Forest Gardening (or Agroforestry) is a way of growing edible crops with nature doing most of the work. A forest garden imitates young natural woodland, with a wide range of crops grown in different vertical layers. Species are chosen for their beneficial effects on each other, creating a healthy system that maintains its own fertility, with little need for digging, weeding or pest control. The result of this largely perennial planting is a tranquil and beautiful, but also productive space. Whether a small area in your back garden or a larger plot, here is advice on how to create a forest garden with great environmental benefits: from planning and design (using permaculture principles) to planting and maintenance. With a changing climate, we must grow food sustainably, without compromising soil health, food quality or biodiversity and Forest Gardening offers an exciting solution to the challenge.
Creating a Forest Garden also includes a detailed directory of over 500 trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals, root crops and climbers – almost all of them edible and many very unusual. As well as more familiar plants you can grow your own chokeberries, goji berries, yams, heartnuts, bamboo shoots and buffalo currants.
Forest Gardening is a novel way of growing edible crops - nature does most of the work for you! A forest garden imitates young natural woodland, with a wide range of crops grown in different vertical layers, with little need for digging, weeding or pest control. Species are chosen for their beneficial effects on each other, creating a healthy system that maintains its own fertility, and also creating a beautiful space.
Creating a Forest Garden tells you all you need to know, whether you want to plant a small area in your back garden or develop a larger plot. It includes advice on planning, design (using permaculture principles), planting and maintenance, and a detailed directory of over 500 trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals, root crops and climbers - almost all of them edible and many very unusual.
Foreword by Rob Hopkins
Introduction
Part 1: How forest gardens work
1. Forest gardens
2. Forest garden features and products
3. The effects of climate change
4. Natives and exotics
5. Emulating forest conditions
6. Fertility in forest gardens
Part 2: Designing your forest garden
7. Ground preparation and planting
8. Growing your own plants
9. First design steps
10. Designing wind protection
11. Canopy species
12. Designing the canopy layer
13. Shrub species
14. Designing the shrub layer
15. Herbaceous perennial and ground-cover species
16. Designing the perennial/ground-cover layer
17. Annuals, biennials and climbers
18. Designing with annuals, biennials and climbers
Part 3: Extra design elements and maintenance
19. Clearings
20. Paths
21. Fungi in forest gardens
22. Harvesting and preserving
23. Maintenance
24. Ongoing tasks
Glossary
Appendix 1: Propagation tables
Appendix 2: Trees and shrubs for hedging and fencing
Appendix 3: Plants to attract beneficial insects and bees
Appendix 4: Edible crops by month of use
Resources: Useful organisations, suppliers and publications
A magnificiently produced tome that is sure to become every forest gardener's horticultural toolkit and bible.
- Grow It!
Martin has produced a book that is not only visually beautiful but very practical, offering advice on planning, designing, planting and general maintenance.
- Positive News
This book offers bountiful food for thought. If you are considering the creation or maintenance of a forest garden, then you would do well to have this book on your shelves.
- Green Prophet
This seminal piece of work is not only visually enthralling, it's incredibly easy to use. It contains a level of detail and explanation that makes it a must read for anyone who is serious about building a truly sustainable forest.
- WWOOF Ireland
Visually stunning with beautiful photography and illustrations, accompanying very informative and well constructed text.
- Self Sufficient-ish Website
This book is a must if you are interested in producing food from your garden, becoming more self-sufficient or just curious about plants and their uses.
- The Cottage Gardener
The ultimate book on the subject… extremely thorough and beautifully illustrated.
- Let's Talk (East Anglia)
This is a seminal piece of work on truly sustainable gardening, written with great spirit and soul.
- Alys Fowler, TV presenter and author of The Edible Garden
Martin Crawford has worked in organic agriculture and horticulture for many years. He is director of the Agroforestry Research Trust, a charity that researches temperate agroforestry and all aspects of plant cropping and uses, with a focus on tree, shrub and perennial crops.