Forest Gardens

Forest Gardens are sustainable, low input, high yield resources which have been implemented in spaces ranging from small backyards to larger communal spaces and schools.

This system of gardening draws us toward a change in our relationship with food growing, as it is at odds to the current norm of large scale mono agriculture. 
It would be a challenge to meet all our needs from a forest system in the UK, because of where we are in relation to the sun and we need a lot of light in this part of the globe to grow carbohydrates.

Forest gardens and larger scale agroforestry systems work well with smaller scale food growing and create habitat for wild life, microcliates and can be edible hedges around small open spaces for annuals or staples. 

A series of guilds or plant communities are the main elements of a forest garden, with open planted herb ground cover or paths in between the plant groups, and can be repeated in principle to any scale including small gardens and yards.

Fruit trees, shrubs, climbers, ground cover perennials, herbs and roots make up a guild. Each element participates in a network of multiple positive relationships, like an eco system.

Leaves and debris are left to return to the soil, as in a forest, which reduces  evaporation - this is a low water system and after initial planting watering is not required.

Apart from harvesting the only significant time commitment is the task of mulching.