written by Meg McGowan of Permacoach
Food forests are often thought of as the best possible example of permaculture in action. Instead of growing annual plants in raised beds or plots with loads of external inputs, a food forest can provide abundance with much less time and effort and no inputs at all, once it is established. The permaculture principle, “obtain a yield”, reminds us that the energy we invest in our systems needs to provide a net return. It would be hard to think of any system that does this better than a well designed food forest.
Also known as “forest gardens” or “polyculture systems”, a food forest can provide many yields beyond food:
- sequestering carbon to help mitigate climate change
- cooling the local environment
- reducing the impact of flooding and runoff
- building rich topsoil
- providing habitat for other living creatures
- remove the need for irrigation and save water
- eliminate mowing and fossil fuel use
- reduce maintenance once established
- providing people with a place for rest and connection
- expanding the variety of microclimates and niches available and thereby increasing plant choices
Having said that, they also have the potential to produce impressive amounts of food because they are designed in three dimensions, with layers of food being grown at different levels.
These systems are a great example of the permaculture principles, “cooperate with nature” and “use and value natural resources”. They use the same pattern observed in local forests to create abundance and beauty. Here’s an example:
There are now many different versions of the food forest pattern, but this one, from Temperate Climate Permaculture is one of the most comprehensive. It acknowledges the importance of a mycelial/fungal layer and an aquatic/wetland layer and does not specify that all plants should be fruit bearing (as some others do). Fruit does have a place in a forest garden but nut species are also worth considering, along with plants that will help to fix nitrogen, provide forage for animals, provide leaves and roots for human consumption and provide fuel and fibre. It is also possible to create food forests that do not provide food for humans, and that focus instead on the many other benefits of this pattern, particularly climate mitigation and wildlife habitat.
Many people assume that these systems need to be the same height as local forests, but the pattern is scaleable. If you have the room then your food forest might be a literal forest, but it might only be as tall as your head, or your hip if space is limited. What will be apparent, regardless of the scale, are the same layers that can be observed in natural forests.
As with all things in permaculture, food forests are designed from pattern to detail, so the forest pattern and the pattern of the local climate, weather, aspect, soil and landform will all be considered in the design. Food forests often incorporate swales on contour to catch, slow, sink and store water and may be arranged in rows, or in glades with pleasant clearings for people to enjoy.
It is not just the elements within a food forest that matter, but the complex symbiotic relationships between them, many of which we still don’t understand. Food forests are a reminder that much of nature is cooperative rather than competitive, with the “waste” of one thing becoming the food of another. Plants are grouped together to compliment each other and to take advantage of niches and microclimates.
While it is possible to design your own food forest from scratch, this is one area of permaculture where the use of a qualified permaculture designer is definitely worth considering. Getting the spacing and the aspect right in a food forest is critical to success. There can be a lot of expensive losses if they are not done properly, along with the accompanying heartbreak. A good designer will also be able to advise you on designing a food forest that helps to reduce your fire risk rather than increase it, by using fire retardant plants and fire breaks planted with species like banana and fig.
If you do decide to start your own remember to place your tallest plants to the southern edge and far enough apart to let some sunlight through to the other layers. Consider growing some short-lived leguminous trees to help fix nitrogen and provide mulch during the early years. These can be removed and used as your canopy becomes established.
Food forests are very energy intensive during their first few years, with lots of time, effort and materials needed to create them, but once established they require only harvesting and gentle pruning to keep them happy. In this way they are vastly superior to traditional gardens and lawns, and require much less maintenance. Also, you get a forest!
Permaculture Central Coast’s Edible Garden Trail is a great opportunity to visit local food forests and to learn what works well locally.
(Meg McGowan 2023)
Where to see Food Forests on the Trail
We have a range of Food Forests you can visit at this year’s Central Coast Edible Garden Trail – the photos we’ve included show the ALAN Foods 18 month old Food Forest which was established during a PCC Permablitz – so much fun! The Permablitz team recently returned to do some maintenance and you can see the incredible growth it has experienced!
A few other places to see Food Forests on the Trail are:
- ALAN Foods – 18 month old food forest beside market garden, Jilliby
- Synergy Permaculture Patch – educational permaculture garden on acreage, Holgate
- Kariong Eco Garden – small scale food forest surrounding raised garden beds, Kariong
- Firescreek Botanical Winery – set on 2.5 acres and featuring 20 year old food forest, Holgate
- Ukuzala – 5 year old food forest established on grass, Killcare Heights
- Narara Eco Village – Indigenous foods bush tucker food forest, Narara
- Weeping Willow Farm – 4 year old Food Forest on acreage established on dry barren soil, Palmdale
- Michael and Barbara’s – 4 year old Food Forest on a steep south facing block, Saratoga
- Woy Woy Peninsula Community Garden – 13 year old food forest in a community garden, Woy Woy
- Falcon Farm – zones 1-4 on a small suburban block, Narara
FURTHER READING
Edible Forest Gardens by David Jacke with Eric Toensmeier. A two volume book for the real enthusiast!
Creating A Forest Garden: Working with nature to grow edible crops by Martin Crawford.
How to Make a Forest Garden by Patrick Whitefield
Forest Gardening by Robert A De J Hart
West Coast Food Forestry by Rain Tenaqiya
Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier
ONLINE INFORMATION
https://www.sgaonline.org.au/backyard-food-forest-gardening-using-ecological-principles
https://www.regenerativedesigns.com.au/blog/7/3/2015/food-forest-gardening
https://goodlifepermaculture.com.au/edible-forest-gardening-food-forests