AND THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN (OASIS) IN THE EAST, IN EDEN (DELIGHT, LAND OF HAPPINESS); AND HE PUT THE MAN WHOM HE HAD FORMED (CREATED) THERE. AND [IN THAT GARDEN] THE LORD GOD CAUSED TO GROW FROM THE GROUND EVERY TREE THAT IS DESIRABLE AND PLEASING TO THE SIGHT AND GOOD (SUITABLE, PLEASANT) FOR FOOD.GENESIS 2:8-9

FOOD FOREST

What is a Food Forest?

The picture and Scripture above speaks volumes. The info below will help you learn more about the proven (tried & true) principles, practices, benefits, and solutions of a food forest.

For thousands of years our ancestors have successfully grown food forests all over the world. Give it a try so you can experience the abundant goodness that comes.

FOOD FOREST

Edible Forest, Forest Garden, Orchard Garden

A Food Forest (also called an edible forest, forest garden, orchard garden) is a healthy food growing method & ecological land practice that imitates and properly accelerates a natural abundant forest-like environment. Typical forest vegetation does not produce food; however a food forest is predominately made up of diverse trees and plants that do yield food - fruits, veggies, nuts, olives, legumes, seeds, herbs, spices and edible plants/flowers. Food forests also include medicinal, native, and ornamental/decorative (non-food producing) trees, plants & flowers. Incorporating pets, animals, and bees is common as well.

Food forests apply beyond-organic, beyond-sustainable, ecologically-friendly, regenerative, and permaculture systems by observing-learning-mimicking God & nature; and correctly accelerating nature's process (the functions/patterns found in nature). They are safe & healthy for people, animals, plants, food, and the environment (no chemical or synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, GMO's are used). Food forests embrace vital synergistic-symbiotic relationships among God, people, and nature. Optimizing these essential interconnected-interdependent relationships enables everyone & everything to thrive. It's all about uncompromising collaboration with God, people, and nature (for great success); rather than working against God, people, and nature (leading to inevitable failure). This calls for our intimate, intelligent and honorable participation.

Food forests create an abundance of diverse, nutritious and delicious food, vigorous plants & animals, healthy living soil, a flourishing biodiverse habitat, and an ecologically sound environment (all happening naturally on its own). They function at the highest level of food, land, ecosystem and environmental restoration/regeneration by greatly improving the nutrient, mineral, carbon, oxygen, sunlight, water, biology, and food cycles (accelerating/energizing these cycles). They use much less water, amendments, inputs, and maintenance than a lawn, traditional landscape, garden, orchard or farm. Issues with weeds, undesirable bugs/insects, and pathogens are minimal. Conditions to attract beneficial vegetation, bugs/insects, earthworms, birds, and microbes are ideal. Better and better results manifest over time (with less & less human intervention).

A food forest is a paradise-wonderland that inevitably becomes a favorite outdoor area (for leisure, recreation, exercise, cooking/baking, entertainment, gatherings, creative space, workspace) and a treasured marketplace (that's always open and filled with fresh, delicious, ripe, healthy food, herbs, spices, flowers, natural medicine). It's an education, demonstration, and therapeutic place (making use of activities, programs, workshops, events, rest, solitude). If you're an individual or organization that is interested in the wellbeing of yourself, others, nature & food, and you're looking for a great way to recharge and connect with God, your loved ones, community, nature & food; then growing a food forest is an excellent solution. It provides numerous peaceful, comforting, joyful, healing, healthy, creative, stimulating and rewarding experiences - for all types of people of all ages.

Don't let the word "forest" concern you because it's not about the size of a forest. This can be implemented in small areas (as little as 1/4 acre).

Food forests, just like real forests, are meant to be long-lasting. Since food forests mimic a natural forest ecosystem, it's important to realize they take time to plan, plant, grow, establish, and mature (patience is needed). A well thought out plan/design at the beginning is critical. Once a food forest is created, it takes 3-5 years to become established. Once established, a mature food forest is efficient, self-sufficient, and resilient.

View PDF Artwork & Image by Kelly Draws

UTILIZATION OF A FOOD FOREST

Food forests make use of some or all of the following.

Fruit trees, shrubs/bushes, vines
Nut trees, shrubs/bushes
Olive trees, shrubs/bushes
Vegetables
Legumes
Seeds
Herbs
Spices
Root crops
Grasses
Forbs
Edible plants & flowers
Medicinal plants & flowers
Perennial, Biennial, Self-Seeding Annual plants & flowers
Native trees, plants & flowers
Ornamental (decorative) trees, plants & flowers
Plants that are nitrogen-fixing, soil-improving, and nutrient-accumulating
Plants that attract pollinators (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds), beneficial bugs (ladybugs, praying mantis, spiders), beneficial wildlife (birds)
Plants that repel unwanted animals, bugs, insects
Companion planting (learn more)
Beekeeping (honey bees, mason bees, learn more)
Animals/Pets (cats, dogs, horses, poultry, sheep, goats, cattle, etc)
Soil health
Plant care

Artwork & Image by Corey Jameson

MULTI-LAYERS

Just like a natural forest, there are 7 different layers of a food forest.

Overstory/Canopy Tree Layer (large trees) - avocado, mango, cherry, mulberry, date, walnut, pecan, cashew, jacaranda, magnolia, silk, tipu, palm.
Understory Tree Layer (medium & small trees) - citrus, pomegranate, apple, pear, banana, peach, fig, olive, almond, pistachio, moringa, cassia, orchid.
Shrub/Bush Layer - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, elderberries, goji, goumi, buffaloberry, rosemary, lavender, gardenia.
Herbaceous Layer - vegetables, seeds, herbs, flowers, medicinal plants, perennials, biennials, self-seeding annuals.
Ground Cover/Soil Surface Layer - strawberries, mint, chamomile, grasses, forbs, seeds, legumes, perennials, biennials, flowers, compost, mulch, rocks.
Root Layer - garlic, onion, potato, beet, carrot, ginger, ginseng, peanut, mycorrhizal fungi.
Vine/Vertical Layer - grapes, kiwi, passion fruit, melons, malabar spinach, peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, jasmine, bougainvillea.

A vital feature of food forests is the ongoing presence of perennial plants, biennial plants, and self-seeding annual plants. The greater diversity of these specific plants growing on the land as long as possible, the better. They provide a cover for the soil; prevent soil erosion; build soil biology & fertility; help surface and cycle carbon dioxide, oxygen, sunlight, energy & nutrients; create habitat for beneficial species; suppress weeds; lower surface & air temperatures; sequester carbon & water; recharge soil, groundwater & aquifers and prevent water runoff & evaporation (water infiltrates into the soil); purify water; and provide healthy food for people and nature. The contribution of perennial, biennial, and self-seeding annual plants is essential.

Food forest layers fully utilize all growing spaces/niches in a similar way that a natural forest does. Growth extends in all directions (up, down, and out) with extensive layering from the overstory/understory tree layer to the ground, which allows for much more life in a single area. Because of all the different available habitats, there is a wide range of life. The more diverse the number of beneficial species that live in an ecosystem, the more enduring & vigorous it becomes. This profusion of life makes food forests healthy & efficient places.

The canopy of trees in a food forest create a sheltered and relatively stable environment - temperature fluctuations are less extreme, and there is less wind.

In natural forests (as well as food forests), things like pest-management, weed suppression, pollination, nitrogen-fixing, and fertilization are all happening naturally (with no human intervention), as are greater ecosystem functions like nutrient, mineral, carbon, oxygen, sunlight, water, biology, and food cycles.

Multiple layers help make this all possible. Each layer plays a unique role to benefit the collective whole.

MULTI-FUNCTIONS

Food forests integrate gardening, orcharding, farming, and land management practices together on the landscape; as opposed to separating each system out over the land. Fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, seeds, trees, plants, and flowers that usually grow in distinct/separate locations are now grown amongst each other within the food forest.

For example, suppose you plant a fruit or nut tree. On the shady side, you add some shade-tolerant berries, and on the sunny side you add some sun-loving berries. At the base of the sun-loving berries, you plant some perennial and annual vegetables and herbs. Then you plant climbers (peas), root crops (potatoes, garlic), edible ground covers (strawberries), plus nitrogen-fixing plants (lupines) to help fertilize and support the other plants. This system provides fruits, nuts, berries, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and more; all from the same area around a single fruit or nut tree.

Another example would be grazing chickens, ducks, guinea hens, and geese in the food forest. However, a barrier needs to be in place so they don't have access to the vegetables & herbs. These forager animals eat unwanted bugs, insects, vegetation, and rotten/fallen fruit & nuts while depositing nitrogen-rich fertilizer (manure) to enrich the soil. Their coop bedding can be used as fertilizer in the food forest. Plus the added benefit of eggs.

Food forests embrace the interconnected-interdependent relationships among people, animals, plants, land, soil, biology, and the rest of nature - for profound success.

MULTI-OPTIONS

Natural forests vary greatly, so it makes sense there are many different types of food forests as well. Each food forest is unique according to size, location, intentions, and preferences. They can be simple or elaborate systems.

Both individuals & organizations grow food forests: private houses, vacation homes-properties, homesteads, ranches, farms, orchards, vineyards, gardens, agrihoods, ecovillages, intentional-meaningful communities, private clubs-centers, land-nature conservation & reserves, land trusts, animal rescues-sanctuaries, indigenous-native lands, parks & recreation sites, agritourism & ecotourism destinations, health-wellness-fitness destinations, training & fitness centers-facilities, resorts-hotels, retreat centers, therapeutic & rehabilitative & wellness programs-centers, schools, colleges, universities, child & adult care centers, senior communities, military-veterans services, faith communities, and more.

There are numerous interesting and exciting variables to consider when creating a food forest.

Picture Your Food Forest As

Paradise/Wonderland - images on this site & elsewhere, scenic places in nature, and beautiful gardens/orchards will provide inspiration.
Favorite Outdoor Area - for leisure, recreation, exercise, cooking/baking, entertainment, gatherings, creative space, workspace.
Treasured Marketplace - that's always open and filled with fresh, delicious, ripe, healthy food, herbs, spices, flowers, natural medicine.
Education, Demonstration & Therapeutic Place - making use of activities, programs, workshops, events, rest, solitude.

Take Some Time To

Imagine what you & others will see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.
Contemplate the peace, comfort, joy, healing, health, activity, creativity, sufficiency, resiliency, and satisfaction that will take place.
Appreciate the profound interactions with God, people of all ages & types, animals/pets, plants, nature & food.

Your Mission, Vision, Goals

What is the reason for your food forest?
Additional Elements - What other outdoor elements would you like amongst your food forest (greenhouse, nursery, work/wash area, shed/garage/barn, animal housing/shelter/stables, patio/deck, gazebo/pergola/cabana, al fresco dining, kitchen, bbq, pizza/bread oven, fireplace/pit, pool/ponds/streams, water fountain, game/sports/fitness/wellness area, workspace, creative space, communal space, etc)?
Aesthetics - What type of environment would you like your food forest to be (refined/structured or rugged/wild)? Both can be incorporated.
Time Frame - When would you like to start your food forest? When would you like the installation to be completed?
Participation - Who will be participating in the creation/installation of your food forest?
Maintenance - Who will be maintaining your food forest after it has been installed?

Your Land

How much land will be exclusively used for your food forest? You can always scale up over time.
What type of landscape currently exists where your future food forest will grow (flat, hilly, grassland, woodland, savanah, desert, rocky, valley, mountain)? What are the contours of the landscape?
What is the quality/condition of the existing soil?
What is the climate like? Are there any micro-climates? What are the sunlight, shade, wind conditions?
Are there any climate & environmental hazards/risks (cold, heat, drought, flood, soil erosion, rain, sun, wind, fire, pollution/contaminants)?
Is there any existing irrigation and/or nearby access to water? If so, what kind (public, well, spring, stream, river, pond, lake)? Are there any rainwater harvesting methods in place (storage tanks, cisterns, ponds, trenches, swales)?
Are there any existing protective barriers on the landscape where your future food forest will grow? If so, what kind (fencing, walls, vegetation)?

Your Choices Of Foods, Herbs, Spices, Trees, Plants, Flowers (That Can Grow In Your Location)

What food do you love to eat and/or desire to grow (fruits, berries, veggies, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, edible plants & flowers)?
What medicinal plants?
What native & ornamental (decorative) trees, bushes/shrubs, plants, flowers, vines?
What aromatic trees, bushes/shrubs, plants, flowers, vines?

Animals

Animals/Pets - Do you currently have any? Do you plan on getting any? If so, what kind(s)?
Wildlife Management - What local wild animals are a nuisance?

TO SUMMARIZE

Food forests are nothing new. They have been proven to be successful for thousands of years all over the world. They are efficient, self-sufficient, and resilient. They utilize beyond-organic, beyond-sustainable, ecologically-friendly, regenerative, and permaculture methods (these coined terms/concepts are fairly new, however their practices are not). It simply involves observing-learning-imitating God & nature, and correctly accelerating nature's process. Food forests are safe & healthy for people, animals, plants, food, and the environment. They embrace vital synergistic-symbiotic relationships among God, people, and nature. Optimizing these essential interconnected-interdependent relationships enables everyone & everything to thrive. It's all about uncompromising collaboration with God, people, and nature to achieve excellent success.

Whether you're an individual or organization that is interested in the wellbeing of yourself, others, nature & food, and looking for a great way to recharge and connect with God, your loved ones, community, nature & food... grow a food forest. It's a paradise-wonderland that becomes a favorite outdoor area & marketplace; as well as an education, demonstration, and therapeutic place. It provides so many peaceful, comforting, joyful, healing, healthy, creative, stimulating and rewarding experiences for all types of people & ages.

A food forest endeavor certainly includes experiments, trials, failures, and patience. However, the exponential satisfaction and abundance will be evident for many years to come, as well as an invaluable legacy for future generations.

Have any questions? Feel free to reach out.