CFYM South KC
Her husband, Kevin and three children raise a garden and have a flock of chickens. Missouri Organic purchased and helped plant trees and berries to become a food forest. Krystle and Kevin fenced the area off from the family dogs and chickens. Alejandro Lozano of @qolconstruction completed the barrier fence to fully enclose the yard. Price is Right Tree Care removed three large trees in February ’23. Will Gibson of Down to Earth Services, Inc. designed the forest site that was planted in the spring of ’23.
To prepare for planting, we tarped the food forest and a prairie planting. Missouri Organic used our blower truck to apply mulch and compost to food forest site, garden pathways, beds and the lawn. Our biggest challenge at Krystle’s property was removing the invasive winter creeper and honeysuckle in the back yard and three large trees in the front yard.
Black plastic tarp on the site of the food forest. Having the tarp in place over the summer ensured that our spring ‘23 tree planting would have very little weed competition.
Preparing for Pollinators
This area along Krystle’s north fence was slated to be a pollinator/prairie planting from seed. It was lightly tilled and planted in November ‘23. Here’s a short video about this.
Removing invasive Winter creeper and Japanese Honeysuckle
"For me the biggest thing that made a difference was having support. We had no idea honeysuckle was invasive and to learn that it was and then have help to remove a majority of it was so amazing. We are super excited for our food forest and can’t wait to plant it." quote from Krystle
Krystle wanted a cold frame to start her garden plants. Stan researched the topic and built her a unit that utilized two salvaged window sashes Krystle had on site. Cold frames act like a buffer against cold in the spring and fall, extending both seasons. Check out the video
Food Forest
These trees don’t take much space now, so we’ve planted strawberries to use the sun for the next three years while the trees develop a canopy. Watch Farmer Dan Krull explain how to do this.
We also cut a swale along where the left side fence is back in April ‘23. Watch that video here
These big sections of the Elm trunks have been converted into a beehive space. We’ll put sticks inside to support the honeycomb and build a removable lid for each of these. Watch the Video
The bees didn’t find this log late last summer, but come swarming season in late April, this should be a popular spot.
Krystle wraps up her experience with Missouri Organic’s Climate Friendly Yard Makeover here. Behind her is the black plastic covering her pile of oyster mushroom logs.