Food Forests

The image that comes to mind when you think of a "garden" is probably rows of annual vegetables. However, an efficient garden can be comprised of all kinds of trees and shrubs that provide bountiful harvests across all seasons. Mimicking nature proves to be the answer time and time again.

This practice of agriculture has existed for thousands of years, on all continents. Some food forests are maintained by the same family for hundreds of years! What an heirloom!

One of the primary benefits of food forests is that they are very much hands-off, but with incredible output.

An example of a food forest might include chestnut trees as a tall canopy tree layer. Apple trees grow below the chestnut trees, meanwhile, currant bushes grow as an understory layer beneath the apple trees. A host of edible herbs and mushrooms grow underneath, and perhaps even grapevines use the apple trees as trellises.

You could perhaps combine hügelkultur practices and food forests for tremendous effect.