Edible Forest Gardens

Forest Gardening
is a centuries old approach
to create living systems to meet
a variety of human needs

Succinctly put, edible forest gardens are “perennial polycultures of multi-purpose plants powered by the sun.” Following the patterns and ecological functioning of established forests, we are attempting to create stable, resilient, and diverse systems that require few outside inputs and are highly productive in relation to the amount of labour required. These gardens are not intended as a replacement of a natural forest; rather they are analog forest systems that can provide a wide range of yields to people while at the same time offering back numerous eco-system services such as carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, soil building, the creation of micro-climates and water retention.

Edible forest gardens typically include a diverse inter-planting of edible perennial species such as fruits, berries, nuts, perennial and self-seeding annual vegetables and herbs, mushrooms, and, if desired, small livestock such as bees, poultry and other animals. But forest gardens can also include many other yields such as medicinal plants, coppicing plants like willow or dogwood, plants for a wide range of crafting activities, flower production, harvestable timber species, perennial plants for bio-fuel production, and beautiful spaces for relaxation, recreation, learning and retreat.

Two year old edible forest garden in Edmonton.

From a small urban yard, to a community space, to a large acreage or farm, forest gardens can be designed for any scale and context. While many edible forest gardens are intended for the self-sufficiency and pleasure for those who live among them, others are also designed to create a surplus of yields that can generate income and livelihood. Common to all forest gardens, however, is the careful design that locates all species in positive relationship to eachother, thus establishing a living ecological system that will become largely self-sustaining and regnerating long into the future.

We can support you
in the development of
your own Edible Forest Garden

  • A consultation to help you assess the potential of your own particular land to support a forest garden
  • Providing you with a data base of appropriate plant and fungi species for a forest garden in your region
  • Working with you in the creation of a forest garden design for your property
  • Holding an “Edible Forest Gardening” workshop at your property which will include hands-on work towards the installation of your forest garden
Please contact us for more information
about any of the above options.

For more information!

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Testimonials

Over several experiences of taking workshops with Ron, I found him unfailingly encouraging and attuned to the learners, as well as terrifically knowledgeable and totally passionate about realigning our horticultural practices with the needs of the planet.  When we worked together to host a forest gardening workshop in my urban back yard, Ron brought his knowledge, connections and communications skills to the planning, making it a good learning adventure for me.  In the workshop classroom sessions, Ron inspired us with his knowledge and love of permaculture principles; in the hands-on session, he taught and directed traffic and kept one step ahead so that 15 people and 5 big wheelbarrels created, in 3 hours, a food forest in a small part of an urban back yard.  It was a joy to see the finished garden and a joy to create it together. ~ Donna Cardinal, Edmonton

Ron’s design transformed a shady patch of neglected lawn into a beautifully layered natural system, with each plant playing a critical role.  The result is a sustainable garden which requires little attention, provides an abundant source of berries and greens, and gives us a beautiful and restful spot for our hammock.Two months after Ron helped us install our first permaculture garden, and long before we expected a harvest, we are enjoying a delicious sorrel soup and debating when to collect the first, delicious fruit from our newly lush back yard. ~ Donald Darnel, Edmonton