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How to Plan a Forest Garden in Zone 3B (A 5-Year Update)

A view down a grassy path in a lush garden, surrounded by large shrubs and flowers with a forested hill in the background.

When I first envisioned building a forest garden on our property, I pictured a space that could mostly care for itself—fruit trees, berries, herbs, and medicinal plants all layered together like a natural ecosystem. And while that vision has come to life in many ways, I’m now several years in, and it’s time to take a closer look at what’s working… and what needs to change.

What is Sun Jam? A Simple Guide to No-Cook Berry Preserving

A collage of three photos showing ways to enjoy homemade sun jam. The images feature a glass jar of red jam, a crepe topped with dark berry jam, and a scoop of ice cream with jam swirled on top.

Every summer, just as the fireweed starts painting the roadsides in shades of pink, I gather a basket and head out for one of my favourite preserving projects. If you’ve got a handful of fresh fruit and a sunny windowsill, you have everything you need to make beautiful, naturally thickened fruit preserves. I call it …