This agroforestry method stacks multiple layers of productive plants, from tall canopy fruit and nut trees down to berry bushes, herbaceous perennials, and root crops. It mimics the architecture and nutrient cycling of a natural forest, relying on companion planting and perennial species rather than annual tillage. Once established, it requires minimal external inputs like fertilizer or pesticides, though harvesting remains highly manual.
We're converting the old pasture into a forest gardening setup, starting with chestnut trees in the overstory and currants below.
Also heard as
- food forest
Do not mix it up with
- Organic farming: Organic farming simply avoids synthetic chemicals and can still use annual monocultures, whereas forest gardening relies entirely on a multi-layered perennial ecosystem.
Related terms
Permaculture
A design approach to agriculture that mimics natural ecosystems to create self-sustaining landscapes.
Polyculture
The agricultural practice of growing multiple crop species in the same space.
Chop and drop
A mulching technique where cover crops or weeds are cut down and left on the soil surface to decompose.