Our Tropical Soil

Hello, I am Melanie! First of all, I am so glad you are interested in learning with me. Here I focus on sharing my experience as a homesteader in South Florida. I love growing food, cooking, and preserving the harvest. I am also a DIYer by nature that loves working with her hands. Ever since I can remember I have been drawn to making things from scratch, whether it is building furniture or baking bread.

As a homesteader I have many goals and projects. However, my main goal is to grow an abundance of food using organic and permaculture practices. I live in Miami, FL and growing conventional produce here can be a bit tricky. Our tropical climate is very unique when compared to the rest of the U.S. Many of the vegetables and fruits that grow well in other parts of the U.S. grow very poorly here in Florida. I focus on growing tropical fruit trees and perennial tropical vegetables. Then, I try to find annual vegetables that do well here. Most of the annuals I grow only do well during our winter months, but there are some that thrive in the summer heat.  

I want to make growing food simple so that it is more approachable. I would love to be able to drive down a suburban neighborhood and see edible landscapes instead of lawns. Front and backyards would be overflowing with an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Kitchens would be packed with the harvest and dinner tables would be laden with home cooked meals. This is what I strive towards and hope you will too.