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What is a forest garden?
A forest garden is a specific and diverse selection of plants designed to function in the same way as a young forest. Its goal is often primarily to satisfy human needs. The relationships between the plants work towards mutual benefit, increasing the chances of health for all life in the system, including plants, insects, birds, and soil biota.
Plant propagation
Do you want to learn about plant propagation and grow your garden with ease? Discover how sexual propagation through seeds creates unique, resilient plants, while non-sexual methods like grafting, splitting, offshoots and cutting help you replicate the best qualities of your favorite plants.
Whether you’re interested in preserving specific traits or experimenting with new growth, mastering these techniques will empower you to cultivate a thriving and diverse garden.
Pruning
Want to understand how plants grow and thrive? Pruning is a powerful technique that promotes healthy growth, shapes plants, and enhances flowering and fruiting. By understanding when and how to prune, you can strengthen your plants' structure, prevent disease, and encourage vigorous new growth.
By providing the right food, water, light, and climate, you can nurture plants to reach their full potential. Learn how apical dominance, where the top shoot drives growth, can be managed through pruning to encourage strong, healthy plants.
Plant diseases
Interested in learning how to keep your forest garden healthy? Discover how choosing disease-resistant plants, managing soil conditions, and proper pruning can help prevent plant diseases. Explore the benefits of avoiding harmful fungicides and starting with healthy plants. Understanding these practices can empower you to maintain a vibrant and thriving garden.
Trees
Learn how to optimize the tree layer by selecting fruit, berry, and nut trees suited to your climate. Discover the importance of tree density to ensure proper light and reduce disease spread. Explore how overlapping crowns can offer mutual benefits, like frost protection and nitrogen enrichment.
Find out how incorporating nitrogen-fixing trees can create a self-sustaining garden. Dive into the details of tree size, shape, and specific needs to maximize your forest garden's potential.
Shrubs and bushes
Interested in optimizing your forest garden with the right shrubs and bushes? Discover how to design the shrub layer by understanding their light and space needs. Learn about the ideal placement for berry bushes like blackcurrants, raspberries, and blueberries, as well as other exotic varieties with unique flavors.
Explore how to leverage terrain, soil types, and microclimates for the best results. Find out how to avoid disease spread, enhance cross-pollination, and ensure your shrubs thrive alongside your trees. Dive into the essentials of creating a balanced and productive shrub layer in your forest garden!
Soil covers
Explore the benefits of using soil covers in your forest garden! Discover how ground cover plants can protect your soil, enhance its health, and add multiple functions, from edibility and medicinal uses to nitrogen fixation and attracting beneficial insects. Learn how to design with both low and medium-high ground covers to create a thriving, multi-layered ecosystem.
Find out which plants are best suited for shade tolerance and minimal foot traffic, and how to combine deep and shallow root systems to reduce competition. Optimize your garden's health and productivity with the right ground covers.
Windbreakers
Want to learn how windbreakers can transform your forest garden? Discover how these vital elements reduce wind speed, increase temperatures, and conserve soil moisture, while also protecting your plants and wildlife. Explore how multi-functional hedges can provide benefits like nitrogen-fixing, mineral collection, and attracting pollinators. See how integrating windbreakers can enhance productivity and resilience in your garden. Dive into the world of windbreakers and elevate your garden’s health and efficiency today!
Nitrogen fixation
Want to learn how nitrogen fixers can naturally enrich your forest garden? Discover how certain plants, especially from the pea family, partner with beneficial bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into vital nutrients for the soil. These plants not only boost soil fertility but also offer additional benefits like edible crops and bee attraction.
Explore the variety of nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs that thrive in different light conditions and see how incorporating them can reduce your reliance on synthetic fertilizers while enhancing your garden's health and productivity. Dive into the world of nitrogen fixers and cultivate a more sustainable garden today!
Perennials
Want to learn how perennials can enhance your forest garden? Explore how herbaceous perennials, from ground covers to mineral collectors, play a vital role in your garden. Discover perennials that offer a variety of benefits, including edible berries, fruits, leaves, and even medicinal properties. These versatile plants not only provide nourishment but also contribute to the garden’s health and sustainability. Dive into the world of perennials and find out how they can enrich your garden with multiple layers of functionality and beauty.
Annuals, Biennials, and Climbers
Want to learn how to incorporate annuals, biennials, and climbers into your forest garden? Discover how to strategically place sun-loving annuals and biennials in cleared areas to thrive amid the shade. Explore climbers that can scale walls, fences, or even trees, adding vertical interest and a touch of the wild. Learn about herbaceous and woody climbers, their growth habits, and how to position them for optimal sun exposure and easy harvesting. Uncover the secrets to integrating these dynamic plants into your forest garden for a diverse and productive landscape.
System plants
Explore how plants that attract beneficial insects, such as those in the Asteraceae and Apiaceae families, boost pollination and control pests naturally. Discover plants that support soil health by stimulating nitrogen-fixing bacteria, adding vital minerals, or providing disease resistance. Learn how to integrate these plants to improve the overall ecosystem and prevent negative interactions with other plants, ensuring a thriving, balanced garden.
Beneficial predatory insects and small critters
Beneficial predatory insects and small critters are vital for a healthy garden. Boost their numbers by planting species from the Asteraceae and Apiaceae families, which attract them. Use organic mulches and reduce tillage to support their habitat. Ensure plenty of hiding places, like dense vegetation or flower meadows, to help these insects thrive and keep pests in check.
Bumblebee and bee plants
Support a thriving bee population by planting a variety of flowering plants throughout the year. Include species that bloom in late winter, early spring, spring/summer, and fall to provide continuous pollen and nectar. Don’t overlook the benefits of wood-dwelling fungi, which boost bee immunity and contribute to their overall health. Incorporating these plants and fungi can help mimic natural habitats and support both bumblebees and bees effectively.
Herbicides
Want to learn about the hidden dangers of glyphosate? This widely used herbicide, known for its role in killing weeds, also disrupts plant health and soil ecosystems. Glyphosate not only weakens plants by impairing their immune systems but also harms beneficial soil organisms and increases disease vulnerability.
There are growing concerns about its potential health risks, including its links to various diseases and environmental contamination. Dive into the crucial details about glyphosate’s impact and why its continued use should be carefully examined.
Mushrooms and fungi
Discover the amazing world of fungi and harness its hidden benefits! From improving soil health and plant growth to breaking down organic material and forming essential symbiotic relationships, fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems. Learning about fungi can help you leverage its power for gardening, agriculture, and sustainable living. Dive into the fascinating science of fungi and explore how these incredible organisms can support healthier plants, increase yields, and promote biodiversity.
Food preservation
Preserve your food naturally without chemical additives and keep it safe, flavorful, and nutritious. By understanding how microorganisms, enzymes, and fungi cause spoilage, you can effectively use methods like boiling, drying, freezing, and preservation with salt, sugar, vinegar, alcohol, or oil.
Take control of your food's freshness—start preserving today and transform your kitchen with our 54 food preservation recipes and 17 house apothecary solutions!
Living topsoil
Healthy soil is a living ecosystem, vital for plant growth and sustained by a complex web of microorganisms. Modern practices like excessive chemical use and plowing disrupt this balance, depleting the soil's fertility and structure. To restore soil health, we must embrace regenerative practices like reducing chemicals, avoiding plowing, and using organic amendments to rebuild microbial communities. By working with nature, we can create resilient, productive soils that support sustainable agriculture and a healthier environment for future generations. It's time to revitalize our soils and rebuild their life-giving potential.
