When Jim Gale was 19, his college wrestling coach asked everyone to write down their goals. Jim wrote down his goals based on what he’d learned from Dennis Waitley in his book, “The Psychology of Winning: Ten Qualities of a Total Winner.”
Jim wanted to be a three-time All-American wrestler and a national champion. Jim had experienced the feeling of living with those goals. He knew he’d achieve them. Four years later, he was a four-time All-American wrestler and a national champion inducted into the hall of fame.
After college, Jim traveled the world, spending the entire time writing and researching what was possible for his future. Jim decided he wanted to retire in three years. He went to work for a mortgage company at 100% commission. He jumped from company to company. But something was missing.
So Jim started his own company and did $1.3 billion in gross revenue in 3.5 years. He got sick of the industry and bought a boat. After indulging in a year of oceanic bliss aboard his boat, Jim’s path led him to Costa Rica, where he discovered permaculture and realized its potential to revolutionize our lives.
Bill Mollison, one of the founders of permaculture, said “Though the problems of our world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.” Jim became obsessed with asking the question, “How do we change the world? How do we help the world learn to use their resources wisely?”
With a vision to bring permaculture to every household on the planet, Jim founded Food Forest Abundance. They empower individuals to create their own self-sustaining ecosystems through innovative techniques and a commitment to education. Food Forest Abundance is redefining the way we grow and consume food. Listen in for some great takeaways about creating and living a sustainable life by design.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…
- Learn more about Jim Gale and Food Forest Abundance [3:54]
- What is a Food Forest? [11:31]
- Why grow a food forest instead of a traditional garden [12:33]
- How a food forest would be different in Minnesota versus Florida [15:39]
- Check out our book, “Financial Planning Made Personal” [18:05]
- How would the adoption of permaculture change modern farming? [18:50]
- Why Jim and his wife created Galt’s Landing in Florida [21:50]
- How Jim seeks to inspire more people to consider off-grid living [24:52]
- How meditation has transformed Jim’s life? [25:56]
- How can you begin to make an impact? [28:48]
- What Jim did today that brought him joy [33:06]
What is a food forest?
A food forest is simply a landscape that produces food, usually consisting of perennial plants. Deforestation is due to agriculture. Mass extinction is due to poisons used in the farming process. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. are due to what we consume.
Jim emphasizes that if we could transition even just half of the 47 million acres of lawn around the United States and grow fruit trees, berry bushes, and other perennial plants, it will reverse all of the negative trends in our world and food will be everywhere.
How is a food forest different from a garden? Gardens are made up of annual crops. A food forest should be made up of 99% perennials i.e. plants that continue to return year after year. It’s a landscape that takes very little maintenance and provides for life at scale. It’s a free energy system.
How would the adoption of permaculture change modern farming?
There are approximately 890 million acres of farmland in the United States. Everything we’ve been taught about growing food is wrong. When you plant the right types of foods, birds, wind, rain, and animals will spread the seeds and naturally grow food forests.
You simply need to follow a process that’s spelled out for you. When you follow the principles of permaculture, you’re designing a community of plants that support each other. Some are nitrogen fixers. Some attract beneficial insects. Humans need to rebuild soil, not deplete it. Soil is a living system.
However, the modern farming practices and pesticides that are widely used are destroying the balance of our ecosystem.
Why Jim and his wife created Galt’s Landing in Florida
When Jim was in Costa Rica, he started building what he calls “Edible landscapes.” Seven years ago, he and his wife moved back to the United States to create a demonstration site to show everyone what it could look like. When people come to Galt’s landing and they see it, it’s life-changing. For the first time, they can feel how it’s different.
How can you scale this? You can work with someone who will help you design and implement your own food forest. This can lead to exponential growth.
Can off-grid living be luxurious? Jim is demonstrating a life of pure joy. You can walk outside and feel it. They have alternative energy systems like solar power. They’re building beautiful houses. You can experience what it’s like to be completely off-grid, living in luxury and abundance.
How can you begin to make an impact? Watch, “Creating Abundance in Your Backyard.” If it inspires you, connect with Jim and he can help you create a food forest. Or, you can spend time on YouTube, get the answers you need, and do it yourself.
Resources & People Mentioned
- Check out our book, “Financial Planning Made Personal”
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- Watch: Creating Abundance in Your Backyard
- Galt’s Landing Farm
Connect with Jim Gale
Bio
Jim Gale is the Founder and Chief Storyteller of Food Forest Abundance. As an international permaculture advocate, entrepreneur, and CEO, Jim has dedicated his life to transforming the way we interact with our environment, cultivating a sustainable future for all.
Fueled by faith and courage, Jim has honed his ability to manifest success through the practice of inspired visioning and meditation. At a young age of 29, he set an audacious goal to retire in three years and surpassed expectations by creating a billion-dollar mortgage company. After indulging in a year of oceanic bliss aboard his boat, Jim’s path led him to Costa Rica, where he discovered permaculture and realized its potential to revolutionize our lives.
With a vision to bring permaculture to every household on the planet, Jim founded Food Forest Abundance. This groundbreaking enterprise empowers individuals to create their own self-sustaining ecosystems, harnessing the abundant power of nature. Through innovative techniques and a commitment to education, Food Forest Abundance is redefining the way we grow and consume food, eliminating the need for harmful chemicals and backbreaking maintenance.
As testament to his unwavering dedication, Jim and his wife Andrea oversee the awe-inspiring Galt’s Landing—an off-grid resort spanning 52 acres of ecological brilliance. Nestled in the heart of St. Cloud, FL, this enchanting oasis boasts thousands of square feet of flourishing food forest, nurturing over 200 different species of delectable food. Complete with a private 430-acre lake, Galt’s Landing offers overnight stays, immersive tours, a flourishing nursery, and educational experiences that will leave you inspired to embark on your own sustainable journey.
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