Forest Gardening
Forest gardening is landscaping technique modeled after a natural woodland ecosystem. Forest gardens utilize interplanting and companion planting (link) to promote polyculture instead of monoculture. While imitating the functioning of a native forest ecosystem, forest gardeners substitute inedible trees and plants with those which yield food for humans. It is important to include shade-tolerant plants (link), due to the inherent limited sunlight of a forest garden.
The temperate forest gardening concept was applied originally in humid regions such as Indonesia, India, Nepal, and Tanzania, in home gardens. These gardens are characterized by multi-purpose use of land for cultivating trees, crops and livestock. They may be in rural, peri-urban, or urban settings. Interplanting allows for intensive, efficient use of small plots of land. This technique contributes to food security in times of scarcity, but also to everyday cultivation of food for subsistence. This connection with the land and control of food supply empowers communities.
The forest gardening system was developed for temperate regions by Robert Hart in Shropshire, England. He designated seven layers of plants:
1. Canopy (Large fruit & nut trees)
2. Low tree layer (Dwarf fruit trees)
3. Shrub layer (Currants & berries)
4. Herbaceous (Comfreys, beets, herbs)
5. Rhizosphere (Root vegetables)
6. Soil surface (Soil cover, e.g. strawberry)
7. Vertical layer (Climbers, vines)
By following the principles of forest gardening, we can all make the best use of limited urban space. The forest gardening model enhances biodiversity and environmental stability at the same time as it creates a productive, edible garden.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_gardening
http://edibleforestgardens.com/about_gardening
Edible Forest Gardens Vol. I by Dave Jacke, with Eric Toensmeier
Forest gardening’s “Top 100” species