💐Intro to Permaculture Unit 7 – Food Forests and Perennial Farming

What's a Food Forest?

• Food forests are diverse, multi-layered ecosystems that mimic natural forests while producing edible plants
• Consist of a combination of trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, and groundcovers that work together to create a self-sustaining system
  • Trees form the upper canopy (chestnuts, walnuts)
  • Shrubs and bushes occupy the middle layers (currants, hazelnuts)
  • Herbs, vegetables, and groundcovers fill in the lower levels (strawberries, mint)
• Utilize vertical space efficiently by growing plants at different heights
• Incorporate plants with various functions, such as nitrogen fixation, pest control, and attracting beneficial insects
• Aim to create a closed-loop system that minimizes external inputs and maximizes resource cycling
• Provide a diverse range of edible crops, medicinal plants, and materials for crafts or construction
• Offer habitat for wildlife and support biodiversity

Key Principles of Perennial Farming

• Focus on growing long-lived plants that persist for multiple years or decades
• Prioritize the use of perennial crops over annual crops to reduce soil disturbance and labor inputs
  • Perennial vegetables (asparagus, artichokes)
  • Perennial grains (kernza, perennial wheat)
  • Perennial legumes (alfalfa, perennial peanuts)
• Employ polycultures, which involve growing multiple species together to enhance resilience and productivity
• Utilize plant stacking to maximize vertical space and create beneficial microclimates
• Implement successional planting to ensure a continuous harvest and maintain soil cover
• Integrate livestock into the system for manure, pest control, and soil cultivation
• Emphasize soil health by minimizing tillage, using organic mulches, and fostering beneficial soil organisms
• Adapt to local climate, soil conditions, and cultural preferences when selecting plants and designing systems

Designing Your Food Forest

• Begin by observing and analyzing the site's characteristics, such as climate, topography, soil type, and water availability
• Create a base map of the area, including existing vegetation, structures, and utilities
• Develop a vision and goals for the food forest, considering desired yields, aesthetics, and social functions
• Use permaculture zoning to organize the space based on the frequency of use and maintenance needs
  • Zone 1: Closest to the home, intensive management (herbs, salad greens)
  • Zone 2: Less frequent attention, perennial crops (fruit trees, berries)
  • Zone 3: Minimal maintenance, long-term crops (nut trees, timber)
• Design pathways and access points for efficient movement and harvesting
• Plan for water management, including rainwater catchment, swales, and irrigation systems
• Incorporate design elements like keyhole beds, spiral gardens, and hugelkultur mounds to optimize space and resources
• Phase the implementation over time, starting with key infrastructure and pioneer species

Plant Selection and Guilds

• Choose plants based on their adaptability to the local climate, soil conditions, and pest pressures
• Select a diverse mix of species to fulfill different roles and provide multiple yields
  • Canopy trees for shade, timber, and large fruit (oak, walnut, mulberry)
  • Understory trees for smaller fruits and nuts (apple, pear, hazelnut)
  • Shrubs for berries, medicinal plants, and wildlife habitat (elderberry, goji berry, comfrey)
  • Herbaceous plants for vegetables, herbs, and groundcovers (kale, basil, clover)
  • Vines for vertical growth and additional yields (grapes, passionflower, hops)
• Create plant guilds, which are groupings of species that support each other's growth and health
  • Three Sisters guild: corn, beans, and squash
  • Fruit tree guild: apple tree, comfrey, daffodils, and clover
• Consider the plant's growth habits, root structures, and nutrient needs when placing them in the landscape
• Incorporate nitrogen-fixing plants (legumes) to improve soil fertility
• Use dynamic accumulators to mine nutrients from deep in the soil and make them available to other plants
• Plan for succession, replacing short-lived plants with longer-lived species over time

Soil Health and Management

• Prioritize building and maintaining healthy soil as the foundation of a thriving food forest
• Use organic matter inputs, such as compost, leaf mulch, and wood chips, to improve soil structure and fertility
• Minimize soil disturbance by avoiding tilling and using no-dig techniques when possible
• Employ sheet mulching to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and build soil organic matter
  • Layering cardboard, compost, and mulch to create a rich, weed-free planting bed
• Encourage beneficial soil organisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms, through inoculation and habitat creation
• Use cover crops and green manures to protect soil, fix nitrogen, and add organic matter
  • Winter cover crops (rye, vetch)
  • Summer cover crops (buckwheat, cowpeas)
• Monitor soil health through regular testing and observation of plant growth and vigor
• Address soil imbalances or deficiencies using targeted amendments, such as rock dust or bone meal
• Utilize plant-based indicators, like comfrey or stinging nettle, to assess soil fertility and health

Water Systems in Food Forests

• Design water systems to capture, store, and distribute water efficiently throughout the food forest
• Implement rainwater harvesting techniques to collect water from roofs, paved surfaces, and other catchment areas
  • Rain barrels and cisterns for storage
  • Swales and berms to slow and infiltrate runoff
• Create a network of ponds, streams, and wetlands to store water and support aquatic ecosystems
• Use drip irrigation or micro-sprinklers to deliver water directly to plant roots, minimizing evaporation and waste
• Employ mulching and groundcovers to reduce evaporation and maintain soil moisture
• Plant water-loving species in low-lying areas or near water sources to maximize their growth and productivity
• Incorporate greywater systems to recycle water from household sources, like sinks and showers, for irrigation
• Monitor soil moisture levels and adjust irrigation schedules based on weather conditions and plant needs
• Utilize drought-tolerant and water-efficient plant species in areas with limited water availability

Maintenance and Harvesting

• Develop a maintenance plan that aligns with the food forest's goals and the available time and resources
• Perform regular pruning to manage tree size, improve fruit production, and maintain plant health
  • Winter pruning for dormant fruit trees
  • Summer pruning for vigorous growth control
• Engage in selective thinning to remove weak, diseased, or overcrowded plants and promote the growth of desired species
• Monitor for pests and diseases, using integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to minimize damage
  • Encouraging beneficial insects (ladybugs, lacewings)
  • Using physical barriers (row covers, tree collars)
  • Applying organic pesticides as a last resort (neem oil, insecticidal soaps)
• Manage weeds through mulching, hand-pulling, and planting dense groundcovers to outcompete unwanted plants
• Harvest crops at their peak ripeness to maximize flavor, nutrition, and storage potential
• Use appropriate harvesting techniques for each plant species to minimize damage and encourage future growth
  • Hand-picking for delicate fruits and vegetables
  • Pruning for herbs and leafy greens
  • Shaking or beating for nuts and seeds
• Process and preserve harvested crops using methods like canning, drying, and fermenting to extend their shelf life
• Continuously observe and adapt the food forest based on its performance, yields, and evolving goals

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

• Martin Crawford's Forest Garden in Devon, UK
  • 2-acre food forest established in 1994
  • Over 500 species of edible and useful plants
  • Demonstrates the productivity and diversity of temperate climate food forests
• Beacon Food Forest in Seattle, Washington, USA
  • 7-acre community-driven food forest on public land
  • Includes a nut grove, berry patch, and community gathering spaces
  • Showcases the potential for urban food forestry and community engagement
• Limestone Permaculture Farm in New South Wales, Australia
  • 1-acre food forest integrating animals, aquaculture, and perennial crops
  • Utilizes swales, ponds, and terraces for water management
  • Highlights the integration of multiple permaculture elements in a small-scale system
• Las Cañadas in Veracruz, Mexico
  • 300-acre regenerative farm and education center
  • Incorporates food forests, silvopasture, and analog forestry
  • Demonstrates the restoration of degraded lands through perennial agriculture
• Miracle Farm in Oahu, Hawaii, USA
  • 5-acre food forest and permaculture demonstration site
  • Features over 200 species of tropical and subtropical plants
  • Showcases the abundance and resilience of food forests in tropical climates