The start of a new year - time to reflect and to think of the future.
I started this website because I wanted more people to find out about forest gardening and its potential. Robert Hart's vision when he created his pioneering forest garden was the creation of 100,000 small forest gardens, creating a massive forest across a city. multiplied across the world. He demonstrated a way to create a productive, diverse, self-sustaining and low-maintenance garden modelled on natural forests in a temperate climate that could meet many human needs. It offered the hope of a new way of overcoming many of the modern world's problems - industrialised agriculture and its fossil fuel dependence, food security, reducing biodiversity, water shortage, water runoff and flooding, waste and environmental pollution, isolation from nature ... His book "Forest Gardening" was published in 1991 and since then his vision has inspired a great deal of work aimed at making it a reality. There are now a lot more resources available for people starting out. But it seems that, although there are people growing forest gardens around the country and the world, the idea doesn't seem to be spreading as fast as it should. To me the advantages seem so obvious that it got me thinking about the reasons why everyone isn't planting forest gardens and maybe some ways to overcome those obstacles. 1. The idea is still new. The challenge: We have some fixed ideas about what it means to grow food. There is a big interest in growing your own food at the moment, but to most people this means growing annual vegetables in their garden or on an allotment. Whilst agroforestry is a traditional concept in tropical climates, edible forest gardens in temperate climates are a new concept and the ideas are still spreading. Solution: There is more and more information becoming available now and more and more gardens maturing. People are interested in new ways of dealing with environmental problems and re-engaging with nature and are increasingly interested in these ideas. 2. Skills. The challenge: The thought of planning, planting, pruning and maintaining a forest garden seems too difficult. Solution: There are now training courses available to teach these skills. As more people follow the forest gardening approach these skills will be spread more widely and will become more available, as well valued more. 3. Proven yields. The challenge: Because the idea is still new, there aren't very many mature gardens and well documented yields from these type of gardens. The theory says that a forest ecosystem has a higher net primary production than a traditional agricultural monoculture, but it's another thing to say that that yield is useful. Solution: There are an increasing number of forest gardens that are becoming more mature and with time I believe we will see just how productive they can be. The diversity of yields is one of the unique aspects and advantages of this approach. As forest gardening becomes more popular we will learn how to make these systems even better and productive through more careful design and the availability of a wider range of plants. 3. Timescales. The challenge: The trees that make up the canopy of the forest garden can take many years to mature. People move house quite regularly, because they change job or because their family gets bigger and they need a larger house. Investing the time to develop a forest garden that I might have to abandon is probably the reason it took me so long to take the plunge and I'm sure that it applies to many people. Solution: Whilst the larger trees may take a long time to mature they start to produce yields within 2-3 years and this is quicker for smaller trees. Plants in the lower layers also start to produce more quickly; soft fruit bearing the following year and the herb layer becoming productive straight away. Watching the garden develop is also fascinating in the early stages. As forest gardens become more popular and awareness spreads a forest garden may well be a selling point when people do need to move house. Keeping good records of what is in the garden, its intention and the yields it provides might also help convince a new owner to keep it going rather than rip it all up. 4. Work required. The challenge: The effort required to start a forest garden has been described as significant and this may be seen as too big a hurdle to overcome. Solution: Planting a modest sized back garden is easily achievable over a few weekends. The trees can easily be planted in one or two days and the shrub and herb layers can be done periodically. Compared to the time taken to cut a lawn, trim hedges and weed a traditional garden the effort is small to establish a small forest garden. Most of the time is spent in planning. As the garden develops the amount of effort reduces considerably. This is one of the greatest advantages of this approach. The garden is modelled on a natural ecosystem with many diverse interacting parts in balance. This means less need to intervene and through careful design it can produce a myriad of food and other useful products. It is something that can be easily done in spare time at weekends and in summer evenings. It is something that many people can do straight away and blend into their lives, whilst still making a hugely positive impact. 5. Economics. The challenge: The cost of establishing the garden may seem high when compared against yields in early years. Solution: The cost is mainly in the purchase of trees and other plants. Fruit trees in the UK cost something like £15 (for an apple maiden) from a nursery. Some of the more unusual trees are a little more. I spent about £250-300 on trees and soft fruit in the first year setting up my garden. Buying entirely maiden trees would have reduced the cost a little more. That cost is pretty low compared to replacing fencing or paying for hard landscaping. As edible forest gardens become more common it will get easier to get plants by propogating them and swapping with friends and neighbours. As our skills develop more people will be comfortable grafting fruit trees and so the modest initial cost will come down further. Conversely, the cost of buying food produced by industrialised farming methods and transported by road, rail and shipping will increase as energy costs rise. This will make us appreciate the food we produce ourselves even more. We need to look into the future to anticipate these trends so that we can make that transition much gentler. 6. Scale. The challenge: When I describe what I am trying to do in my garden many people assume that it must be a huge space - a forest is a lot trees isn't it? Solution: This is really just a question of providing more information. Edible forest gardening isn't about creating a forest in your garden, it's about creating a system that is productive, self-sustaining and low-maintenance using natural forests as a model, part of a Permaculture approach. The size can vary enormously, from a system based around a single tree in a small space to something with ten's or hundred's of trees. Many of the benefits are related to the diversity of the system and this can be achieved in a small space. The other key element is the gardener, and in a smaller space more attention can be payed to the garden and the gardener can have a greater influence. In addition, gardens don't exist in isolation. As forest gardens become more widespread a forest garden may neighbour other similar gardens that provide larger ecosystems that attract a greater range of wildlife. We come back to Robert Hart's vision of a network of forest gardens encompassing a city and beyond. 7. Food tastes. The challenge: Our tastes in food have adapted to the foods that are cheaply available, including highly processed foods and cheap meat and dairy products. We have also got used to being able to obtain any fruit and vegetables at any time of the year. The products from a forest garden can be diverse and whilst they include fruits that we are familiar with they also favour the production of perennial foods that we aren't as familiar with. The solution: Much of the food we rely on now is the result of cheap energy and may become increasingly expensive as energy prices rise. This will encourage us to be more adventurous and to alter our tastes. A diverse diet can also provide a wider range of nutrients and a greater interest. Adapting to seasonal produce brings us closer to nature and adds interest too. Forest gardens do not have to entirely replace farming in providing all of our food, rather they can play a role in providing a wide range of foods that can reduce our impact on energy dependent systems as well as providing food security. As forest gardening matures we are likely to see the breeding of new varieties of plants and shrubs that can provide even greater diversity and a wider range of production times for a range of climates. 8. The "all or nothing" effect. The challenge: As people adapt their lifestyles and begin to take responsibility for the production of food and other needs on a local scale there is often a real desire to become completely self-sufficient. From my perspective this is great, but it isn't for everyone and in some ways is too narrow. Solution: In fact, we all live in communities that operate at many different scales. The beauty of forest gardening is that it provides a model by which we can have a massive impact on our environment and meet many of our needs, with a small amount of effort. It is part of the Permaculture philosophy of working with nature to meet our needs and developing a system that is truly sustainable. Because it can be achieved and maintained with such little effort we are free to remain as part of our wider communities, working and adding value in a diverse range of occupations and contributing to human progress. At the same time we can build a much more resilient future, restore the balance between consumption and production and knit ourselves back into the fabric of life. (I have copied this post to its own page today as it captures many key ideas about forest gardening and its potential - 17 Jan 2010)
1 Comment
28/9/2012 04:21:46 am
I think the things you covered through the post are quiet impressive, good job and great efforts. I found it very interesting and enjoyed reading all of it...keep it up, lovely job.
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AboutA blog following the development of a small edible forest garden in Salisbury, Wiltshire, first planted in winter 2008.
AuthorA forest gardening enthusiast with an interest in growing food sustainably, locally and with minimal effort. More blogsAnni's Perennial Veggies
Bangor Forest Garden Project Forest Garden Plants Fruit Forum Graham Burnett Have Some Pi Help Save Bees Il Giardino Foresta Maddy Harland Moulsecoomb Forest Garden Mortal Tree Oak House Permaculture Project Of Plums And Pignuts Otter Farm PermaculturePower PermieHomestead Plants for a Future Plant Trees, It's Self Defence Really Useful Gardens SelfSufficientish Southwoods Forest Gardens Sustainable Forest Garden Farm Project The Cultural Wilderness The Field The Unconventional Gardener Transition Culture Two Go Forest Gardening Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Food Champions Ynysmon's Blog Other links
Check out the resources page for lots more forest gardening websites, books and videos.
Details of my young forest garden are here and photos here. Produce 20161 Jan - 31 Mar
0.640kg Babington leek 0.417kg Cabbage 0.742kg Celeriac 0.005kg Coriander 0.343kg Daikon 0.003kg Fennel 0.091kg Garlic shoots 0.005kg Goji berry leaves 0.259kg Lettuce 0.002kg Mint 0.020kg Pak choi 0.233kg Parsley 2.100kg Potatoes 0.041kg Radish 0.006kg Red veined sorrel 2.069kg Rosemary 0.888kg Ruby chard 0.002kg Thyme 0.065kg Winter purslane 1 Apr - 30 Jun 0.008kg Alpine strawberries 0.555kg Babington leeks 0.003kg Basil 0.989kg Beetroot 1.987kg Celeriac 0.019kg Chillis 0.076kg Chives 0.466kg Cleavers 0.227kg Coriander 0.075kg Courgettes 0.034kg Fennel 0.045kg Garlic shoots 0.004kg Gooseberries 0.048kg Holly leaves 0.006kg Lemon balm 0.541kg Lettuce 0.005kg Lime leaves 0.012kg Mint 0.108kg Nettles 0.440kg Oca 0.295kg Parsley 0.003kg Radish 0.241kg Raspberries 2.570kg Rhubarb 0.052kg Rocket 0.001kg Rosemary 2.338kg Ruby chard 0.022kg Sage 0.099kg Spring onions 0.464kg Strawberries 0.001kg Sweet violet 0.064kg Wild garlic 0.001kg Winter purslane 1 Jul - 30 Sep 0.030kg Alpine strawberries 22.360kg Apples 0.003kg Basil 0.317kg Blackberries 0.706kg Blackcurrants 0.595kg Blueberries 0.085kg Chillis 0.002kg Chives 8.255kg Courgettes 0.003kg Fennel 0.205kg Gooseberries 2.674kg Hazelnuts 0.429kg Japanese wineberries 2.404kg Jostaberries 0.209kg Loganberries 0.025kg Mint 0.167kg Mulberries 0.006kg Nasturtium 0.004kg Parsley 4.068kg Pears 4.097kg Rapsberries 3.988kg Redcurrants 0.016kg Rocket 0.522kg Rosemary 0.026kg Spring onions 0.837kg Sweet cherries 0.234kg Tayberries 2.142kg Tomatoes 1.229kg Whitecurrants 1 Oct - 31 Dec 2.263kg Apples 0.317kg Chillis 2.697kg Courgettes 0.060kg Mashua 0.030kg Mint 0.250kg Oca 0.080kg Parsley 0.581kg Pears 1.360kg Potatoes 0.011kg Rocket 0.056kg Rosemary 0.050kg Sage 0.651kg Tomatoes Produce 20151 Jan - 31 Mar
0.187kg Babington's leek 0.031kg garlic shoots 0.005kg mint 0.560kg salad 1 Apr - 30 Jun 0.021kg alpine strawberries 2.074kg Babington's leeks 0.017kg basil 0.975kg blackcurrants 0.434kg cabbage 0.016kg chives 0.095kg coriander 0.009kg dill 0.156kg garlic shoots 0.443kg gooseberries 1.801kg kohlrabi 0.297kg lettuce 0.015kg lime leaves 0.035kg mint 0.033kg mustard leaves 0.231kg nettles 0.089kg onion 0.470kg oregano 0.013kg pak choi 0.013kg parsley 0.626kg peas 0.107kg peppermint 0.871kg purple sprouting broccoli 4.219kg raspberries 1.406kg red onion 0.048kg red-veined sorrel 1.751kg rhubarb 1.618kg ruby chard 0.324kg spring onion 1.157kg strawberries 0.577kg sweet cherries 0.242kg tayberried 0.001kg thyme 0.160kg wild garlic 0004kg winter purslane 1 Jul - 30 Sep 0.003kg alpine strawberries 0.002kg apple mint 37.964kg apples 0.033kg basil 0.753kg blackberries 7.207kg blackcurrants 2.441kg blueberries 0.073kg cabbage 0.039kg celeriac 0.019kg coriander 6.329kg courgettes 15.960kg cucumber 0.012kg dill 0.466kg french beans 0.312kg garlic 1.447kg gooseberries 12.822kg hazelnuts 0.967kg Japanese wineberries 2.390kg jostaberries 0.205kg lettuce 0.001kg lime basil 0.848kg loganberries 0.018kg mint 0.203kg mulberries 0.005kg oregano 0.041kg pak choi 0.004kg parsley 2.010kg pears 0.006kg peppermint 8.529kg raspberries 6.138kg redcurrants 0.005kg rocambole 2.198kg ruby chard 0.024kg sage 1.605kg sour cherries 0.191kg strawberries 0.843kg strawberries 0.651kg tayberries 0.001kg thyme 15.138kg tomatoes 0.977kg whitecurrants 1 Oct - 31 Dec 0.117kg chilli peppers 0.018kg coriander 0.022kg courgettes 6.716kg cucumbers 0.008kg dill 0.223kg french beans 0.115kg hazelnuts 0.025kg lettuce 0.002kg mint 0.065kg parsley 0.524kg pears 1.412kg ruby chard 0.072kg spring onion 6.489kg tomatoes Produce 2014
1 Jan - 31 Mar
0.308kg Babington leeks 0.034kg garlic shoots 0.001kg parsley 0.004kg red veined sorrel 0.011kg rosemary 0.025kg sage 0.016kg thyme 1 Apr - 30 Jun 0.010kg alpine strawberries 1.350kg Babington leeks 0.104kg blackcurrants 0.012kg chives 0.210kg garlic shoots 0.092kg gooseberries 0.006kg lemon balm 0.529kg loganberries 0.015kg oregano 0.006kg parsley 0.035kg peppermint 5.655kg raspberries 0.177kg redcurrants 0.051kg red veined sorrel 7.180kg rhubarb 0.120kg salad 0.006kg salad burnet 0.896kg strawberries 0.509kg tayberries 0.084kg wild garlic 1 Jul - 30 Sep 5.121kg apples 0.008kg alpine strawberries 0.857kg blackberries 1.190kg blackcurrants 0.904kg blueberries 1.840kg garlic 6.102kg hazelnuts 0.467kg Japanese wineberries 0.716kg loganberries 0.313kg mulberries 3.742kg pears 2.752kg raspberries 2.349kg redcurrants 0.054kg rocambole 0.050kg sage 1.655kg sour cherries 0.021kg sweet cherries 0.298kg tayberries 0.242kg whitecurrants 0.078kg worcesterberries 1 Oct - 31 Dec 0.113kg salad 0.382kg oca 0.200kg potatoes Produce 2013
1 Jan - 31 Mar
0.024kg garlic shoots 1 Apr - 30 Jun 0.326kg Babbington leeks 0.222kg blackcurrants 0.363kg garlic shoots 0.147kg gooseberries 0.002kg lemon balm 0.121kg lettuce 0.004kg lime leaves 0.058kg mizuna 0.121kg oregano 0.010kg pea shoots 0.015kg peppermint 0.223kg raspberries 0.020kg red veined sorrel 3.900kg rhubarb 0.400kg salad 0.005kg salad burnet 0.008kg shitake mushrooms 0.076kg strawberries 0.013kg thyme 0.136kg wild garlic 1 Jul - 30 Sep 0.101kg alpine strawberries 13.653kg apples 0.276kg blackberries 2.816kg blackcurrants 1.380kg blueberries 0.159kg broad beans 0.965kg courgettes 1.340kg garlic 1.808kg hazelnuts 0.118kg Japanese wineberries 0.493kg loganberries 0.008kg mulberries 4.368kg pears 0.036kg peppermint 1.143kg potatoes 0.063kg quince 9.226kg raspberries 0.699kg redcurrants 0.223kg rocambole 0.150kg salad 1.448kg sour cherries 0.064kg spearmint 0.660kg spring onions 0.863kg strawberries 1.622kg sweet cherries 0.156kg tayberries 0.721kg whitecurrants 0.010kg worcesterberries 1 Oct - 31 Dec 0.938kg pears 0.095kg quince 0.091kg oca 0.242kg mashua Produce 2012
1 Jan - 31 Mar
0.050kg fennel 0.009kg garlic shoots 0.030kg goji berries 0.050kg rocket 1 Apr - 30 Jun 0.004kg alpine strawberries 0.480kg cabbage 0.323kg garlic shoots 0.050kg lemon balm 0.002kg loganberries 0.050kg mint 0.402kg mushrooms 0.360kg potatoes 0.730kg raspberries 0.030kg red veined sorrel 0.130kg redcurrants 4.000kg rhubarb 0.540kg rocket 0.020kg sorrel 0.134kg strawberries 0.007kg tayberries 01 Jul - 30 Sep 0.020kg alpine strawberries 0.180kg apples 0.552kg blackberries 0.178kg blackcurrants 0.711kg blueberries 1.020kg garlic 0.201kg gooseberries 0.263kg hazelnuts 0.051kg Japanese wineberries 0.028kg loganberries 3.354kg pears 1.610kg potatoes 0.910kg raspberries 0.353kg redcurrants 0.063kg sour cherries 0.049kg strawberries 0.014kg tayberries 0.192kg whitecurrants 1 Oct - 31 Dec 7.690kg Jerusalem artichokes 0.211kg oca 0.010kg peppermint 0.820kg potatoes 0.010kg thyme Produce 2011
1 Jan - 20 Mar
Firewood Rosemary Sage Chives Salad burnet 21 Mar - 31 May 0.035kg chives 0.070kg lemon balm 0.005kg nasturtium leaves 0.017kg raspberries 4.060kg rhubarb 0.060kg rocket 0.020kg rosemary 0.280kg sage 0.070kg salad burnet 0.050kg sorrel 0.065kg spearmint 0.429kg strawberries 0.012kg sweet fennel 0.003kg tayberries 0.010kg thyme 1 Jun - 31 Aug 35.2kg 29 different crops: 0.030kg alpine strawberries 8.884kg apples 0.492kg beetroot 0.258kg blackberries 0.377kg blackcurrants 0.337kg blueberries 0.010kg chives 7.095kg courgettes 0.001kg fennel 0.946kg garlic 1.481kg hazelnuts 0.001kg Japanese wineberry 0.007kg lemon balm 0.005kg mashua leaves 0.004kg nasturtiums 0.100kg pears 0.005kg peppermint 11.920kg potatoes 1.130kg raspberries 0.262kg redcurrants 0.005kg rocket 0.064kg salad burnet 0.460kg sour cherries 0.024kg spearmint 0.558kg strawberries 0.311kg sweet cherries 0.086kg tayberries 0.087kg whitecurrants 1 Sep - 31 Dec 11.633kg apples 0.040kg aronia berries 1.299kg beetroot 0.036kg blackberries 2.472kg courgettes 0.034kg hazelnuts 6.205kg Jerusalem artichokes 4.250kg mashua 1.801kg pears 37.135kg potatoes 0.371kg raspberries 0.024kg strawberries 0.044kg whitecurrants Produce 2010
A record of produce from the garden in 2010. I expect this list to get much longer in later years.
1 Jan - 20 Mar 2010: Firewood - kindling and small logs for wood burner Herbs - rosemary Vegetables - 5 leeks Greens - Handfull of sorrel, salad burnet and dandelions. 21 Mar - 4 Jun 2010 3.600kg rhubarb 0.250kg sorrel rosemary salad burnet mint chives rocket a few strawberries 5 Jun -> 1.120kg garlic 1.063kg raspberries 3.430kg rhubarb 0.165kg strawberries 0.104kg sweet cherries 0.065kg tayberries 0.130kg gooseberries 0.029kg alpine strawberries 0.100kg loganberries 1.710kg sour cherries 0.486kg blackberries 0.039kg blackcurrants 0.220kg blueberries 3.264kg courgettes 0.240kg lettuce 8.375kg pears 3.820kg potatoes 9.300kg apples 0.076kg hazelnuts See archives from October 2009 below for last year's produce. Archives
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