Welcome to a world where sustainable living, permaculture, and eco-friendly practices reign supreme! In this blog post, we will explore the exciting and innovative concept of food forest self-sustainable life and eco-home building. Designed with naturists, potential home buyers, volunteers, and tourists in mind, our eco-village project encapsulates everything from fish farming and waste management to the serenity of meditation. Prepare to embark on a journey as we dive deep into the intricacies of this visionary initiative that's transforming accommodations and workshops into a beacon of sustainability. So let your curiosity lead the way as we discuss the building blocks of our ecological paradise designed specifically for you!
What is a Food Forest…
A food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three dimensional designs, with life extending in all directions – up, down, and out.
Generally, we recognize seven layers of a forest garden – the overstory, the understory, the shrub layer, the herbaceous layer, the root layer, the ground cover layer, and the vine layer. Some also like to recognize the mycelial layer, layer eight (mushrooms). Using these layers, we can fit more plants in an area without causing failure due to competition.
FOREST GARDEN DESIGN CAN REDUCE INPUTS IN VARIOUS WAYS, INCLUDING:
- placing emphasis on trees, shrubs, perennials, and self-seeding annuals,
- planting thickly and using ground covers to shade soil and suppress weeds,
- utilizing nitrogen-fixing and nutrient-accumulating plants, chop-and-drop techniques, and returning wastes to the land to create healthy soil rather than applying fertilizer,
- planting a diverse array of plants that attract beneficial insects to pollinate the fruit crops and keep pest populations from exploding and causing damage,
- utilizing several ground-shaping techniques to keep rain water on the site, and
- designing for placement of plants to create micro-climates and windbreaks.
A food forest does not have to be re-planted year after year. Once it is established, it is generally very resilient. Deer and rabbits might come and munch some of the herbaceous edibles in some areas, for example, but other species will not be palatable to them or will be out of their reach. Or perhaps some children will come running through the area in wild play, running off path and possibly causing some damage to the ground cover and herbaceous layers. Not only will they usually grow right back, since many will be perennials and have healthy underground systems, but the trees, shrubs, and vines should be undamaged.
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