What is a Food Forest?

By Josh Kufahl

Forests are ecosystems with a diversity of plants, animals, and fungi. They were designed by nature to have perfect balance. A food forest is a version of this in which the different, balanced components produce food.  

A food forest typically consists of seven layers, the uppermost layer being the canopy layer. The canopy layer consists of tall trees — typically large fruit and nut trees. Between the tall canopy layer trees, there is a layer of low growing, typically dwarf fruit trees. Nestled between all the small trees are the shrubs – which are well represented  by currants and berries. Filling the remaining space are the herbaceous layer, these are the culinary and medicinal  herbs, companion plants, bee-forage plants and poultry forage plants. Any remaining space is occupied by ground  cover plants. These form a living mulch that protects the soil, reduces water loss to evaporation, and prevents weeds  growing. We can still go a level deeper to the rhizosphere, or root zone, the underground level which is occupied  by all our root crops, such as potatoes, carrots, ginger, yacon, etc. While that might seem like a lot of plants in one  space, we still have one more to fill, the upright vertical space. This is filled by climbers and vines, which can be run  up trellises, arbors, fences, trees or any other vertical support. This category includes grapes, climbing beans, many  berries, passionfruit, kiwi fruit, climbing peas, chokos and many other species that love to climb.

WHY A FOOD FOREST? 

HIGH PRODUCTIVITY 

• High density planting ensures high yields. 

• Biodiversity ensures continuous food supply throughout the year. 

NATURAL MULCH, COMPOST & FERTILIZER 

• Just like a forest, food forests are self-mulching and cover the soil on their own to retain moisture. • With such a high plant density, a high volume of fallen leaves accumulates and rots down to add organic matter to the soil. • Decomposers, insects such as earthworms and millipedes, work to break down organic matter and help the composting process. 

NATURAL PEST CONTROL 

• No chemicals required! Food forests use natural predators to get rid of pests – letting the experts do the work, naturally. • Predatory insects have a permanent home (a natural ecosystem) and abundant food sources (nectar rich flowers) in a  food forest. Provide these and they will come on their own! A regular veggie patch is a home only for pest insects,  there’s nowhere for good bugs to live! 

• An abundant, living ecosystem will attract birds and other larger predators, further contributing to natural pest control. 

RESILIENCE THROUGH BIODIVERSITY 

• Nature prefers biodiversity, not monocultures. Mixing different types of plants together makes them grow better by creating a  natural synergy that benefits all the plants involved. The plants are more resistant to pests and disease, and are more productive. • The use of Companion planting allows us to recreate nature’s biodiversity and gain these benefits. 

EASY SOIL REPAIR 

• In Nature, when plants die, they stay in place. They’re not uprooted and binned. The roots rot away to create thousands of intricate  air and water channels in the soil. The tops of the chopped plants create a natural sheet compost system like the forest floor.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS  OF A FOOD FOREST? 

FINANCIAL BENEFITS: 

• A reduction in food costs. 

• A reduction in the labor time and outsourced materials (such as fertilizer, seed, and manure)  required by typical vegetable gardening. 

• A potential reduction in health-related costs. 

• Potentially lower energy costs. 

• Potential for increased security via community  

ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS: 

• Increasing soil health over time, including an increase in soil minerals, and the diversity of microbial and fungal life which makes plants resilient to stress and disease. 

• Providing habitat for diverse insect populations, including predatory insects, honey-bees, and other pollinators. • Providing food and nesting habitat for birds and other small animals. 

• Increasing ability of the land to absorb and hold rainwater, eliminating the need for irrigation, and decreasing  rain-water run off. 

• Exponential increase in the surface area of photosynthesizing leaves and biomass, which filter air, reducing  air-born pollutants and increasing the output of oxygen.

SOCIAL BENEFITS: 

• Providing a center for community activity for all ages. 

• Creating an environment which fosters community self-organization, team-work, and shared values with the  outcome of producing food & other resources for all participants. 

• Increased security of the neighborhood due to greater community activity and site investment. • Offering a site for educational opportunities, such as learning to harvest and cook under-utilized foods such as  Jerusalem Artichoke, hazelnuts, and Hopniss, as well as education about ecosystem dynamics, botany, mycology,  and ethical use of resources. 

• Providing a free and enjoyable opportunity for outdoor activity and exercise for community members. • Providing a place of peace, shade, relaxation, and a natural, beautiful looking environment for the community  and passersby. 

• The site can function as a model, as well as a seed bank and source for cuttings and other plant propagations  to aid in the creation of similar community or private Food Forest projects.