit trees (e.g., figs, jujube).

March: Attack by Stratagem

Step 3: Tactics for Early Growth

• Begin planting cool-season crops with strategic spacing.
• Establish a rotation plan that ensures soil health.
• Foster collaboration through seed-sharing events.

 

• Planting 🌱: Transplant cool-season crops; sow carrots, beets, and radishes.

• Operational 🛠️: Fertilize and mulch.

• Sharing 🤝: Plan a community planting day.

• Growth Tip 💧: Set up rain barrels.

• Seasonal Tip 🐛: Inspect for early pest signs.

April: Tactical Dispositions

Step 4: Build Infrastructure

• Construct raised beds and irrigation systems for better garden management.
• Map out plots for optimal sun and water exposure.
• Engage local builders for community-focused garden structures.

 

• Planting 🌱: Plant tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.

• Operational 🛠️: Install drip irrigation.

• Sharing 🤝: Workshop on irrigation techniques.

• Growth Tip 📝: Keep a journal for planting dates.

• Seasonal Tip 🌬️: Ensure plant spacing for airflow.

May: Energy

Step 5: Harness the Power of Engagement

• Organize community gardening days to maintain momentum.
• Involve local schools and organizations in gardening workshops.
• Develop mental and physical strategies to sustain enthusiasm.

 

• Planting 🌼: Add marigolds and companion flowers.

• Operational 🛠️: Maintain and sharpen tools.

• Sharing 🤝: Share seedlings.

• Growth Tip 🥬: Harvest early crops (e.g., lettuce).

• Seasonal Tip 🌞: Mulch to conserve moisture.

June: Weak Points and Strong

Step 6: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses

• Assess the soil and crop conditions; adjust fertilization plans as needed.
• Hold training sessions on sustainable watering practices.
• Evaluate volunteer and resource contributions for areas of improvement.

 

• Planting 🌱: Plant heat-tolerant crops (e.g., okra).

• Operational 🛠️: Monitor soil moisture.

• Sharing 🤝: Create a garden buddy system.

• Growth Tip 🥕: Address nutrient deficiencies.

• Seasonal Tip 🌿: Trim for air circulation.

July: Maneuvering

Step 7: Adapt and Rotate

• Introduce crop rotation to maximize yield and maintain soil health.
• Implement adaptive planting techniques for weather changes.
• Diversify crops to meet the community’s nutritional needs.

 

• Planting 🎃: Plant fall crops (e.g., pumpkins).

• Operational 🛠️: Prune and maintain beds.

• Sharing 🤝: Host a garden party.

• Growth Tip 🌱: Shade delicate plants.

• Seasonal Tip 💧: Water early to prevent mildew.

August: Variation in Tactics

Step 8: Innovate and Experiment

• Experiment with new planting techniques like vertical gardening and hydroponics.
• Initiate workshops on companion planting for better pest control.
• Share success stories within the community to inspire creative approaches.

 

• Planting 🌱: Sow late-season crops.

• Operational 🛠️: Maintain pest control.

• Sharing 🤝: Donate surplus to food banks.

• Growth Tip 🌿: Start vertical gardening.

• Seasonal Tip 🍂: Reapply mulch.

September: The Army on the March

Step 9: Expand Your Reach

• Transport excess produce to farmers markets and local food drives.
• Set up pop-up farm stands to engage local residents.
• Build partnerships with local grocers for direct-to-market sales.

 

• Planting 🌱: Plant cover crops.

• Operational 🛠️: Preserve harvests.

• Sharing 🤝: Partner with local schools.

• Growth Tip 🌱: Plan next year’s layout.

• Seasonal Tip ♻️: Maintain compost systems.

October: Terrain

Step 10: Understand Your Environment

• Assess the changing landscape and adapt planting techniques accordingly.
• Conduct soil tests and adjust composting methods as the seasons shift.
• Plan for winter crops or cover crops to maintain soil vitality.

 

• Planting 🌱: Plant garlic and shallots.

• Operational 🛠️: Collect leaves for compost.

• Sharing 🤝: Organize a cleanup day.

• Growth Tip 🌱: Research plant varieties.

• Seasonal Tip ❄️: Protect from early frost.

November: The Nine Situations

Step 11: Sharing and Supporting

• Organize seed exchange events with local community centers and places of worship.
• Adopt a daycare or school garden for next season’s growth.
• Share knowledge and resources to inspire new participants to join.

 

• Planting 🌱: Collect and store seeds.

• Operational 🛠️: Prune dormant perennials.

• Sharing 🤝: Adopt a daycare for a seed project.

• Growth Tip 🤔: Reflect on the gardening year.

• Seasonal Tip 🛠️: Clean and store tools.

December: The Attack by Fire & The Use of Spies

Step 12: Embrace Technology and Reflect

• Utilize tech tools to monitor and analyze garden health over the year.
• Prepare winter maintenance plans, including flame weeding and soil solarization.
• Reflect on the year’s lessons and gather data to enhance next season’s growth.

 

• Planting 🌱: Plan new strategies.

• Operational 🛠️: Organize tools and supplies.

• Sharing 📚: Share gardening books.

• Growth Tip 🖥️: Use digital tools for mapping.

• Seasonal Tip 🌟: Review successes and lessons.

 

Call to Action

Visit Braga Farms’ website for expert resources and tools to support your gardening journey. Let’s grow and transform our urban spaces into thriving, sustainable food forests together.

The Gardeners Art of War is also an excellent next step and short read to build momentum and get growing. 

 

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Individually - Can't get started?

Give yourself and your family 5% more. Start small and keep growing. No place is too small.

• Kitchens - Beautifully green grow towers are now available with 50 plants grown in as little as 4' space. Year around.
• Spare Rooms & Garage - Aguaponics and Hydroponics kits are now available.
• Patio - Consider containers and hang bags if you're still feeling limited.
• Back yard
• Front yard
• Friends yard

Neighborly - We must share in the bounty.

Those ahead should also try to help and facilitate those getting started. It's NOT the green thumb that everyone's missing; it's the elbow-grease and the will to give and take more out of the day.

Communally - As we branch out, we'll find many who are truly in need. Both physically and spiritually. A community dedicated to their food security is better able to foster networks and the zeitgeist needed for a healthy society.

Cities - Activate the public.

Petition your local representatives for a Recreational Budget (some are in the hundreds of millions annually) that reflects the values and needs of the people. Many of us frequent dog parks and trails daily, why don't we have fruit and nut trees that we can all enjoy and benefit from?

At least once a month, communities should try to come together at City Hall. Imagine if even 5% of the residence of a city got together for a monthly event; what could that not stimulate locally?

 

Metroplex - Guerilla Planting.

We shouldn't need permission to cultivate wild orchards and fields.

Every metroplex should focus on what is easiest and most prolific to grow in their area. For example, DFW should focus on Peaches, Pecans, Figs, Jujjube, Blackberries, Mint, Herbs etc.

Still can't get started? Check out The Path to Grow - The Soul.