Plant an Edible Forest Garden

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A kill mulch has been laid down around these kaki persimmon trees.
A kill mulch has been laid down around these kaki persimmon trees.
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The author’s recently planted forest garden, still in the early stages of growth.
The author’s recently planted forest garden, still in the early stages of growth.
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A year later, several ground-level plants have been added around the trees.
A year later, several ground-level plants have been added around the trees.
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One way to start a forest garden is to thin out weedy trees in a wooded area and put in more plants with edible crops, such as nut trees.
One way to start a forest garden is to thin out weedy trees in a wooded area and put in more plants with edible crops, such as nut trees.
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Comfrey grows well in the shade and helps build the soil.
Comfrey grows well in the shade and helps build the soil.
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Why fight nature? If you have a wet spot, choose wetland plants.
Why fight nature? If you have a wet spot, choose wetland plants.
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A forest garden in profile: the tree, shrub and ground plant layers.
A forest garden in profile: the tree, shrub and ground plant layers.
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This design includes space for a forest garden, as well as raised beds for growing vegetables.
This design includes space for a forest garden, as well as raised beds for growing vegetables.
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Logs that Harvey uses to grow edible mushrooms, one delicious forest garden crop.
Logs that Harvey uses to grow edible mushrooms, one delicious forest garden crop.
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One possible plan for a forest garden. Plants are placed where they can get the necessary amount of sun.
One possible plan for a forest garden. Plants are placed where they can get the necessary amount of sun.
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This design includes space for a forest garden, as well as raised beds for growing vegetables.
This design includes space for a forest garden, as well as raised beds for growing vegetables.

Make your garden more productive, plant an edible forest garden by learning how to mimic a natural forest in your landscape.

Plant an Edible Forest Garden

Are you feeling adventurous? Do you want to delve deeper into gardening? Even better, are you thinking of planting an orchard? If so, consider starting a forest garden. With a little planning, you can grow a productive forest garden, full of plants that work together in imitation of a natural forest.

I’m convinced that imitating natural systems is fundamental to any successful effort to raise food. The idea behind forest gardening is that natural forests produce an abundance of food. People the world over have harvested food from the forest, reaping where they did not sow. Forest gardeners imitate the forest’s natural structure to take advantage of this abundance, but they increase yields even further through careful planning and management. The result is a productive fusion of garden, orchard and woodland.

I’ve been exploring the idea of forest gardening for several years, and have recently begun to try it on my own homestead. But before looking at my forest gardening efforts, let’s consider in more detail how a forest garden works.

  • Published on Aug 1, 2007
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