Page 20 - LandscapeSA_116v2

FEATURE

DESIGNING A FOOD FOREST

Food forests are layered forest gardens
that feature large, food-producing fruit

and nut trees. These low maintenance,
self-sustaining systems have huge
potential as sources of sustainable

food and livelihoods. They also help
to mitigate environmental and climate
change by acting as carbon sinks.

ood forests are also an example of companion planting, where
growing certain plants together provides various benefits, such as
Fattracting beneficial birds and insects, repelling pests, enriching
the soil with nutrients, and providing shade or support.

Alley cropping with maize and stone fruit trees. The containers hold Designing a food forest to fill these layers with food-giving crops results
companion plants. in a flourishing forest garden ecosystem, where plant communities
work together to maximise productivity while minimising inputs. The
purpose of forest gardens (as food forests are known in the UK) is to
provide food but plants may be included for other reasons. Nitrogen-
fixers enrich the soil, while trees offer shelter and flowering plants
attract pollinators. Medicinal plants can also be included in the forest.
The seven-layer design of food forests
When designing a food forest, keep several key features in mind. Food
forests rely on high biodiversity and hardy, disease-resistant species,
while perennials, deep rooting plants and nitrogen fixers create
nutrient-rich soil. These diverse forest gardens use a natural seven-
layer design and trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, perennial vegetables and
root crops play different roles in each layer.
Layer 1: Canopy trees
The canopy is made up of large fruit and nut trees, forming the highest
layer of the food forest. They provide shade and create an evolving
micro-climate for the whole forest. They also provide structural
support for the vertical layer.
Layer 2: Low tree layer
Dwarf fruit trees, large shrubs and bamboos provide a secondary layer
of shading that protects the forest floor from harsh, direct sunlight.
Layer 3: Shrub layer
Shade-tolerant, compact shrubs such as currants, berries and flax are
key to a diverse food forest, filling in the spaces between the trees.
Layer 4: Herbaceous perennials
These smaller, leafy herbs and plants grow and die back in seasonal
cycles. Dead biomass returns nutrients to the soil every autumn and
winter. The roots remain dormant until spring, when the perennials
grow and bloom again. Medicinal herbs are often a central component
of the herbaceous layer.
Layer 5: Rhizosphere (roots)
The rhizosphere comprises root vegetables such as potatoes, onions,
carrots and turnips. The visible vegetation is often part of the lower
forest layers and the rhizosphere adds an extra ecological dimension
to forest gardens.
Layer 6: Soil surface
Groundcovers such as strawberries and ginger create carpets covering
the soil. This helps to protect topsoil from erosion and direct sunlight,
ensuring that soil nutrients remain within the food forest.
Layer 7: Vertical layer
Climbers and vines grow on structural elements of the food forest,
n

18 Landscape SA • Issue 116 2022