/r/forestgardening
Forest gardening is a low-maintenance sustainable plant-based food production system based on woodland ecosystems.
What is forest gardening?
Forest gardening is a low-maintenance sustainable plant-based food production system based on woodland ecosystems. Fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables are planted in a succession of layers, making use of companion planting and three-dimensional space.
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/r/forestgardening
Hello 👋
Several regenerative ag practitioners are looking for more peers to connect with.
We are a community of practice. We are professionals and hobbyists who regenerate soil and ecosystems, or support those who do through our work.
Unlike other online communities, our group is focused on forming long-term supportive relationships amongst peers. Those of us who are active have been with each other for several months. Our server has a growing set of incentives to encourage participation and to help keep our community more private and comfortable for discussion.
We are inclusive of all regenerative methods and perspectives. We welcome all people who are respectful of other people and ways of life. Our group upholds no way as the "right way." We are just peers looking to connect as we work on our regenerative endeavors.
Our community is democratic. We regularly welcome and ask for input. We will elect another moderator, and we will add term-limits for both admins and moderators, when our group grows more.
We are quite small, but our group is supportive and here for the long haul. If you are interested in online relationships with peers, we would love to meet you!
You can join our discord community using this link: https://discord.gg/DNH834xXZg
You can learn more about our community on our website: https://RegenAgCoop.org
We hope to meet you soon! 💞
Forest gardening offers a fascinating glimpse into sustainable food systems inspired by nature. What lessons from this age-old practice can we apply to today’s urban or rural settings? Let’s discuss innovations, personal stories, and challenges in crafting these verdant landscapes.
Forest gardening mimics natural ecosystems while producing food sustainably. Could this be the answer to food security challenges in an uncertain climate future? What are your experiences with layering plants or creating edible ecosystems?
Here's a before photo of the same area in 2021 with just the three apple trees that were here before us.
Hey all, I've read a bit about this around the internet and on Permies.
I'm making a clearing in the forest to plant fruit trees and I was wondering if any one has experience cutting trees down in a way that they would natural make a hedge.
This specific spot has no huge trees max 25cm diameter. Mostly 15-20cm ash trees.
So I would pick a tree that is already leaning in the direction I want to line the hedge (instead of or in addition to installing a deer fence). And I would make some cuts so that when it falls it would have some bark still on. I'm not sure what the term for this is... Walking a tree down?
Im taking some wedge to make sure the lean is good enough.
Then I'm hoping the tree would regrow along the trunk which would hopefully still be alive and be fed from the stump.
Thoughts and experiences?
Here’s a 3 month update on the diversity we added to a food forest we purchased in Southern Ecuador.
Anything you think I should add to the forest garden next year?
My city released a RFP about 4 years ago for persons to lease and manage a 1 acre parcel of public land. I responded with a proposal to start a community food forest. Since then, I formed a non profit and led the charge to turn the vacant parcel into support species, fruit, berries, medicine, pathways, compost bins, fire circle, signage, park benches etc. Lots of volunteer work parties, educational workshops, and online communication via newsletters, facebook and a website along the way.
This year, had a baby, and started full time work, while maintaining 20 acres of forest at home, including gardens and more. Just can’t afford to volunteer, as I haven’t made money as the founder/executive director. The food forest needs attention, and it’s up to me to give it the attention and/or to find and orient the people to do it. It’s a lot.
Our lease is almost up for renewal with the city again, and I don’t know what to do. I already dissolved the pea patch to lessen the management load. Grass and weeds are creeping in. No events planned, except for work parties. “Community” around the place seems busy with their lives and unable to take the reins. Considering transitioning to a garden club, rather than a non profit, or something else…
Any ideas or thoughts? How does one empower community to take ownership? What’s my next best step, as a leader and steward of this place? I want to let it go, but I can’t…not without letting it go to the right hands.
Thanks family
My girlfriend and I are looking for a property to develop a foodforest in Denmark. We have two properties in mind now but the best one has a limitation. Most of the property is protected forest (fredskov).
The most important limitations on fredskov are the following by law:
Minimum 50% crown density within the meaning of
the aggregate of all vertically projected tree crowns onto the ground surface
Must be evenly distributed (max. 10% open land:)
has to consist of tree species that can form high-stemmed forests.
My question is: does this community see options for a productive/effective foodforest within these requirements?
With my knownledge so for I think we can make it work, but I'd hate to rush into it missing important downsides.
FYI
We're both starting different courses on food forests in Januari next year, so all we know up until now is based on books.
The property is in planting zone 7b/8a
I have two hazelnut bushes that are a few years old that were planted from different sources. Can you help me determine the difference between these two nuts? The ones on the left are slightly larger and wider, and the nuts on the right are smaller and more plentiful (bush is a year older).
in Australia Have remote parts of my property which I only get every 2 months as is nothing really up there
It is a green area which do receive water due to being in a hill sloped
Can be either shaded or full sunlight
It doesn’t snow where I am
So I thought to plant edible food plants to leave unattended which don’t require active care, no weeding or watering
Whatever food that is grown have to be something that I can wait unattended and has a long lifespan for being harvested,
no larger herbivores near my place but birds rabbits small animals insects
realise they would probably take some of the crop, some being resistant would be good
Ideally would prefer Perennials that I only have to plant once and will keep growing, expanding and producing
open to grow seedlings and pots first and then plant in the area
Also herbs and spices as well
Some suggestions I had already received
Potatoes (sweet and regular)
Onions
Garlic(plant in fall)
Spaghetti squash
Winter squashes (acorn, buttercup, butternut etc.)
Peppers (pick green or let ripen)
Popcorn
Chives
Rhubarb (perennial)