QUESTION : What is a food forest ? I heard it bring up on the radio , but it was the conclusion of the section and then I never calculate out what it actually was . – Jenna F
GARDENING CHANNEL answer : A food forest is a garden that mirrors nature . It in the main lie of perennial plants to keep off disrupting the grime as annual commonly do .
As with a forest , a nutrient forest has multiple layers . Let ’s discuss each layer and what it may consist of :
1. Overstory
The overstory layer is the top layer of this fashion of garden . It ’s where improbable plant life dwell and pick up the most sun . This story mainly consists of full - sizing tree such as yield or fruitcake Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
2. Understory
The understory is the second layer of the solid food wood . These plants will receive only fond sun . The best plants for this layer of the garden are dwarf varieties of yield and en trees .
3. Shrub Layer
The bush level receive partial sun at best . However , with the taller trees out of the way of life , there ’s now room for bushier works . This story is a not bad fit for fruit - produce Dubyuh .
4. Herbaceous Layer
The herbaceous layer is where smaller herb and perennial vegetables can grow . ripe selection for this layer are repeated herb , rhubarb , and asparagus . sprawl crops that are considered groundcover would also influence at this level as well .
5. Root Layer
As the name suggest , this is the country of the food for thought forest where root crop boom . You could incorporate potatoes , carrot , parsnips , beetroot , and most other antecedent crops into this layer of the nutrient forest .
6. Vine Layer
The vine level is a great spot for climb crops that also do well in shaded areas . Some of the most common crops used for this layer are grapes and runner beans . You may also consider adding vining bloom to this layer for lend beauty .
7. Mushroom Layer
The final layer of the nutrient forest is themushroomlayer . This is where you’re able to develop a motley of mushrooms .
Benefits to Food Forests
Now that you understand what a solid food forest is and its different layers , you may wonder why people garden in this way . What are the benefits ?
There have been legion horticulture methods present to the public over the last few decades that mimic nature . The reasonableness being is because we make love that nature works and requires minimal try . So if you ’re trying to grow a low - criminal maintenance garden , why not simulate the system surrounding you and see if you may maturate things you love without break away your back for them .
This is where a food forest comes into maneuver . The design of a food forest takes precaution of deal pests as the layers provide protection .
Due to the works going through their natural aliveness round in the same grunge and vector decomposition take up place , the plants receive fertilization naturally . Also , due to the unlike layer of this style of garden it helps repress locoweed and helps the filth restrain moisture . This all come about naturally due to the layering outgrowth .
Plus , all of these plants can acquire in a small country without contend with each other as each plant get what it needs from its surroundings due to the layering physical process .
last , if you ’re concerned in growing a intellectual nourishment forest and you have a wooded area nearby , do n’t find like you have to start all of this from scratch .
you’re able to begin grow edible plant in a wooded orbit and see how this process works for your gardening goals .
Hopefully , you now have a better idea of what a solid food wood is and what plants may work well in this eccentric of garden .
You may also understand the benefits of this type of garden . If you ’re looking for a garden with a little less sustainment and something that mimics nature , a nutrient forest could be for you .
Learn More About Food Forests
https://www.fgcu.edu/cas/communityimpact/foodforest/
https://extension.umn.edu/agroforestry/planting-community-food-forest
https://www.umass.edu/stockbridge/alc-food-forest-garden
https://projectfoodforest.org/what-is-a-food-forest/
