Welcome! I love hearing all about your journey! My husband and I are in our 6th month of a new homestead, and are starting it from the ground up, too. We have a small orchard on the property already that's been neglected for maybe 10 years? So I'm studying the art of keeping an orchard (a surprisingly complicated subject!!) but I'd love to hear more about what you plan to grow on the ground in your orchard. I had never thought to use this area for anything, but now it seems so obvious!