From Bare Acres to Bountiful Harvest: Lessons from a Florida Food Forest

Here at Rogue Scapers, we’re always chasing that vision: turning inhospitable land into a source of abundance. It's the modern-day Garden of Eden, reimagined for the desert Southwest and beyond. We’re inspired by folks like Geoff Lawton and Sepp Holzer, building on the foundations laid by Jack Spirko and Toby Hemenway—and that inspiration often comes from seeing what’s possible in unexpected places.

That’s why we were so excited to see John from Growing Your Greens’ recent visit to Stillwell Farms in Florida. This isn’t your typical suburban garden; it's a full-fledged permaculture food forest, built on a foundation of ingenuity and a dedication to family health.

Rachel Stillwell and her family took 5 acres of former grassland and, in just six years, transformed it into a thriving ecosystem. This isn’t about manicured lawns and perfectly aligned rows; it’s about creating a self-sustaining system that feeds both body and soul. It's a living testament to the power of permaculture principles—a concept we at Rogue Scapers wholeheartedly embrace, especially when integrated with our Aqua Scaping practices.

What struck us most wasn't just the sheer variety of crops—cassava, katuk, tropical roselle, longevity spinach—but the *way* Rachel approaches her farm. She's not just growing food; she's cultivating a relationship with the land and her family. She’s using techniques like circular permaculture beds to maximize space and nutrient cycling, and eschewing traditional irrigation in favor of soil-building methods and native plants. It’s a masterclass in observation and adaptation.

The video highlights the challenges and triumphs of Zone 9A gardening, and Rachel’s willingness to experiment – growing bananas, for example, which would be a bold move for many of us in similar climates. The emphasis on treating animals as family members, rather than livestock, is a powerful reminder that regenerative agriculture is about more than just the food we produce; it’s about the entire ecosystem we create.

For those of us working on projects like Green My Desert here in Carbon County, Utah, Stillwell Farms offers a tangible example of what’s possible. Building on GodWood Hugelkultur foundations, integrating Rogue Lumberjack-sourced timber, and incorporating Rogue Beekeeping pollinator support—these are the principles we live by. Think of it: a Bountiful (a Lehi 1 Nephi 17 reference!) food forest, thriving in a landscape previously deemed barren.

This approach resonates deeply with the spirit of Rogue Scaping: embracing ingenuity, fostering community, and creating resilient food systems. Whether you're a seasoned landscape architect or a budding Stripling Scaper, there’s something to learn from Rachel Stillwell’s journey. Consider this a call to action – to examine your own landscape, identify the opportunities for regeneration, and start building your own food forest, one circle, one Hugelkultur mound, one animal companion at a time.

The Mighty Scaper Kit and BYOK BYOStripe initiatives are all about empowering individuals to take control of their food systems, and Stillwell Farms is a shining example of what can be achieved with a little vision and a lot of hard work. Reach out to Davee for permaculture coaching and let's get scaping!