Why start a food forest
We will show you step by step on how to create your own food forest, no matter how much land you have available.
Food security is a critical concern in human civilization, with the challenge of feeding a growing population being addressed by farmers, scientists, and policymakers daily. One solution to localized food security is the creation of food forests, which are diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems primarily made up of food-bearing plants. These human-designed systems mimic natural forests, requiring minimal intervention while promoting biodiversity and soil health.
Unlike traditional gardens, food forests emulate the vertical structure of forests with multiple layers:
Canopy: Large fruit and nut trees
Understory: Dwarf fruit trees, benefitial trees, legumes
Shrubs: e.g., blueberries or currants
Perennials: herbaceous plants
Soil surface: ground cover crops like creeping thyme
Soil/rhizosphere: root crops
Vertical layer: climbing vines.
The biodiversity in food forests naturally addresses many gardening and agricultural challenges, attracting beneficial insects for pest control and essential pollinators like bees and butterflies. These ecosystems also excel at carbon sequestration due to their plant diversity, mitigating climate change by reducing food transportation needs.
Moreover, food forests conserve water through deep-rooted trees retaining soil moisture, preventing erosion, and enhancing soil health.
Socially, they foster community engagement, education on sustainable practices, nutrition, and can serve as economic hubs by providing income opportunities for farmers through diverse crop production and ecotourism ventures.
Growing food in layers
Fruits
Berries
Vegetables
If you are interested in setting up your own food forest in your own back yard or in your community.
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