November Guild Challenge

Food ForestFlorida GardeningGuildsMonthly Challenge
Written By Donald Richardson

Designed for Ocala, Florida planting zone 9 but with a little more research in weather and climate conditions these guilds can be adapted to other areas. Always research what works best in your area. 

Each month I will be putting out a new challenge. This challenge is very helpful if you are working with a small budget or want to add to an existing permaculture layout.

Build at least one perennial-first guild this month 

November keeps the fall momentum in Central Florida: soil is still warm, nights are cooler, and roots establish fast with low stress. Pick at least one of the three guild “recipes” below that fits your site’s sun, drainage, and wind. Arrange by layers and you’re set. 

 

Legend 

  • Florida Native / Florida-Friendly 

  • P = Perennial A = Annual (cool-season where relevant) 

  • N-fixer = adds nitrogen DA = dynamic accumulator 

  • Orientation assumes top = cold/wind side (often N/NW) 

 

Quick Site-Reading 

  • Sun: Full (>6h), Part (3–6h), Dappled. 

  • Moisture/Drainage: Free-draining vs heavy; add organic matter, use DA roots (e.g., daikon) to fracture compacted spots. 

  • Wind/Frost: Put evergreens on the windward/cold side; avoid low frost pockets. 

  • Soil Reaction: For acid lovers, create an acid island when needed. 

  • Access/Wildlife: Leave harvest paths; guard tender starts if critters are active. 

 Guild Recipe A (Full sun): Persimmon Anchor Ring 

Best fit: Full sun, average soil; tough and forgiving. 
Circle: 10–12 ft diameter. 
Anchor (P, Florida Native option available): Persimmon — American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana, Native) or Asian types like ‘Fuyu’ (Florida-Friendly). 

Arrangement 

  • Wind filter (P, Native): Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) just north/NW of the persimmon. 

  • Shrubs (P, Native): Beautyberry on east & west arcs (~4 ft from trunk). 

  • Herbs (P): Society garlic (edge clumps) + Oregano (south arc). 

  • Groundcover (A in FL): Strawberries (short-day) spaced 12–18" through the ring. 

  • N-fixers (A): Crimson/white clover broadcast into mulch; a few fava bean pockets on the sunny side. 

  • DA (A): Daikon between shrubs. 

Persimmon Anchor Ring Full sun • 10–12 ft circle • Perennial-first with cool-season helpers Persimmon Wax myrtle (screen) Beautyberry Beautyberry Oregano Oregano Society garlic Strawberries Strawberries Clover (broadcast) Fava beans (pockets) Daikon (DA) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Wind screen on N/NW; shrubs on E/W arcs ~4 ft from trunk. Aromatic herbs in the sunny south arc. Fill gaps with berries. Broadcast clover; tuck fava/daikon pockets in sunny spaces. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Groundcover (A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Persimmon shoping list HERE

Plant List:

  • Wax myrtle — wind buffer, wildlife habitat (P, Native). 

  • Beautyberry — pollinators/birds, light dapple (P, Native). 

  • Clover/Fava (N-fixer) — nitrogen & nectar (A). 

  • Daikon (DA) — bio-tillage (A). 

Native-only swap ideas: 

• Persimmon (anchor already native: Diospyros virginiana) 

Wind / screen (P): 

  • Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) 

  • Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) 

  • Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) 

Shrub/pollinator layer (P): 

  • Firebush (Hamelia patens) – Zone 9a hardy in most winters 

  • Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) 

“Herb”/aromatic layer (P/A): 

  • Wild yarrow (Achillea millefolium, FL ecotypes) 

  • Blue curls / scarlet calamint (Calamintha coccinea) 

Groundcover (P): 

  • Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) – tough living mulch 

N-fixers (A/P): 

  • Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata, warm-season annual) 

Dynamic-accumulator (A): 

  • Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) – deep taproot 

  • American wild carrot (Daucus pusillus) 

 Guild Recipe B (Full sun, well-drained): Fig Anchor Ring 

Best fit: Full sun, free-draining soil; avoid soggy lows. 
Circle: ~10 ft. 
Anchor (P, Florida-Friendly): Fig (Ficus carica — ‘Brown Turkey’, ‘Celeste’ are reliable). 

Arrangement 

  • Wind filter (P, Native): Yaupon holly or Simpson’s stopper on N/NW. 

  • Shrubs (P, Native): Beautyberry or Firebush (edge for pollinators). 

  • Herbs (P): Oregano + Sage in sunny south arc. 

  • Ground layer (A): Nasturtium (trap aphids) + Strawberries as living mulch. 

  • N-fixer (A): Clover broadcast now. 

Fig Anchor Ring Full sun • ~10 ft circle • Aromatic herb matrix + cool-season mulch Fig Yaupon holly (screen) Beautyberry Firebush Oregano Sage Nasturtium Strawberries Clover (broadcast) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Put evergreens on N/NW to blunt cold wind. Keep fig in full sun. Use oregano/sage in the warm south arc. Fill gaps with annuals. Broadcast clover now for winter N and spring soil cover. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Groundcover (A) N-fixer (A)

Download the Fig shopping list HERE

Plant List:

  • Yaupon/Stopper — wind filter, wildlife (P, Native). 

  • Clover — N and nectar (A). 

Native-only swap ideas: 

• Fig → Native-only anchor alternatives 

Choose one native anchor and keep the same ring layout. 

Anchor options (P): 

  • Red mulberry (Morus rubra) – sweet fruit, part-shade tolerant 

  • Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) – early blossoms, small tree 

  • Flatwoods plum (Prunus umbellata) – compact, good wildlife value 

Wind / screen (P): 

  • Yaupon holly, Wax myrtle, Simpson’s stopper 

Shrub/pollinator layer (P): 

Aromatics / “herbs” (P/A): 

  • Wild yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 

Groundcover (P): 

  • Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) 

N-fixers (A/P): 

  • Partridge pea (warm-season) 

DA (A): 

  • Evening primrose, American wild carrot 

Guild Recipe C (Full sun, wind-tolerant): Pineapple Guava Pocket 

Best fit: Full sun, free-draining; tolerates wind and light salt. 
Circle: ~10–12 ft. 
Anchor (P, Florida-Friendly): Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana). 

Arrangement 

  • Wind filter (P, Native): Yaupon holly hedgelet just north/NW. 

  • Herb matrix (P): Thyme + Society garlic in the south arc. 

  • Ground layer (A→spring chop): Clover mix broadcast now; Borage or Nasturtium near dripline for pollinators/trap crop. 

  • DA (A): Daikon in any compacted wedges. 

Pineapple Guava Pocket Full sun • Free-draining • Wind-tolerant evergreen anchor Pineapple guava Yaupon holly (screen) Thyme cluster Society garlic Clover (broadcast) Borage/Nasturtium Daikon (DA pockets) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Wind-tolerant anchor; add yaupon hedgelet on N/NW. Place thyme/society garlic in sunny south arc. Broadcast clover; add borage/nasturtium near dripline; daikon where tight. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Ground layer (A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Pineapple Guava shopping list HERE

Plant List: 

  • Yaupon — evergreen wind filter (P, Native). 

  • Thyme/Society garlic — aromatic matrix (P). 

Native-only swap ideas: 

• Pineapple Guava → Native-only anchor alternatives 

Pick one evergreen/semi-evergreen native that carries edible/useful yield. 

Anchor options (P): 

  • Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) – edible berries, fragrant, evergreen 

  • Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) – leaves for caffeinated tea 

  • Southern red mulberry (Morus rubra) – not evergreen but productive and native 

Wind / screen (P): 

  • If your anchor isn’t already a screen, use Yaupon holly or Wax myrtle on the N/NW side. 

Herb / aromatic matrix (P/A): 

  • Blue curls / scarlet calamint (Calamintha coccinea) 

Ground layer (P): 

  • Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) as living mulch 

N-fixers (A/P): 

  • Partridge pea (warm-season) 

DA (A): 

  • Evening primrose, American wild carrot 

Why November works (Zone 9) 

  • Warm soil / cool nights keep root growth high and stress low. 

  • Cool-season allies (clovers, fava, nasturtium, borage, strawberries) establish now and supercharge spring. 

  • Woody success window continues: evergreen screens and fruiting anchors settle in before winter. 

 

Weekend Challenge 

  1. Choose one guild that matches your sun + wind + drainage. 

  1. Stage a mulch ring, set pots to confirm spacing, then plant anchor → shrubs → herbs. 

  1. Broadcast clover into mulch gaps; rake lightly. 

  1. Add fava/daikon pockets where soil feels tight. 

  1. Keep frost cloth handy for early snaps; stake if windy. 

  1. Snap before/after photos and note first frost date. 

 

Budget tiers 

  • Starter: Anchor + one layer (e.g., persimmon + wax myrtle). 

  • Plus: Anchor + shrubs + herb matrix. 

  • Deluxe: Full stack with groundcovers, N-fixers, and DA roots. 

 

What to observe this month 

  • Pollinator activity on herbs/flowers. 

  • Clover/fava germination and fill. 

  • Any wind scorch—adjust windward shrub placement if needed. 

  • First frost date & microclimate notes (low spots vs near walls). 

 

Notes 

  • Layouts are templates—shift arcs/rings to match your sun and access. 

  • Evergreens go on the windward/cold side; aromatic herbs on the sunny side. 

  • Annuals are optional; the perennial anchor/shrubs are the backbone. 

 

In Florida, the prevailing wind direction for most of the year is generally from the east to the west. 

Spring (March–May) 

  • Prevailing wind direction: East/Southeast 

  • Influenced by Atlantic breezes, bringing warm, moist air inland. 

Summer (June–August) 

  • Prevailing wind direction: East/Southeast 

  • Dominated by sea breezes and tropical moisture from the Atlantic. 

Fall (September–November) 

  • Prevailing wind direction: Northeast/East 

  • Winds begin shifting as cold fronts occasionally push through. 

Winter (December–February) 

  • Prevailing wind direction: Northwest/North 

  • Driven by continental cold fronts bringing cooler, drier air 

Donald Richardson
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October Guild Challenge