FOOD FOREST
Diagrams represent original planting designs and may not be completely accurate, due to the evolving nature of the garden.
Food forests are emblematic of permaculture: they are the perfect example of creating an edible ecosystem that is resilient and self-sufficient over time, and demonstrate many of the theories and principles of permaculture. Food forests are designed to incorporate varying canopy layers and categories of plants to create diverse systems that provide all of the services and functions it requires. The result is an integrated polyculture that produces food, provides habitat and shelter for wildlife, and protects and builds soil.
Plant Categories
Plants can be organized into categories based on the roles that they perform in an ecosystem. These categories are: Pollinator Attractors, Insect Pest Rellers, Mulch Producers, Nitrogen Fixers, and Dynamic Accumulators (accumulate nutrients and metals in the soil). In theory, a few representatives of each category should be incorporated into a garden system at different canopy layers to fulfill these roles.
Canopy Layers
Canopy
The centerpiece of a food forest is the tallest layer: the canopy, in this case a pair of fruit trees. Although usually they would be much taller trees, due to the small size of the Showcase Garden we selected shorter species that would not shade everything out. Trees are extremely important players in any ecosystem. They perform a multitude of functions such as stabilizing the soil, preventing erosion, catching water, and creating shelter for wildlife. *
The trees we chose have several varieties grafted onto a single root stalk, so one tree will produce several different types of fruit. This means that each tree is self-fertilizing, and does not require a second tree of the same species to be planted nearby, as most fruit trees do. This allows us to maximize diversity in a small space – in just two trees we can have 7 different fruits that will all be ready at different times, prolonging the harvest season.
3-in-1 Apple Tree
Subcanopy
The subcanopy consists of large shrubs and small trees that are placed around or just below the canopy layer, filling in the vertical space. We chose to showcase some species that grow readily in this climate, but are not commonly or cultivated or exploited for food.
Goji Berry
Elderberry
4-in-1 Cherry Tree
Shrubs
The shrub layer is made up of smaller shrubs and bushes placed around the edges of the larger plants. We included various berry bushes, as well as a few aromatic herbs. Many of these species tend to sprawl out, filling the space horizontally, while not growing tall enough to cast too much shade to the layers around.
Blackberry
Lavender
Rosemary
Herbaceous
​The herbaceous layer has the most diversity of plants. Following the trend, they are placed in order of descending height in rows around the trees and shrubs, with the shortest groundcovers nearest the path for easier access. They are also arranged throughout the food forest according to their growing condition requirements, with the plants needing the most sunlight on the Southern side.
Groundcover
