Edible Forest Gardens
April 22nd, 2007I don’t own these books, but they look VERY good, possibly strategic in nature. I thought that many of you would find them interesting as well. Based on my experience so far, edible forest gardens should be the ultimate goal for those of us who are striving to produce our own food while creating self sustaining biological systems.
Rows of annuals are just a part of the story; a very useful and very hard work part of the story. Becky and I do not plan on expanding our row gardens any further: A) because of the amount work they require; and B) because we have already achieved a high level of output from them. We want more biodiversity with less work. We want edible forest gardens.
Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set) by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier:
Edible Forest Gardens is a groundbreaking two-volume work that spells out and explores the key concepts of forest ecology and applies them to the needs of natural gardeners in temperate climates. Volume I lays out the vision of the forest garden and explains the basic ecological principles that make it work. In Volume II, Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier move on to practical considerations:concrete ways to design, establish, and maintain your own forest garden. Along the way they present case studies and examples, as well as tables, illustrations, and a uniquely valuable “plant matrix” that lists hundreds of the best edible and useful species. Taken together, the two volumes of Edible ForestGardens offer an advanced course in ecological gardening-one that will forever change the way you look at plants and your environment. What is an edible forest garden?: An edible forest garden is a perennial polyculture of multipurpose plants. Most plants regrow every year without replanting: perennials. Many species grow together: a polyculture. Each plant contributes to the success of the whole by fulfilling many functions: multipurpose. In other words, a forest garden is an edible ecosystem, a consciously designed community of mutually beneficial plants and animals intended for human food production. Edible forest gardens provide more than just a variety of foods. The seven F’s apply here: food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, and “farmaceuticals,” as well as fun. A beautiful, lush environment can be a conscious focus of your garden design, or a side benefit you enjoy.
I have these books, they are quite good.
Of note, in the Amazon chapter of “1491” evidence is presented that the entire Amazon rain forest is a human artifact, an edible forest garden cultivated by humans for thousands of years. Evidence is also presented that the Amazon was densely settled in a sustainable manner before European diseases caused at least 95% dieoff of the inhabitants.
Alek,
Becky and I were thinking that—because the authors are based in the Northeast of the U.S.—maybe these books weren’t the right choice for us since we’re living in a subtropical climate.
Since you’re “in the neighborhood” I was wondering what you thought about that? Are edible forest garden builders in subtropical areas well served by these books?
Best,
Kevin
P.S. Fascinating info re: “1491.” Jeez. Grim chapter title. I almost wish I didn’t get it.
I own these two books and agree with Alek that they are quite good and well worth the investment to me. I also own Mollison’s “Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual” and think that both books have a place in my library. Mollison’s is a ‘kitchen sink’ kind of book that covers a lot of things (desert, tropics, etc) that don’t apply to me, but it contains so much information that I am glad to have it. Jacke & Toensmeier concentrate just of forest gardens and go into a lot of detail as to both the hows and whys of things.
The techniques and patterns they discuss are applicable pretty much anywhere, I think, but the plant selections they discuss and chart out are aimed at the Continental 48 states, pretty much from zones 2-8 or so and most of the ‘native’ to the USA and Canada. Depending on how different your region is from parts of the US, the plant data may be of limited use to you.
@Kevin
This book was mainly intended for a temperate zone readership, specifically USDA plant hardiness zones 4-7 with some overlap into zones 3 and 8:
http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hrdzon3.html
Northland would be a USDA zone 10 or 11
As such the book’s “top 100” species selection for the eastern US would not be an ideal match for Northland. On the other hand, the theory and planning sections, permaculture techniques, are still sound. One would just have to work with a local nursery and aborist to make more appropriate local species selections.
Yes, Charles Mann’s 1491 is a grim book. Before the pandemic dieoffs, the Americas were more populous than Europe. The “New World wilderness” was something that arose after the human dieoff, not the pre-contact state. There were probably more people living in the Amazon basin in 1491 than there are now, even counting the 2 million people in modern Manaus.
Let me recommend the documentary “The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil”. It touches briefly on forest gardens, and is in general a wonderful film.
Thanks for the info, guys.