Layers of a food Forest
What makes a food Forest so special is its structure. Food forests are so productive because they make best use of space. For example, instead of using only two dimensions of space like in growing a big field of carrots, food forests create a 3 dimensional space where trees can grow over 100 feet tall as well as other trees underneath the larger trees, and then smaller shrubs and ground covers underneath. It is because a food forest has so many layers that allow it to produce so much food.
Here are the nine layers of a FOOD FOREST
Here are the nine layers of a FOOD FOREST
Nine Layers of the Edible Forest Garden (Food Forest)
There are up to nine layers a Forest Garden:
1. Canopy or Tall Tree Layer -Typically over 30 feet (~9 meters) high. This layer is for larger Forest Gardens. Timber trees, large nut trees, and nitrogen-fixing trees are the typical trees in this category. There are a number of larger fruiting trees that can be used here as well depending on the species, varieties, and rootstocks used.
2. Sub-Canopy/Large Shrub Layer - Typically 10-30 feet (3-9 meters) high. In most Forest Gardens, or at least those with limited space, these plants often make up the acting Canopy layer. The majority of fruit trees fall into this layer.
3. Shrub Layer -Typically up to 10 feet (3 meters) high. The majority of fruiting bushes fall into this layer. Includes many nut, flowering, medicinal, and other beneficial plants as well.
4. Herbaceous Layer-Plants in this layer die back to the ground every winter… if winters are cold enough, that is. They do not produce woody stems as the Shrub layer does. Many cullinary and medicinal herbs are in this layer. A large variety of other beneficial plants fall into this layer.
5. Groundcover/Creeper Layer- There is some overlap with the Herbaceous layer and the Groundcover layer; however plants in this layer are often shade tolerant, grow much closer to the ground, grow densely to fill bare patches of soil, and often can tolerate some foot traffic.
6. Underground Layer- These are root crops. There are an amazing variety of edible roots that most people have never heard of. Many of these plants can be utilized in the Herbaceous Layer, the Vining/Climbing Layer, and the Groundcover/Creeper Layer.
7. Vines/Vertical/Climber Layer- These vining and climbing plants span multiple layers depending on how they are trained or what they climb all on their own. They are a great way to add more productivity to a small space, but be warned. Trying to pick grapes that have climbed up a 60 foot Walnut Tree can be interesting to say the least.
8. Aquatic/Wetland Layer-These are a whole host of plants that thrive in wetlands or at the water’s edge, at the edge of a forest. There are many plants that grow only in water.
9. Mycelial/Fungal Layer-This layer describes the mushrooms that live mostly underground in the soil of the forest. Fungal networks live in healthy soils. They will live on, and even within, the roots of plants in the Forest Garden. These underground fungal network transport nutrients and moisture from one area of the forest to another depending on the needs of the plants.
Quick Links
Why food Forests are important Plant Guilds Food Forests around the World Permaculture Principles explained
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credits: Material adapted from :
http://tcpermaculture.com/site/2013/05/27/nine-layers-of-the-edible-forest-garden/#prettyPhoto[gallery4607]/0/
There are up to nine layers a Forest Garden:
1. Canopy or Tall Tree Layer -Typically over 30 feet (~9 meters) high. This layer is for larger Forest Gardens. Timber trees, large nut trees, and nitrogen-fixing trees are the typical trees in this category. There are a number of larger fruiting trees that can be used here as well depending on the species, varieties, and rootstocks used.
2. Sub-Canopy/Large Shrub Layer - Typically 10-30 feet (3-9 meters) high. In most Forest Gardens, or at least those with limited space, these plants often make up the acting Canopy layer. The majority of fruit trees fall into this layer.
3. Shrub Layer -Typically up to 10 feet (3 meters) high. The majority of fruiting bushes fall into this layer. Includes many nut, flowering, medicinal, and other beneficial plants as well.
4. Herbaceous Layer-Plants in this layer die back to the ground every winter… if winters are cold enough, that is. They do not produce woody stems as the Shrub layer does. Many cullinary and medicinal herbs are in this layer. A large variety of other beneficial plants fall into this layer.
5. Groundcover/Creeper Layer- There is some overlap with the Herbaceous layer and the Groundcover layer; however plants in this layer are often shade tolerant, grow much closer to the ground, grow densely to fill bare patches of soil, and often can tolerate some foot traffic.
6. Underground Layer- These are root crops. There are an amazing variety of edible roots that most people have never heard of. Many of these plants can be utilized in the Herbaceous Layer, the Vining/Climbing Layer, and the Groundcover/Creeper Layer.
7. Vines/Vertical/Climber Layer- These vining and climbing plants span multiple layers depending on how they are trained or what they climb all on their own. They are a great way to add more productivity to a small space, but be warned. Trying to pick grapes that have climbed up a 60 foot Walnut Tree can be interesting to say the least.
8. Aquatic/Wetland Layer-These are a whole host of plants that thrive in wetlands or at the water’s edge, at the edge of a forest. There are many plants that grow only in water.
9. Mycelial/Fungal Layer-This layer describes the mushrooms that live mostly underground in the soil of the forest. Fungal networks live in healthy soils. They will live on, and even within, the roots of plants in the Forest Garden. These underground fungal network transport nutrients and moisture from one area of the forest to another depending on the needs of the plants.
Quick Links
Why food Forests are important Plant Guilds Food Forests around the World Permaculture Principles explained
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
credits: Material adapted from :
http://tcpermaculture.com/site/2013/05/27/nine-layers-of-the-edible-forest-garden/#prettyPhoto[gallery4607]/0/