Food Forests

Figure 1. Food Forests.

Source: Wix (n.d.).

What are Food Forests?

A food forest mimics the diversity of a natural forest where a variety of plants grow together as an ecosystem. By modelling this concept in the garden, plants grouped together complement each other, take advantage of niches and microclimates, increase biodiversity and ensure healthy soil and plants. - Gardening Australia (2020)

Food forests have many advantages. The plants work together instead of against each other to provide a thriving and healthy ecosystem for all. There are various layers to food forests, such as a canopy, understory, shrubs, herbaceous, rhizosphere, ground cover and vines. A glaring advantage to a food forest is with a canopy layer, this negates the need for shade-cloth or artificial protection. Another advantage is that if the crops planted are friends, working in symbiosis, this keeps the soil healthier for longer. The only disadvantage I can see to a food forest is a lack of accessibility for the mobility challenged.

Annotated Written Appendix for Food Forests

Gardening Australia. 2020. "Food Forest Fundamentals." Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/food-forest-fundamentals/12726464

This is a direct quote.. I've used it because it is succinct.

Wix. n.d. Figure 1. Food Forests.

Images improve SEO. I've used this stock illustration from Wix to save on storage space.