Food forests are perennial systems that are full of diversity, with each element serving multiple purposes.
Parts of the system all provide one of seven major things, according to Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier, authors of Edible Forest Gardens.
- food
- fuel
- fiber
- fodder
- fertilizer
- “F”armaceuticals
- fun
Food forests doesn’t necessarily mean gardening in a forest, it means gardening like a forest. Using layers and stacking in space and time to optimize space, creating permanent systems that don’t require heavy human interference, building and protecting the soil, are just some of the reasons why food forests are so efficient. Just take a look at forest ecosystems- they are some of the most resilient and regenerative systems in the world.
There are typically 7 layers in a forest system, creating a staircase of useful variety.
- Rhizosphere. Root and shade tolerant crops.
- Groundcover. Low growing plants, logs, cover crops, and decaying debris
- Herbaceous. Vegetables, herbs, green plants without persistent woody stems
- Shrub. Small to medium sized woody plants such as berries
- Sub-Canopy. Shade tolerant dwarf trees and large shrubs
- Canopy. Fruit, nut, and timber trees
- Vertical. Plants that grow on the sides of trees and shrubs, like vines and runner beans
All of these layers combine into a network connected by their roots fungi, and exchange nutrients with each other. An established system will just keep on flourishing with little work required. Incorporating as many different species in this wild system allows a safe-bet that there will be multiple food harvests throughout the year, deters and confuses pests who can’t simply go from plant to plant attacking things, attracts beneficial insects with its color and smells, and conditions the land.