What does a human being’s natural environment look like? Regardless of your interpretation of the story of Eden, it is indeed an Edenesque place from which we originate. We have now emerged from the forests and spread out across the wide world as explorers of what exists to be discovered.

This journey is beginning to show its non-linear nature. We have been to the frozen edges of the Earth and we have tried building our cities above the forest floors. Although our discontent may have propelled us from paradise, we are coming full circle to embrace both that which we have lost and gained.

“Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; Till at his second bidding darkness fled, Light shone, and order from disorder sprung.” – John Milton

If our problems stem from destruction, our solution must be its counterpart. But what should we create?

Enter the concept of a food forest, known by some as an edible forest or forest garden. Closely resembling a natural forest, it is designed specifically to provide for the needs of its inhabitants. This goes beyond what we might think of as ‘food’ to medicine, fuel, beauty, clean water and building materials.

Lucky for us at least a few of our brightest minds are hard at work evolving these systems. Beyond providing for our needs, one of the main ideas is to create systems that produce far more energy than required to build them – or maximizing net energy gain.

This of course in contrast to our current systems, most of which operate under net energy losses.

Let’s take a look at the components of a food forest in 7 layers.

The Tall-Tree Layer – The canopy layer made up of large trees that can produce fruits, nuts, fuel or building materials or provide nutrients to the soil. Also can provide excellent wildlife habitat. Wide spacing to allow light to reach lower plants. Ex. walnut, chestnut, black locust, alder, acacia, full sized apple, plum, or cherry. The Low-Tree Layer – Smaller trees that serve many of same purposes as the canopy but fill the space beneath it. Many fruit and nut trees such as peach, nectarine, almond and mulberry fit well here. In a limited space this may serve as your canopy layer. Smaller nitrogen fixing trees can be pruned and used as mulch for food producing plants. Flowering trees such as dogwood or mountain ash can be attractive for both humans and beneficial insects. The Shrub Layer – Shrubs or bushes that can serve a variety of purposes from producing berries and medicine to attracting wildlife and accumulating nutrients in the soil to feed other plants. Others may be chosen for their beauty or usefulness as material for building or crafts. Some examples are blueberry, serviceberry, bamboo, blackberry or Siberian pea shrub. The Herb Layer – These are a wide range of smaller annual and perennial plants such as vegetables, culinary or medicinal herbs, flowers, and other plants chosen to cover bare soil, accumulate nutrients, attract beneficial insects and provide mulching material. The Ground-Cover Layer – Low plants that suppress weeds, provide habitat or food and in some cases fix nitrogen in the soil. Popular choices are clover, strawberries and creeping thyme to name a few. The Vine Layer – Climbing plants that utilize the stems and trunks of other plants, fences, railings and anything else. Range of uses is similar to other layers in the food forest. Examples include grapes, hops, peas, cucumbers, melons and kiwifruit. The Root Layer – The subterranean layer or rhizosphere not to be forgotten. Plants for food, nutrients and/or soil aeration. Ex. garlic, onions, potatoes, fungus and Jerusalem artichokes.

The main idea here is to fill space with beautiful and useful organic matter. Each component of the forest is carefully chosen to play a certain role (or ideally roles) in the bigger picture. Symbiotic relationships are created, the needs of inhabitants are met and the result is a net energy surplus.

Let’s ask ourselves: What if we dedicated all of our energy to creating these types of systems? What if our sharpest minds turned from creating weapons systems to creating food forests? Can you begin to imagine?

Hmmmm…….

TVP