Forest Gardening - Growing food by mimicking nature

 

This bank holiday weekend we are welcoming Bryony Huntly from local Permaculture LAND centre, Westfield Farm as our tutor for an Introduction to Forest Gardening (and we’re making the most of the weekend by camping on the farm)!

We thought we'd share with you a little info about this incredible, sustainable way of growing food.

 

Forest Gardening Principles
There can be little doubt that the most sustainable way to grow food in any part of the world is the way which most closely imitates the natural vegetation of the area. Here in Britain the natural vegetation is woodland and a forest garden is closely modelled on a natural woodland.       Patrick Whitefield, The Earth Care Manual

A natural woodland is made up of layers of native trees, shrubs and woodland herbs and using this concept, a Forest garden makes use of edible varieties, stacking fruit and nut trees, soft fruit and perennial and self seeding vegetables. Taking further inspiration from nature, a Forest Garden is an example of no-dig gardening - this is aided by the use of perennial plants, mulching and by designing it carefully to ensure maximum ground cover to suppress weeds.

 

Is Forest Gardening for you?
A forest Garden is a very low maintenance method of growing fruit and vegetables so if you’re a lazy gardener this might be for you!

Since Forest Gardens are modelled on natural forests which are the most ecologically stable and sustainable system in Britain, it follows that Forest Gardens should be more biologically sustainable to disturbances such as climate change. Growing food in a way that the plants would be found naturally in the wild also means that they are likely to be more productive.

 

Forest Garden at The Community Farm
We are planning to devote an area of The Community Farm to a Forest Garden and during this weekend course, the group will work together to put what they’ve learnt into practice by designing our Forest Garden which we plan to start planting in the Winter.

Over the weekend you will get the opportunity to have an in depth tour of Bryony’s own 4 year old Forest Garden and look at how she is going about developing it. You’re sure to go home full of inspiration to start your own (or help us with ours up at the Farm)!

 

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Introduction to Forest Gardening
Sat 24th & Sun 25th August, 10am-4pm
Camping permitted on Saturday night (by donation)
£55 / £47 (members)
 

Click here for more information on the course and to book your place.