Forest Garden
A sustainable, low-maintenance garden system that mimics the structure of a natural woodland with multiple layers of edible and useful plants. Forest gardens, also known as food forests, integrate trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, and ground covers in a self-sustaining ecosystem that provides food, medicine, and other resources while supporting biodiversity and requiring minimal intervention once established.
Key Features
Layered Structure
Strategic arrangement of plants in seven vertical layers—canopy trees, lower trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, ground covers, root crops, and climbers—that maximize space utilization and ecological relationships.
Perennial Focus
Emphasis on long-lived plants that don't require annual replanting, creating a stable ecosystem that builds soil, sequesters carbon, and produces yields with minimal disturbance.
Polyculture Design
Diverse plant communities that support each other through nitrogen fixation, dynamic accumulation of nutrients, pest deterrence, and other beneficial interactions that reduce the need for external inputs.
Succession Planning
Consideration of how the garden will develop over time, from initial fast-growing pioneer species to the eventual mature ecosystem, with plants selected to thrive at different stages.
Wildlife Integration
Deliberate inclusion of habitat features and plant species that support beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife that contribute to pest control, pollination, and overall system health.
Multifunctional Elements
Selection of plants that serve multiple purposes such as food production, soil improvement, medicinal uses, habitat creation, and aesthetic value to maximize the efficiency of the system.
Design Variations
Temperate Forest Garden
Adapted to cool climates with deciduous fruit and nut trees as the canopy, berry shrubs in the middle layer, and herbs, vegetables, and ground covers below, often incorporating nitrogen-fixing plants.
Tropical Food Forest
Lush system utilizing tropical and subtropical species in dense arrangements, often featuring multiple fruit tree varieties, bananas, papayas, and perennial vegetables that thrive in warm, humid conditions.
Urban Forest Garden
Scaled-down version adapted to city lots or community spaces, using dwarf fruit trees, vertical elements, and compact varieties to create a productive ecosystem in limited space.
Mediterranean Forest Garden
Drought-adapted system featuring olive trees, citrus, figs, herbs, and other plants suited to hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, often incorporating water-harvesting earthworks.