Introduc)on to Edible Forest Gardening

Introduc)on to Edible Forest Gardening Connor Stedman NOFA Summer Conference 2012 Thanks to Eric Toensmeier & Ethan Roland for photos and support

The Forest Garden Vision 2

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Pears, 6

Pears, Apricots, 7

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, 8

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, 9

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, 10

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, 11

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, 12

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, 13

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, 14

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, 15

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, 16

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, 17

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, 18

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, 19

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, 20

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, 21

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, 22

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, 23

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, 24

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, 25

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, Onions, 26

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, Onions, Cannabis, 27

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, Onions, Cannabis, Sorrels, 28

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, Onions, Cannabis, Sorrels, Umbels, 29

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, Onions, Cannabis, Sorrels, Umbels, Rhubarbs, 30

Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Mulberries, Hawthornes, Rosehips, Raspberries, Barberries, Bilberries, Elderberries, Silverberries, Seaberries, Gooseberries, Grapes, Currants, Hops, Onions, Cannabis, Sorrels, Umbels, Rhubarbs, and more... 31

Global & Historical Models 32

Global & Historical Models Tropical home gardens 33

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Global & Historical Models Tropical home gardens Tending the wild across North America 36

Global & Historical Models Tropical home gardens Tending the wild across North America Primary agriculture in Russia 39

50% of Russia s total ag output from diverse home gardens combining annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees - 30 )mes more produc)ve per acre than industrial farming. www.primaryagriculture.com - Dr. Leonid Sharashkin

Global & Historical Models Tropical home gardens Tending the wild across North America Primary agriculture in Russia Experimenta)on of edible forest gardening re- pioneers from the past 10-15 years 41

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We know this can work... but where do we start? 43

Gardening IN the Forest... 44

vs. Gardening LIKE the Forest Imita)ng the structure, func)on, and diversity of forests in food- producing perennial polycultures. ECOSYSTEM MIMICRY 45

Goals for Edible Forest Gardens

Goals for Edible Forest Gardens OVERYIELDING POLYCULTURES Self- Renewing Fer)lity Sustainable Water Demand Minimal Herbivory Healthy Plants Directed Succession Minimal Compe))on

Goals for Edible Forest Gardens OVERYIELDING POLYCULTURES Self- Renewing Fer)lity Sustainable Water Demand Minimal Herbivory Healthy Plants Directed Succession Minimal Compe))on

Goals for Edible Forest Gardens OVERYIELDING POLYCULTURES Self- Renewing Fer)lity Healthy Plants Sustainable Water Demand Minimal Herbivory Healthy Plants Directed Succession

Goals for Edible Forest Gardens OVERYIELDING POLYCULTURES Self- Renewing Fer)lity Healthy Plants Minimal Maintenance Sustainable Water Demand Minimal Herbivory Healthy Plants

Design Principles for Forest Gardens 51

Design Principles for Forest Gardens MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS

Design Principles for Forest Gardens MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS FUNCTIONAL INTERCONNECTION Waste = Food

Design Principles for Forest Gardens MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS FUNCTIONAL INTERCONNECTION Waste = Food CATCH AND STORE ENERGY Make hay while the sun shines

Design Principles for Forest Gardens MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS FUNCTIONAL INTERCONNECTION Waste = Food CATCH AND STORE ENERGY Make hay while the sun shines USE EDGES AND VALUE THE MARGINAL

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Aroma)c Pest Confusers Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Microclimate Contributors Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Nitrogen fixers Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Aroma)c Pest Confusers Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Nitrogen fixers Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Aroma)c Pest Confusers Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Nitrogen fixers Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Aroma)c Pest Confusers Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Nitrogen fixers Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Pest Confusers Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Nitrogen fixers Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Pest Confusers Wildlife Habitat Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Microclimate Contributors Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors

Plant Func)ons in Forest Gardens Nitrogen Fixers Crops - food, tea, medicine, animal fodder, and more. Nitrogen fixers Dynamic Accumulators Dynamic Accumulators Beneficial Insectaries Beneficial Insectaries Aroma)c Pest Confusers Pest Confusers Wildlife Habitat Cross- Pollina)on Clusters Microclimate Contributors Other Beneficial Wildlife Habitat Microclimate Contributors

Exploring Polycultures 64

Food Ground Cover/ Nitrogen Fixer Tea/ Medicine/ Insectary Food/Medicine/ Insectary

Food/Medicine/Insectary Food/ Aroma)c Pest Confuser Ground Cover/ Medicine/ Fer)lizer/ Insectary/ Beneficial Habitat Food/Insectary Food

Food/Insectary Pear (Pyrus communis) N- fixer/ Fodder Ground Cover/ Medicine/ Fer)lizer/ Insectary/ Beneficial Habitat Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens) Russian Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum) Lovage (LevisGcum officinale) Horseradish (Armoracia rusgcana) Culinary/Medicine 67 Food/ Insectary

Four Geometric Pagerns for Forest Gardens 68

Four Geometric Pagerns for Forest Gardens Support guild around a single fruit tree. 69

Four Geometric Pagerns for Forest Gardens Support guild around a single fruit tree. Solar Banana alley cropping 70

Four Geometric Pagerns for Forest Gardens Support guild around a single fruit tree. Solar Banana alley cropping Lumpy texture - oldfield mimic. 71

Four Geometric Pagerns for Forest Gardens Support guild around a single fruit tree. Solar Banana alley cropping Lumpy texture - oldfield mimic. Nuclei that merge 72

Scaling Up: Agroforestry Farming 73

Some Common Forest Garden Mistakes Star)ng too big - plan)ng more than you can realis)cally manage and care for. 74

Some Common Forest Garden Mistakes Star)ng too big - plan)ng more than you can realis)cally manage and care for. Plan)ng in inappropriate microclimates, such as sun plants in shade or sensi)ve plants in a wind tunnel or frost pocket. 75

Some Common Forest Garden Mistakes Star)ng too big - plan)ng more than you can realis)cally manage and care for. Plan)ng in inappropriate microclimates, such as sun plants in shade or sensi)ve plants in a wind tunnel or frost pocket. Too many plants without a useful yield. 76

Some Common Forest Garden Mistakes Star)ng too big - plan)ng more than you can realis)cally manage and care for. Plan)ng in inappropriate microclimates, such as sun plants in shade or sensi)ve plants in a wind tunnel or frost pocket. Too many plants without a useful yield. Lack of clear land tenure agreements. 77

Some Common Forest Garden Mistakes Star)ng too big - plan)ng more than you can realis)cally manage and care for. Plan)ng in inappropriate microclimates, such as sun plants in shade or sensi)ve plants in a wind tunnel or frost pocket. Too many plants without a useful yield. Lack of clear land tenure agreements. Lack of clear management systems & roles. 78

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The Forest Garden Vision 80

Forest Gardening Resources The Apios Ins)tute s Edible Forest Garden Wiki apiosins)tute.org Books by local authors Dave Jacke & Eric Toensmeier