What if your backyard could feed your family? And not just with a couple of tomato plants, but with a thriving, abundant ecosystem designed to grow nutrient-dense food year after year, no chemicals, no constant upkeep, and no trips to the grocery store required.

In this episode, Susan sits down with Travis Holzelm, a Desert Storm Marine veteran turned Food Forest Designer, to talk about how transforming unused land into vibrant, sustainable food forests is not just possible, it’s essential for our health and the planet.

From battling chronic disease through better nutrition to lowering grocery bills and reconnecting with nature, Travis shares how you can turn your lawn, patio, or even a small plot of land into a living, breathing food system that supports your body and soul.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or someone who swears they have a black thumb, this conversation will leave you inspired to rethink what’s growing, or not growing, right outside your door.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• What a food forest actually is, and why it’s a game changer for health and sustainability
• How to design your own low-maintenance edible landscape using permaculture principles
• Why nutrient-dense food grown in your backyard beats anything you’ll find at the grocery store
• How growing your own food is like printing your own money (and how it helps combat food insecurity)
• How food forests help families reconnect with nature and teach kids life-changing skills
• Why those perfectly manicured green lawns might be doing more harm than good

It’s time to stop waiting for someone else to fix the food system, let’s take our health and our future into our own hands, starting right at home.

Learn More about Travis Holzem

Travis Holzem, a Desert Storm Marine veteran and single father of three, brings a unique blend of discipline, creativity, and passion to his work as the owner of Food Forest Design Minnesota. After a successful 25-year career in web design, SEO, and online marketing, Travis traded the digital world for the natural one, dedicating himself to revolutionizing local food production. He now empowers individuals, families, and communities to transform ordinary lawns and underutilized land into thriving, regenerative food forests. These low-maintenance ecosystems, built on permaculture principles, provide abundant, chemical-free yields year after year, enhancing biodiversity and soil health. Travis is making sustainable home food production a reality for anyone. He's not just designing landscapes; he's cultivating healthier lifestyles and building a more sustainable and equitable future, one food forest at a time.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Travis Holzem: Check out all of his links available on the website

https://foodforestdesignmn.com

Affiliate Signup

https://foodforestabundancemn.com/affiliate-signup/

foodforestdesignminnesota@gmail.com

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

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