With rising global temperatures and climate change, gardeners and homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to make their gardens more sustainable. From drought-tolerant planting to focusing on organic methods, there are many ways we can all do our part.
But what about food forests, or forest gardens as they are also called? Briefly described as mixed plantings of primarily edible trees, shrubs and plants that mimic a natural forest and its ecosystems, food forests aim to be not only productive but also sustainable and also increase biodiversity.
From forest gardening ideas to creating a food forest and the reasons behind it, we discuss the benefits and core principles of this eco-friendly concept and why I expect it to become increasingly popular among home gardeners.
Food forests – a sustainable way to grow
In a fast-paced world, time-poor gardeners are often looking for labor-saving ways to maintain their gardens while doing their part to combat climate change.
Installing irrigation systems and low-maintenance planting are two great ways to achieve this. But what if there was another way to grow it?
Read on to learn how food forests aim to mimic the natural world and deliver healthy, delicious produce with minimal intervention.
What is a food forest?
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A food forest or forest garden is essentially a system of growing sedimentary plants in different layers, modeled after a forest, rather than rows of monoculture plants. Forest gardens are generally based on seven specific layers that replicate a natural forest structure from canopy to ground. They include trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, ground covers, climbers and root crops.
However, some food forests also include an eighth layer for fungal growth, in addition to any existing fungi already present in the soil, and a ninth layer for an aquatic or wetland layer.
The layers of a food forest
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One advantage of food forests is that they don't just focus on lateral space, but also incorporate vertical gardening, meaning even the smallest spaces can prove productive.
Tall tree or canopy layer
The highest level in the food forest, which consists of fruit and nut trees such as chestnut trees (Castanets) and apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus) standards about 30 feet tall or more when fully grown. The canopy layer provides shade and shelter for the plants below and provides habitat for birds.
Sub-roof layer
The subcanopy beneath the canopy typically consists of smaller fruit and nut trees, 10 to 25 feet tall, growing on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks. These often include almonds (Prunus), mediators (Mespilus German), mulberries (Girl) and nectarines (Prunus persica our. nectarine).
Shrub layer
The shrub history is often very productive and usually includes blueberries (Vaccination), raspberries (Rubus idaeus), hazelnuts (Corylus), along with other nitrogen-fixing shrubs such as the Siberian pea bush (Caragana arborchescens), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and alder (Alnus sp.)
Herbaceous layer
Unlike the woody shrubs and trees that make up the layers above, the plants in the herbaceous layer generally die back in the winter and regrow the following spring. Often consists of perennials such as asparagus (asparagus officinalis), Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) and rhubarb (Rhubarbarum) and self-seeding annual vegetables such as chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cyclical), kale (Brassica oleracea our. Acephala) and even tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The herb layer may also contain herbs and medicinal plants such as chamomile (Chamaemelum noble), chives ( Allium schoenoprasum) and mint (Mentha).
Ground cover layer
The ground cover layer grows lower than the herbaceous layer and helps suppress weeds. It consists of plants that like to spread over any bare ground and don't mind a little shade. Examples of plants that could thrive in the soil cover include nasturtiums (Tropaeolum) with their edible flowers and leaves and strawberries (Fragrance).
Underground layer
The subsoil or root crop layer often intersects with the herbaceous layer and is generally used to grow crops such as garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Leek (Garlic), onions (garlic bulb) and dahlias (dahlia).
climbing layer
Vertical gardening in a food forest provides even more room for productivity. Crops typically grown in this layer include climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), kiwis (Actinidia) and grapes (Vitis).
The benefits of food forests
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Food forests are designed to not only be productive but also to benefit nature. They offer many attractive benefits, especially in the face of climate change.
First, food forests are intended to be sustainable in the long term because they consist primarily of perennial plants that return year after year. This means that you can save not only the time and labor of transplanting each season, but also the cost of replacing plants annually. Additionally, by growing mostly perennials, you save water because you don't have to water new plantings regularly every season.
An additional benefit of creating a food forest is that you are also creating a habitat that is home to diverse wildlife. For example, the trees, flowers and food will help support and attract birds, pollinators and even small mammals.
Additionally, what's particularly interesting for those of us with less time on our hands than we'd like is that food forests are generally low-maintenance. For example, minimal weeding is required because the topsoil tends not to leave bare areas of ground for weeds to germinate and establish themselves. Once established, the forest garden is self-sufficient and requires little to no irrigation.
However, for your food forest to continue to function well, some maintenance pruning and mulching is required to retain moisture and improve soil health.
In the community, food forests provide space for learning and social interaction and, like a wellness garden, can also provide opportunities to improve well-being.
How to incorporate a food forest into your garden
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Before you start planting some trees, it is important to understand your site, its location and the type of soil in which you will be growing. This is because the fruit and nut trees that normally form the sub-canopy layer prefer to grow in full sun, and if planted in too much shade they will struggle to produce impressive yields.
Additionally, if your garden soil is shallow, large trees will have a difficult time developing deep roots and may stop thriving or become unstable.
The pH of your soil is also important because if it is highly acidic, the range of plants and trees you can grow successfully will be limited. If you are at all unsure, you can dig a hole to assess the soil depth and test the soil pH across the site using a pH meter like this Garden Tutor Soil pH Test Kit from Amazon.
Once the site is assessed, you can start planning what you want to grow. Start with a variety of large trees and shrubs. You should ensure that they are spaced correctly, that they do not grow too large for the area, and that fruit-bearing varieties are cross-compatible with others for pollination. You can then move on to planning the lower layers around the trees and shrubs.
It doesn't matter if you don't have a free field that you can turn into a food forest, because a food forest can also be created on a small scale. Even a small backyard can provide enough space to create a layer or two of small trees and perennials from which to enjoy the harvest.
If space is further limited, you can simply add as many layers as you have room for. For patio or balcony cultivation, you can grow plants in containers or pots like this OYEAL raised bed available on Amazon. If height allows, you can create vertical elements by installing a trellis or DIY bamboo wigwam for climbing plants.
In addition to food forests, gardeners continue to make their front and back yards more livable and embrace sustainable gardening practices. Composting garden and household waste, harvesting rainwater and encouraging wildlife in your garden are all ways that can help reduce waste and resources and promote biodiversity.
However, if you have the space, you may also want to consider keyhole gardening, especially if you live in an area prone to drought or are gardening in poor soil. With a built-in central composting area, it irrigates the surrounding grow bed and releases nutrients upon irrigation, reducing the need for fertilizers and conserving water.