What's a Food Forest ?

A Food Forest emulates a natural forest EXCEPT the landscape is edible. It contains plants of varying heights – tall trees, short trees, shrubs, vines, ground-cover, root plants and herbaceous plants – all are perennials. Plants are chosen based on their ability to thrive in the specific climate and are indigenous to the area.

A Food Forest:

✷ Is a sustainable source of fresh food.
✷Once established, requires limited human maintenance to remain productive.

✷ Is chemical free - no pesticides or herbicides required.
✷Needs little or no weeding, tilling, mowing, digging, or fertilizing.

✷Promotes biodiversity – nature’s way of insuring productivity and resistance to pests and disease
✷ Beautifies neighborhoods by adding green space which doubles as edible landscape

Potential foods from the forest:

🍓 FRESH FRUIT such as: pears, plums, persimmons, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, pawpaws, and gooseberries

🍄 Potential for figs, asparagus, hazelnuts, grapes, mushrooms.

🌿 Perennial herbs include: chives, rosemary, oregano, and mint.

🍐 Potential to use trees found in environment; eg, graft edible pear tree onto wild pear trees.

🌳 Takes time to develop (years) and be productive as the various plants are established to function as a local ecosystem.