John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ visits Stillwell Farms, a 5-acre homestead outside Jacksonville, Florida, run by one determined woman and her family—who turned empty grassland into a thriving food forest using permaculture principles. In this episode, you'll get a complete tour of this Florida zone 9A farm and discover the unique ways Rachel grows food without irrigation, builds up the soil with native plants and mulch, and cultivates tropical perennials most people have never heard of—let alone seen in grocery stores. You’ll learn the differences between various planting methods, including grocery store row gardening versus permaculture-style circles. Discover crops that thrive in Florida’s heat and humidity, like cassava, katuk, longevity spinach, tropical roselle, and edible-leaf hibiscus—all grown naturally with minimal inputs. John will walk you through the entire farm—spotlighting plants, fruit trees, soil techniques, and animal helpers including ducks, geese, pigs, a miniature cow, and even rabbits—all treated as family, not livestock. You'll also hear directly from Rachel Stillwell in an extended interview where she shares: * Why she started this farm for her family’s health * What crops succeed best in her climate * How she gets her young kids involved in gardening * How she sneaks nutrient-dense homegrown food into family meals * And her vision to educate others and grow a stronger community through food This episode is packed with inspiration, practical tips, and real talk from a mother on a mission to grow a better world—starting in her backyard. Whether you’re in zone 9A or dreaming of your own homestead, this is one episode you don't want to miss! Jump to the Following Parts of this Episode 00:00 Let’s go inside this inspiring Florida homestead 00:15 Stilwell Farms turns 5 empty acres into a thriving permaculture hub 01:00 What it’s like gardening in Jacksonville Florida’s zone 9A 02:29 Katuk might be the best edible leafy green you’ve never grown 03:20 She focuses on crops that thrive here but aren’t found in stores 04:16 Why circular permaculture beds are her go-to growing method 05:43 Why the “grocery store aisle” style of gardening didn’t work for her 07:54 This entire farm grows without irrigation – here’s how 08:19 Bringing native plants back to attract pollinators and beneficial insects 10:04 The stunning and rare white roselle you have to see to believe 11:37 These pods are like okra but better tasting and more tender 12:30 Every animal here is a pet, not livestock – and that changes everything 15:49 Meet Rachel Stillwell, the woman behind the transformation 16:01 Why Rachel decided to farm and how health shaped her journey 17:04 Her unique mix of gardening styles including hydro, beds, and food forests 18:54 The summer crops that truly thrive in zone 9A conditions 19:37 What she grows in Florida’s short but productive winters 20:11 The best fruit trees for zone 9A that actually produce reliably 23:20 Why she planted so much Mexican sunflower and lets it grow tall 25:40 How Rachel gets her kids involved with plants and farm life naturally 27:44 Ways any parent can get their kids excited about gardening 31:59 How she uses her garden harvests in family meals creatively 32:43 Making full meals out of garden food instead of just side ingredients 34:10 How she encourages her kids to eat unusual homegrown foods 37:26 Her future vision for teaching others and sharing her journey Related Episodes Heart Village- My favorite Demonstration Garden in Florida https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS52v267Oig Underrated Central Florida Gardener that Grows Rare Crops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1I6YZHyvlI Amazing Example of Growing Food at Home in South Florida https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf2vwpycYSo Urban Abundance South Florida https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qoZnk1qQsQ Subscribe to GROWINGYOURGREENS for more videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=growingyourgreens Follow John on Instagram: http://instagram.com/growingyourgreens Watch all my videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/growingyourgreens/videos Buy My Ebook with Garden Fresh Recipes for Better Health http://www.payhip.com/gyg Watch Stillwell Farm on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StillwellFarmSchoolhouse Follow Stillwell Farm on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stillwellfarmschoolhouse/ Stillwell Farm Facebook https://www.facebook.com/urbanabundancefl/