John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com is back with a major 2-year progress update from his 3-acre tropical farm in Puerto Rico. In this episode, you’ll walk a brand-new trail through the forest, see how over 50+ fruits trees and edible crops were planted, and learn how he's designing a food forest intended to thrive with natural rainfall only—even though it’s still too early to know what will truly take root. This isn’t just another farm tour—this is a transparent look at what it really takes to build a regenerative food system in the tropics, one visit at a time. 🌴 What You’ll Experience in This Episode: 🌱 No Irrigation? Here's the Plan John shares his vision of growing food with only rain and soil moisture. While it's still unknown which crops will thrive under these conditions, he walks through the logic behind planting in shaded areas and the bets he’s placing on resilient varieties like cacao, coffee, and jackfruit. 🍓 Fruit Trees for $3?? how I bought a TON for $231 Get the full haul reveal: where he bought the trees, how much they cost, and which ones he picked—from cinnamon and soursop to malabar chestnut and ice cream bean. If you’re curious about planting on a budget, this segment is gold. 🌳 First Trail on the Property: Connecting the Land with Purpose Explore the trail hand-built through thick forest—named after the friend who helped shape it—and learn how it connects two properties while doubling as an edible corridor for future harvests. 🍃 “Tree Rooms” & Food Forest Structure Learn how John cleared specific zones around young trees to give them space to grow within the forest ecosystem. This thoughtful design may reduce competition and help trees transition with minimal input. 🥥 New Crops, Old Growth & Surprising Finds From wild taro patches and crumbling barn remains to experimental crops like passion fruit, cacao, and tamarind, John shares both the wins and the unknowns as he pushes the boundaries of low-maintenance, rain-fed farming. 🛠️ Why He Refused to Bulldoze Instead of flattening the land, John chose to work with the existing trees—respecting the natural ecosystem and adapting his design around it. He explains the long-term benefits and challenges of this slow, nature-first approach. 🌧 Dry Season Planting Strategy See how strategic planting in shaded, moisture-retaining areas may help trees survive Puerto Rico’s dry season without supplemental watering. Will it work? Only time will tell—but it’s all part of the experiment. Watch now and get a raw, unfiltered look at what it really takes to grow food in harmony with the land. Jump to the Following Parts of this Episode: 00:00 Kickoff: A New Chapter in My Puerto Rico Farm Journey 00:30 Cutting the First Trail Through the Jungle to My Land 01:25 Transforming the Forest Into a Living Food Forest – Here's How 02:15 Walking the Trail: See What 50+ Fruit Trees Look Like Planted Naturally 03:00 The “Tree Room” Method: How I Designed Space for Each Fruit Tree to Thrive 03:30 How I Bought 50+ Fruit Trees for Just $231 – Shocking Prices 07:13 These Amazing Fruit Trees Only Cost $5 Each – Full Haul Reveal 07:28 Big Mistake: Never Buy a Fruit Tree Like This One 08:30 Why I Planted Coffee Even Though I Don’t Drink It 09:16 Why I Refused to Bulldoze My Land (And What I Did Instead) 10:33 Am I Crazy? Planting Fruit Trees in Dense Shade Explained 12:27 Found Something Unexpected: An Old Collapsed Barn 13:04 My Thriving Taro Patch – Fully Grown With No Irrigation 13:37 Bele Explosion! See What 6 Months of Growth Looks Like 14:30 Massive Avocado Tree Finally Producing – First Harvest 14:40 Rental SUV Drama: Couldn’t Make It Back Up the Trail 15:08 Exciting House Update: Building Permits Are Finally Approved After watching this episode, you'll see firsthand how I’m building a food forest from the ground up, using low-cost seedlings, local wisdom, and nothing but rainwater and resilience. Whether you're dreaming of your own off-grid paradise or just curious about tropical farming, this tour is packed with insights, mistakes, and milestones you won’t want to miss. Subscribe to GROWINGYOURGREENS for more videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=growingyourgreens Referenced Episodes: My 3 Acre Farm Initial Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXbWtmN2eog 6 Month Update on my 3-acre tropical farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hln4dQGwaZM 11 Month Update on my 3-acre tropical farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTFWcnY28GA 17 Month Update on my 3 Acre Tropical farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0RcqtKFUdE Bele Tree Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OsHa9IgIE8 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