Food forest
It is a self-sufficient and biodiverse edible oasis!
A food forest is a diverse, multi-layered and self-sufficient edible ecosystem built on the principles of permaculture. It imitates the structure and functioning mechanisms of a natural forest, providing crops in spring, summer and autumn. Unlike a conventional garden, a well-balanced food forest does not require constant digging, fertilization or chemical plant protection - the stability and integrity of the system is ensured through biodiversity.
Food forest have 7 vertical layers. The food plot is deliberately designed in layers to make maximum use of the surface area and sunlight both below and above ground:
A food forest is a diverse, multi-layered and self-sufficient edible ecosystem built on the principles of permaculture. It imitates the structure and functioning mechanisms of a natural forest, providing crops in spring, summer and autumn. Unlike a conventional garden, a well-balanced food forest does not require constant digging, fertilization or chemical plant protection - the stability and integrity of the system is ensured through biodiversity.
Food forest have 7 vertical layers. The food plot is deliberately designed in layers to make maximum use of the surface area and sunlight both below and above ground:
- High tree front: large fruit trees (e.g. walnut trees, chestnuts, strong apple and pear trees).
- Low tree front: smaller fruit trees and rootstocks (e.g. plums, cherries, rowanberries).
- Shrub front: berry bushes (e.g. currants, gooseberries, edible honeysuckle, sea buckthorn).
- Herbaceous front: perennial edible plants, herbs and medicinal herbs (e.g. rhubarb, horseradish).
- Ground cover front: ground covers and low plants (e.g. summer squash, clover) that protect the soil from drying out and erosion.
- Underground front: root vegetables, tubers and bulbs (e.g. Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, perennial onions). Climbing and twining plant front: vertically growing plants (e.g. mini-kiwis, vines, hops).
- Minimal maintenance: a well-established system operates in the rhythm of nature itself and requires significantly less human intervention than a conventional vegetable garden.
- Healthy and living soil: a no-dig approach and constant circulation of organic material nourish soil microbiology, earthworms and beneficial fungi.
- Climate resilience: a diverse community is significantly better able to withstand drought, torrential rains and pest outbreaks.
- Food security and abundant harvests: fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables and medicinal herbs can be harvested from one area.