Re-forestgarden is the synthesis of two important aspects of a sustainable permaculture future:
Reforesting and forest gardening.
It is the integration of the existing agricultural practises of permaculture with the need to grow sustainable resources as timber and biofuels. Forest gardening is a food production and land management system modelled on the natural vegetation of Britain: woodland. By replicating a forest ecosystem with useful trees, shrubs, herbs and vegetables, one is able to work with the forces of nature rather than to fight against them.
Re-forest Gardening is the future:
- It eliminates the need for insecticides by choosing plants that attract natural predators to control pests, by choosing the best companion plants and by diversifying lots of different species.
- It eliminates the need for artificial fossil fuel based fertilisers by growing nitrogen fixing plants, the best composting plants and refining composting techniques.
- It eliminates the need for weed killers and limits the need for laborious weeding by growing ground covering and allelopatic plants and green manures for mulch. Other 'weeds' are a useful resource of nutrients.
- It is a low maintenance technique because of the choice of perennials and self-seeding annuals.
- It increases the beauty of the garden by allowing birds, insects and amphibians to play their essential role of pest control, of fertilisation and of spreading seeds.
- No need to drain land and destroy a naturally wet habitat. Shady and wet places that are unsuitable in conventional farming techniques produce succesful crops in a forest garden setting.
- Diversity in the production makes sure there is fresh food in the garden all year round.
- It brings our carbon footprint within sustainable levels by minimising and -ideally- eventually eliminating the need for fossil fuels and by growing renewable resources.
- It makes maximum use of space by growing plants in up to 7 layers.
*Canopy: Trees and shrubs are the backbone of the forest garden. The canopy consists of the tallest of these. Fruit and nut trees are a great edible choice.
*Under story (low-tree layer): Dwarf fruit and nut trees.
*Shrub Layer: Woody plants such as raspberries.
*Herbaceous Layer: Herbs and perennial vegetables.
*Vertical Layer: Climbing plants and vines.
*Ground layer: Ground cover, creepers, no more than half a foot tall.
*Rhizosphere: Root plants such as carrots, beets, and Jerusalem artichokes.
Forest gardening and permaculture are the best gardening technique for both people and planet. It is organic, healthy, beautiful, ethical, low-carbon, sustainable, ecological, part of -not detrimental to- the eco-system, it makes maximum use of space and it is low maintenance.
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