WHAT IS A FOOD FOREST?
FFF is guided by Permaculture design ethics and principles, replicating natural systems.
A food forest is a productive landscape developed around a mix of trees and perennial plants.
Rooted in Permaculture design principles, it incorporates a variety of plants designed with seven different layers, planted similarly to the way they would grow in the natural world.
These layers are:
THE CANOPY which consists of fruit and nut trees
THE LOWER TREE LEVEL where you’ll find dwarf fruit trees
THE SHRUB LAYER where you’ll find things like blueberries and raspberries
THE HERBACEOUS LAYER where perennials, herbs, and leafy greens grow
THE RHIZOSPHERE where root crops grow
THE SOIL SURFACE for cover crops
THE VERTICAL LAYER which includes vines
As a self-sustaining ecosystem, a forest creates its own humus, catches and stores energy while being home to a wide range of biodiversity. Unlike modern agricultural methods, a food forest is naturally resilient to climate change which is beneficial for protecting the land and the people who live in cooperation with it.
WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?
Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking. It’s approach mimics the patterns and relationships we can find in nature, which can be applied to all aspects of human habitation; from agriculture to ecological building, from appropriate technology to education and even economics.
The foundation of Permaculture are the three ethics:
EARTH CARE
We nurture the soil to cultivate a healthy and living environment.
PEOPLE CARE
We work collaboratively to foster a compassionate and thriving community.
FAIR SHARE
We only take what we need and share our abundance with others.
12 PERMACULTURE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
The ethics guide the use of the 12 design principles illustrated in the diagram below:
Each principle opens a new door to whole systems thinking,
providing us with a different perspective that can be understood on varying levels of depth and application.
They are seen as universal but they can be expressed in different ways, according to the situation and place.
