Fast Forest Food: The Layers of Greenery
Written by Tanny PC
“It is love that powers the garden. When you manage to harmonize a garden with nature, then so much of the work is done for you.” – Robert Adrian de Jauralde Hart, a horticulturist and the pioneer of food forestry
Building Our Own Sustainable Food Paradise
When I once visited the forest garden of my friend, my eyes sparkled to see the winsome ambiance of their picturesque orchard – the amalgamation of the taller trees providing shade to the shorter ones and shelter to other wildlife habitats; fresh fruits and vegetables hanging from the tree branches; the fragrant and colorful flowers blooming in the shrubs accompanied by pollinators; and the vines and creepers hugging the stem of the trees – altogether contributing to the beautiful resonance of the biodiversity of the planet. What a pristine, delightful sight!
Although I am always in awe of Mother Nature’s tremendous skills of adornment in accordance with maintaining the balance and harmony between vegetation and wildlife, I never pondered upon the fact why Nature has so many plant species and why they are of several shapes and sizes? However, the ‘curious bee’ that I am, I never stop to beseech or persistently continue my research about ‘Food Forestry’ and ‘Permaculture’ techniques to gather more information from the experts.
During my prolonged research, I came to know about many pioneers in these fields (Bill Mollison, Robert Hart, and Masanobu Fukuoka) who dreamed of creating a self-sustaining planet for all. Their revolutionary journey of turning their dreams into reality was impeccable and adopted by many for better personal and planetary health. Mollison devised the idea of ‘Permaculture’ (permanent agriculture) and Hart proposed ‘Food Forestry’ (a seven-tiered system that mimics the natural vegetation of the forest, creating a self-sustaining environment and diverse biodiversity regarding food culture and production, which we will learn about in this blog.
Robert Hart’s forest garden was based mainly on two key features – Plant types and Plant layers. He observed and proposed that the beauty of Nature is not based upon ‘compartmentalized’ arrangement; in fact, it lies in the ‘haphazard stacking’ of diverse vegetation – trees, shrubs, climbers, vines, and ground covers – which find their own requirements within their particular ‘level’ in the forest ecosystem. Beyond all this, Hart wanted to demonstrate a ‘garden’ based on ‘love and care’ that could heal both the individual and the planet, which he proved with his dedicated work in his food forest in Shropshire, UK.
It was heart-wrenching and surprising for me when I read that his beautiful forest garden has been partly cleared and proceeded on a path of natural succession. Unfortunately, as his garden decays, the nutrient-rich vegetation will keep embracing the Earth and healing it – perhaps this unearthly ‘end’ is just a new ‘beginning’ of life in a new form. Hart’s proposals and ideas of building a self-sustainable world will forever remain etched in his books and in the inspirational works of other gardeners who have already started this revolution.
Plant Layers
‘Food forestry’ is a part of agriculture that resonate with the ideas of permaculture – it’s just like an additional tool in a toolbox. Hart developed his ‘Garden of Love’ in Shropshire by adopting the permaculture method of growing food and replicating the ‘layering technique’ seen in a typical forest woodland. The project was on a miniature scale, which, at that time, was generally considered to be the only mature working example of a forest garden in Britain useful for people kind.
Although the functional layers that Hart proposed comprised seven dimensions (as elaborated below), I would (arguably) say that the addition of an ‘eighth layer’ (the Fungal layer) will be a bonus for developing an edible forest garden. In Food Forestry, ‘layering is the key’ and Nature thrives in a highly optimized pattern by utilizing multiple layers and making the most of both horizontal and vertical space.
In a nutshell, let’s understand the several layers required to develop a virtual, self-sustaining food forest in your own space (moving from north to south):
The Canopy or Overstory layer:
This is the tallest layer that contains standard tall fruit or nut trees. This layer should be compatible to successfully pollinate to eliminate human intervention. These trees have roots that dig deep into the soil and tap the spring veins, which allow them to self-water the entire garden. This mechanism helps to pump the water toward the roots of the smaller plants. The roots also bear the capacity to naturally fertilize the agricultural system as they can pull minerals from the subsoil to its neighboring plants. A minimum spacing of 50–100% should be considered while planting this layer as compared to an orchard. One drawback of this layer is that it is not so practical for gardeners who have small spaces for gardening. Some examples of canopy trees are mulberries, cherry, persimmons, and pine nut species for human and animal food; Amur maackia, acacia, and black locust as nitrogen fixers and insect attractants.
The Understory or Low Tree layer:
This layer consists of smaller, dwarf varieties of fruit and nut trees, which is usually around 12 inches or higher. This layer allows for an economy of space and light, and can be considered as the ‘Canopy layer’ in the absence of the ‘Overstory layer’ while developing a compatible, small food forest. It includes figs, olives, apples, peaches, coffee, and citrus trees for food; and crabapple, hazelnuts, and hawthorn as edibles and wildlife attractants.
The Shrub layer:
The third layer is the shrub layer, which holds the fruit-producing bushes. This layer can grow in partial shade and maximizes the use of space and the availability of light while producing valuable and enjoyable produce. Examples include blackberries, blueberries, huckleberry, muntries, midyim berries, elderberry, and currants for food; serviceberries and nanking cherries as insect attractants as well as food; goumi and pea shrubs for food and nitrogen fixation; and rosemary and lavender for medicinal purposes and pollinators.
The Herbaceous layer:
The next space is filled up by the herbaceous layer, which includes leaf-bearing, non-woody, perennial plants (also annuals) that reseed themselves. This layer holds much of the diversity of ecosystems and forest gardens as it includes culinary and medicinal plants, companion plants, bee-forage plants, and poultry-forage plants such as parsley, rosemary, mint basil, alyssum, globe artichokes, and brassica. This layer comprises various edible herbs and vegetables that have a strong aroma, which aids in the prevention of pests and harmful insects. Proper light and shade are embraced by these plants as they peek out from beneath the taller plants. Certain plants in this layer (such as comfrey, borage, nettle, and mullein) contain large tap roots, which can be used to mine minerals from soil depths, harvested and composted for additional soil improvement, and offer medicinal uses;. Sorrel, parsley, banana, rhubarb, and asparagus can be used for food.
The Groundcover layer:
The groundcover layer comprises plants that are low-lying and ground-hugging, spread horizontally, and snuggle into edges and the spaces between shrubs and herbs. These plants act as living mulch that protects the soil and prevents weeds from growing around other plants. These plants also help reduce water loss to evaporation and involve in nitrogen fixation, pollination, erosion control, and so on. They include warrigal greens, strawberries, pig face, nasturtium, oregano, violets, nasturtium, clover, creeping thyme, ajuga, and the many prostrate varieties of flowers such as phlox and verbena. Some other examples include clover, mint, and alfalfa, which have medicinal benefits and help in nitrogen fixation and pollination; creeping raspberry helps in erosion control; and miner’s lettuce, lingonberries, and strawberries are used as food for people, insects, and wildlife habitats.
The Rhizosphere layer:
Also sometimes referred to as the underground layer, this layer is closest to the ground and consists of shade-tolerant root crops. If the Sun is plentiful, this layer of the food forest might occupy annuals. As roots also have vegetative forms above ground, by natural phenomenon, therefore some roots are also ground covers or herbaceous plants. Roots that are required to be harvested should be shallow so that the other members of the food forest aren’t disturbed. The diverse examples of this layer include ginseng, goldenseal, and cohoshes as medicinal varieties; shiitake, turkey tail, pearl oyster, lions mane, garden giant and elm oyster mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, ramps, and beetroot for wildlife, insect, and human food; horseradish leaves offer living mulch; peanuts are edible nitrogen fixer; and camas as insect attractant and human food.
The Vine layer:
Well, although it might seem like a lot of plants in one space, we still have the upright vertical space to fill with climbers and vines. These plants are shade-tolerant and can be run up trellises, arbors, fences, trees, or any other vertical support using Overstory and Understory trees as trellising. These climbing plants fill the unused regions of the all-important third dimension of space with food and habitat. These plants over trellis fences help to create a barrier by guarding against any large animals that might trespass the garden. Some of the perennial vines might appear opportunistic and can be strangling or invasive to other short plants; hence, they should be used sparingly and cautiously. The category of plants in this group includes Malabar spinach, which provides food throughout the hottest weather when other greens go dormant; climbing annuals such as squash, cucumbers, and melons for food; nasturtium and passionfruit for food and insect attraction; varieties of peas and beans for nitrogen fixation and food; kiwifruit, grapes, berries, passion fruits, chokos, snow peas, and hops for human consumption; and honeysuckle and trumpet flower for wildlife consumption.
The (bonus) Fungal or Mycelial layer:
A healthy natural forest will allow various edible and non-edible fungi to grow, which is also called the subterranean mushroom layer. You can inoculate your garden with edible mushrooms (oyster mushrooms) as they are a great option for deep shade and steep or otherwise unfarmable land. You can choose to mulch your soil with fungi spores or intersperse inoculated mushroom logs throughout your food forest.
Plant Types
Another important feature of a valuable food forest is its ‘plant types’. A food forest may or may not have all seven layers, but it can still grow and produce abundant food for human consumption and wildlife. As an example, let me introduce to you a guest presenter, Ms. Hannah Moloney, who demonstrates in her video (Food Forest Fundamentals – Gardening Australia) how only three different kinds of plants chosen from three different layers (of a seven-tiered system) can create a donut-shaped mini forest, which can easily be grown in a pot, or developed in a small backyard, and yield diverse food options.
Another gardener, Greg Price (Garden City Harvest), says, “Landscapes want to be perennial, that’s what they want to be. The whole prairie landscape was perennial and that means life is in the roots.” He mentioned that the natural state of the ground doesn’t want to be exposed ever. Soil loses its fertility and ability for water retention, erosion control, nutrient recycling, offering habitat, and attracting beneficial microbes (which not only nourish plants but also hold carbon) if it is regularly tilted, disrupted, and exposed.
Whether you create a small-scale food garden or develop a food forest on acres of land, the ultimate aim is to follow ‘no-till' agriculture, a ‘self-perpetuating’ mode of farming, and ‘growing varieties’ of plants (perennials and annuals) throughout the year. This will help build increasingly diverse ecosystems, sequester carbon, and produce food for both man and wildlife. All natural, like a real forest! These key factors are central to the practice of permaculture where one type of plant is supported and benefitted by another, symbiotically and harmoniously, like best friends of Nature. However, before you plunge into your planning mode, be mindful of the natural landscape of your area, location, plant varieties, climate, soil type, and also wildlife forms. Also, consider the cultivation needs and maintenance requirements of each plant variety before you plug it into your food forest design.
Bill Mollison (The Father of Permaculture), in obvious support of Robert Hart’s (the English pioneer of Forest Gardening) theories, writes, “Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system.”
Working with Nature is always the wisest, purest, and most productive path to a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. It takes years to create wonders like the Taj Mahal or change an arid desert into arable farmlands like the Arabian desert – patience and perseverance are the keys to success. This is what Reap Goodness believes while working with trios of cooperatives – water security, food security, and ecosystem restoration – who align themselves toward a common goal by sharing their data and experience for creating a better world for survival. This initiative will take some time to fly, but we ardently believe that every drop counts while building an ocean! The ‘power of love’ binds all plant and animal species, and we humans can also be a part of this symbiosis manifestation by humbly accepting the norms of Nature by giving more (to our planet) than receiving, rather than always trying to change, dominate, or control. Let’s unite together to establish a safer, greener, and healthier planet for our future generations! They will thank us later.
