Resources

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For those who seek support in establishing and/or improving their woodland forest garden, the following are national and local resources Loovis has used and is happy to recommend.

Food forest consultation and design services

• Lincoln Smith, Forested LLC

Precision tree removal and pruning

• Mark Collins, Pure Tree Care

Carpentry and other skilled projects

• Luke Bowling, Bowling Precision Contracting

Mulch moving, custom signs, and other unskilled and skilled projects 

• Gerald Jones, Grizzleys Handyman Services

Deer fence installation

• Matthew Arnsberger, Piedmont Environmental Landscaping and Design

 Indoor seed starting station

• Grow lights and stand: LED Stack-n-Grow Lights - 2-Tier System designed by GSC and purchased through Gardener’s Supply Company 
• Seed starting supplies: Growease Seed Starter Kit 24-cell purchased from Gardener’s Supply Company

Outdoor micro greenhouse

• Cold frame: 3-Season Plant Protection Tent, 4' x 8' designed by GSC and purchased through Gardener’s Supply Company 
• Grow bags: Reinforced Colorful Grow Bags 12x11 (black) (12 fit nicely under the cold frame on the deck for year-round, accessible and moveable herbs and vegetables) 
• Plant caddy: Plastic Black Plant Caddy (14.5 inch) by Mainstays purchased through Walmart (12 units, one for under each grow bag)

Chicken coop  

• Coop: Eglu Cube® - Large Chicken Coop with 9 foot Run and accoutrement (3 foot perch, clear tarps, run handles, pendant peck toy, and caddi treat holder) purchased from Omlet. 
• Chickens: Buff Orpington, Speckled Sussex, and Easter Egger chicks purchased from Little Birdie Hatchery along with pine bedding. Chick housing container, brooder (heat plate), feeder, and water dispenser purchased from Amazon as referred through Oak Abode (instructional video).

Compost system

• Outdoor bin: “Compost Knox” rodent-proof model designed by Urban Farm Plans; three-bin plan modified to one bin and built by a friend
• Indoor bin: Stainless steel kitchen countertop compost bin and 1.2 gallon compostable bags to line bin 

Outdoor living rooms

• Furniture: Adirondack chairs, benches, tables, swings purchased through Polywood and other durable poly lumber furniture providers. 
• Hammocks: Weather resistant, 55 inch wide two-person hammocks w/ spreader bar purchased from Bliss and other related companies on Amazon. Extra long hammock tree straps with heavy duty loops and carabiners from MalloMe and other providers through Amazon. 
• Fire pits: Retaining wall blocks (fire resistant pavers), steel black fire ring (nice not necessary), sand (for a level base), and lava rock (for attractiveness) purchased from Lowe’s. 

Plant trellises

• Simple T-Post Trellis: T-Posts (7 feet tall) purchased from Tractor Supply Company (spray painted black for aesthetics) and driven into ground with T Post Driver with Handle (14LB heavy duty fence post driver) purchased from Gray Bunny Store on Amazon. Attached the galvanized welded wire fence (five foot tall, 60 inch) purchased from YARDGUARD on Amazon to the T-Posts with black zip ties (video inspiration).  

Plants

• Plant purchases: In addition to the big box stores, Loovis has purchased many plants from several local locations, including the NC Botanical Garden Spring and Fall plant sales, Camellia Forest Nursery, Southern States, and Piedmont Feed and Garden Center, as well as from Big Bloomers in Sanford, NC and Edible Landscaping in Afton, VA (which is about 30 minutes from Charlottesville and three hours from Chapel Hill, NC) as well as from various online specialty dealers.
• Plant labels: Metal Plant Labels (Weatherproof, large, zinc, 11.5" height, 3 1/2 x 1 1/4" label area) by GardenMate purchased through Amazon and Permanent Paint Marking Pen from Gardener’s Supply. 
• Plant information: NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state, and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Together, they offer a plant database, called the “North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox,” which contains detailed descriptions and photographs of nearly 5,000 plants that grow in and around North Carolina. This is a superb resource for purchasing the right plant for the right place. 

Material delivery

• ChipDrop (wood chips)
• Orange County Government (class “A” compost)
• Brockwell’s (mulch, rock)
• Mellot’s (chapel hill gravel and granite rock)

Ground maintenance

• Power tools: Ego 56-volt ARC lithium battery-powered tools, including leaf blower, pole saw, chain saw, string trimmer, and hedger, which are available at Lowe’s.  
• Wheelbarrow: Gorilla Cart, which is a well-engineered four-wheel cart available at the big box stores. 

Plant maintenance 

• Planting: Power Planter earth augers (various sizes especially 7 inch) and DEWALT 60V Cordless Drill For Concrete Mixing (E-Clutch System) all purchased as referred by Garden Answer (instructional video). 
• Fertilizers: Espoma Organic Fertilizers (tone family of fertilizers) and single ingredients (blood meal) available at nearly every garden center. 
• Pruning: Fiskars line of sheers, loppers, and sharpeners available at most garden centers. 

Weed management

• Weed solution: Mix vinegar (1 gallon), plain salt (1 cup+), and dish soap (1 tablespoon) into a pump sprayer and spray on weeds thoroughly coating during a sunny day with no rain in the forecast. Only spray on driveways and paths, not in garden beds or you could ruin your soil for future plantings (instructional video)
• Weed prevention: “Sheet mulching” strategy. Lay cardboard (pallet sheets collected from Costco) over weeds and top with 3-5 inches of mulch, which prevents weeds for an entire season (instructional video).