food forest design: strategies for green urban infrastructure

THE FOOD FORESTSTRATEGIES FOR GREEN URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka

PERMACULTURE design is a method of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.

Each component should function in many ways and serve the needs and accept the products of other components.

The mature system should require the least possible maintenance, and should produce a net surplus of energy over its lifetime.

~ Bill Mollison, adapted from “Permaculture: A Designers Manual”

NATURAL:-A complex, self-regulating, designed ecosystem.

- Contains a large variety of interdependent plants, animals, insects, birds and microorganisms.

- Requires no chemical inputs and minimal physical intervention.

NATURAL:- Utilizes and enriches natural resources.

- Produces high yields with minimal inputs.

- Components serve multiple functions.

FOOD FORESTA food forest (or forest garden) is an ancient agricultural concept that mimics nature in all its glory. Not a vegetable garden but a largely self-maintaining whole and inclusive, interdependent and highly productive system of multi-storied trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, pollinators, soil, water and you.

A food forest is an efficient, diverse, beautiful ecosystem that functions like a natural woodland.

HISTORY - A concept as old as humanity:

Africa – “Home Garden”

Nepal - “Ghar Bbagaincha”

Maya – “Milpa”

Amazon – “Terra Preta”

Kazahkstan – “Apple Forest”

HISTORY- Robert Hart, 1940s-50s, Keralan Home Gardens, “Forest Gardening”

- Permaculturists, Mollison & Lawton, Australia, 1970s-90s

- Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Research Institute, Colorado & Montview Farm, Massachusetts

- “Edible Forest Gardens” by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmier, 2005

“I’m not talking about a gloomy mass of light-blocking trees, but an open, many layered edible woodland garden with plenty of sunny glades and edges.”

~ Toby Hemenway, “Gaia’s Garden”

DESIGN PRINCIPLES•High yields of diverse products such as food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, ‘farmaceuticals’ and fun;

•A largely self-maintaining garden and;

•A healthy ecosystem.

What is it that you would like to get out of the creation of your forest garden?

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

SCALE: Energy is captured most efficiently on the smallest scale

COMPLEXITY: Complex biological systems are the most stable and productive

DESIGN PROCESS

1. Observation

2. Patterning (spirals, waves, branches and circles)

3. Draw a map (Sector Analysis)

4. Planning

Design Process: Designers Map- The movement of the sun- What are the prevailing wind directions and in what seasons?- Where does the rain come from? - What are the principle areas of human activity?- How do people and animals move across the project area?- Where will/does water come from?- How does the water moves over the project area? - What are your soil type(s)? - Are there any slopes? What about aspect?

Design Process

1. Arrange Space2. Layout Patches3. Detail and Access Elements4. Select Species5. Design Polycultures (5-7 species)6. Establish and Manage

CONSIDER1. A south-facing U-shaped forest design2. Shading 3. Wind barriers4. Trees & woody plants should be planted first 5. Remember to design for mature size of trees 6. Include soil building plants into your design 8. As your forest garden matures…..9. Use each niche to its maximum potential

A perennial polyculture of multi-purpose plants

THE SEVEN-STORY GARDEN

GUILDING

A human-made assemblage that mimics a natural community

GUILDING-What is the dominant species?- What offers food to wildlife?- What offers food to humans?- What species do well in a variety of communities?- How do species interact with insects?- What produces lots of leaf litter?- How do they deal with drought or flood?- What are domesticated relatives?- Which are nutrient accumulators or Nitrogen fixers?

GUILDING: Example: Walnut/Hackberry Guild

WalnutHackberry

ElderberryWolfberry

CurrantsTomatoes

Peppers

GUILDING: Example: Apple Tree Guild Gravenstien Apple

GarlicChives

Daffodils Comfrey

RuhbarbYarrow

Clover, alfalfa, chicory, nasturtiums

IMPLEMENTATION

Never underestimate what you can do with sufficient time and patience.

Evolution

Evolution

Evolution

Why part of urban infrastructure?- Storm-water retention- Cooling effect (Urban, Buildings)- Wind Reduction- Pollution reduction- Public Space/Recreation- Aesthetics- Habitat- FOOD! …..and on and on and…..

PUBLIC SPACES

PUBLIC SPACES

Jim O’DonnellInterface Permaculturehttp://www.wildlandspermaculture.com/huajatollas@hotmail.com575.779.1181Taos, New Mexico, USA