Forest Garden itinerary
A. Theory
B. Practical
C. Timetable
D. Reference
A. Theory
1. Definition of a forest garden
- Productive: produce, layers
- Sustainable: wildlife, pests, nutrients, inputs, carbon
- Low maintenance: watering, weeding, digging, fertilising, compost
Wildlife orchard underplanted with edible shrubs & perennial vegetables. 7 layers.
2. Start with wants
- Harvest: fruits, nuts, seeds, spices, herbs, mushrooms, poles, canes, string
- Space: People centered “who, what & when”
- Time
- Money
3. Climax vegetation
- Woodland → Forest garden → Orchard → Pasture → Arable
- Increased: energy, fragility, uniformity, maintenance, greenhouse gas emissions
Gently balance the garden
On the cusp of woodland
With minimal effort
4. Efficiency
Energy input:output
* Animal 1: 0.8
* Arable 1: 4.0
* Forest garden 1:40.0
B. Practical
1. Survey
- Measure aspects: soil, water, boundaries, paths, slopes, orientation, views, footpaths, utilities, structures, access, privacy etc
- Mapping: tape measure, satellite, OS map - accuracy
2. Plan
- List what you want & have (three W’s; time, money, space). Zoning.
- Purpose of plan: fit the use and trees with the space.
- Plan access, windbreaks, canopy, name areas (computer or paper).
3. Propagate
- Start ground cover & windbreaks now
- Rudimentary propagation bed. Flowers & veg!
4. Windbreaks
- Calculate position, height, width (nurse tree)
- Choose - aspect, light, soil
5. Canopy
Critical. Spacing, pollination, protection
6. Sheet mulch
Area, material, time
7. Shrubs
Spacing, light, access. Mark chalk circles.
8. Ground cover
Wood chip, spacing, shade, temporary ground cover
C. Timetable
1. Workshop timetable
- 10-11: Tour - meadow, coppice, Ornamental Forest Garden, Forest Garden One definition
- 11-12: Survey, plan
- 12-1: Lunch
- 1-2: Plan
- 2-3: Practical propagation, shrub
- 3-4: Practical ground cover
2. Tour timetable
- Definition: Fruit Triangle example
- Survey, Plan: polytunnel area
- Propagation, windbreaks: Ornamental Forest Garden
- Canopy, Shrub, Ground cover: Forest Garden One
D. Reference
- What is a Forest Garden?
- The seven layers of a forest garden
- Why a forest garden is good for climate change
- Rootstock reference
- Tree spacing in the forest garden
- Dead hedging in the forest garden
- Creating a Forest Garden, book by Martin Crawford
- Plants For A Future www.pfaf.org
- Orange Pippin fruit directory www.orangepippin.com
- Horticultural Myths puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs/
- Edimentals edible plants www.edimentals.com
- Sun Surveyor app www.sunsurveyor.com
- Inkscape drawing software www.inkscape.org
- QCAD software www.qcad.org
Contact
- Forest Garden Wales
- www.forestgarden.wales, email jake@forestgarden.wales, Twitter @NatureWorksGdn
- Please leave a review on Airbnb, Tripadvisor or Facebook @NatureWorksGarden, thank you 🙂
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