replenishing ecosystems: forest gardening

LINCOLN SMITH

FORESTGARDENS

SUCCESSION: FOREST ECOSYSTEM

SUCCESSION: ANNUAL CROPS

SUCCESSION: FOREST GARDEN

“[This special report] looks at ways to boost yields of the main crops…

…the reaction against intensive farming is a luxury of the rich. Traditional and organic farming…cannot feed the world”

The EconomistFebruary 2011

Swamp White OakQuercus bicolor

photo sourceNative Trees for North American Landscapesby Sternberg and Wilson

SOURCES1900 Wheat USDA Wheat Data Yearbook Tables1950 Wheat USDA Wheat Data Yearbook Tables2011 Wheat USDA Wheat Data Yearbook TablesAcorns UCR David A. Bainbridge Use of Acorns for Food in California: Past, Present, FutureAcorns FK Forrest Keeling Nursery - 200lbs averge yield 35' canopy Kimberley Oak

Note: Acorns assumed to contain 45% nut meatfrom Sean B. Dunham Nuts About Acorns: A Pilot Study on Acorn Use in Woodland Period Subsistence in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of MI

1900 Wheat 1950 Wheat 2011 Wheat Acorns UCR Acorns FK0

5001000150020002500300035004000

Flour Yield: Pounds/Acre/Year

ACORNS

ACORNS

ACORNS

What Is a Forest Garden?PERENNIAL

LAYEREDPATCHYPOLYCULTURALSELF-FERTILE

“soils…act as the principal medium for plant growth, regulate water supplies, modify the atmosphere, recycle raw materials and waste products, provide habitat for many kinds of organisms….soil is a major ecosystem in its own right”Quotation and graphic fromThe Nature and Properties of Soilsby Brady and Weil

PERENNIAL

Photo source:ApiosInstitute.org

PERENNIAL

LAYERED

PERENNIAL

LAYEREDPATCHY

PERENNIAL

LAYEREDPATCHY

PERENNIAL

LAYEREDPATCHY

Photo source:National Agroforestry Center

PERENNIAL

LAYEREDPATCHY

Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture InstitutePhoto source: apios.org

PERENNIALLAYERED

PATCHYPOLYCULTUR

AL

Diagram source:The Nature and Propertiesof Soils by Brady and Weil

Image source:Plant Biologyby Graham, Graham and Wilcox

Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria

Root Nodules

x

Image source:Plant Biologyby Graham, Graham and Wilcox

Mycorrhizae

PERENNIAL

LAYEREDPATCHY

POLY-CULTURA

L

Pawpaw

Pecan

Bayberry

NITROGEN DEPLETIO

N

NITROGEN

FIXATION

CROP HARVES

T

PERENNIALLAYERED

PATCHYPOLYCULTUR

ALSELF-

FERTILE

FOREST GARDEN DESIGN:CHOOSING

PLANTS

ANALYZE SITEWater – Soil – Wind – Slope

ANALYZE SITE

AlreadyHere:AMERICANPERSIMMON

ImprovedVariety:‘WONDERFUL’AMERICANPERSIMMON

RelatedPlant:KAKIPERSIMMON

AlreadyHere:BLACK WALNUT

ImprovedVariety:‘SAUBER’ BLACK WALNUT

RelatedPlant:BUTTERNUT

Already Here

HOW TO CHOOSE FOREST GARDEN PLANTS

Improved Varieties

Related To / Associated With

Fit Conditions

Create Conditions

YIELD GOALS

YIELD GOALS

PAWPAW

PAWPAW CUSTARD PIE

FOREST GARDEN DESIGN:POLYCULTURES

LAYERS AND NICHESWhat spaces are available for planting?

SYSTEM PLANTSInclude fertility plants and bug plants to support producers

No Yes

ROOM TO GROWLeave room for mature plants

No Yes

30-YEAR-OLDWILLOW OAK

SUNLIGHT ACCESSTaller plants to the north

No Yes

SHORT RUNNERS, TALL CLUMPERSGroup species that will not overwhelm each other

No Yes

POSITION FOR USEPlants for harvesting are accessible

No Yes

PHASING / SUCCESSIONPlan for changing niches as plants grow

No Yes

FOREST GARDEN POLYCULTURE DESIGN

SOUTH

FOREST GARDEN POLYCULTURE DESIGNFRUIT/NUT

SOUTH

FOREST GARDEN POLYCULTURE DESIGNFRUIT/NUTVEG/HERB

SOUTH

FOREST GARDEN POLYCULTURE DESIGNFRUIT/NUTVEG/HERBN-FIXER

SOUTH

FOREST GARDEN POLYCULTURE DESIGNFRUIT/NUTVEG/HERBN-FIXERMINER

SOUTH

FOREST GARDEN POLYCULTURE DESIGNFRUIT/NUTVEG/HERBN-FIXERMINERBUGS

SOUTH

PawpawPecan

Strawberry

FRUIT/NUT

PawpawPecan

StrawberryNodding

Onion

FRUIT/NUTVEG/HERB

PawpawPecan

WildBlue

Indigo

StrawberryNodding

Onion

FRUIT/NUTVEG/HERBN-FIXER

PawpawPecan

WildBlue

Indigo

StrawberryNodding

Onion

Com-frey

FRUIT/NUTVEG/HERBN-FIXERMINER

PawpawPecan

WildBlue

Indigo

Strawberry

AniseHyssop

NoddingOnion

Com-frey Green

& Gold

FRUIT/NUTVEG/HERBN-FIXERMINERBUGS

ELDERBERRY

CLOVE CURRANT

www.forested.us