Layers Of A Wild Food Forest

COMMENTARY

• OVERSTORY TREES: Provides shade, leaf mulch and some edible food
• UNDERSTORY TREES: Fruit trees kept small for harvesting fruit
• SHRUB LAYER: Berry bushes like dwarf black mulberry
• VEGGIE/HERB GARDEN: Plants from ground to 3 feet up
• ROOT: Ground cover that cools the ground with edibles sweet potatoes and cow peas
• VINE: Think grapes

Thinking Like Nature

COMMENTARY

• Farmer Greg discusses how he approached the front of his Urban Farm neighborhood with citrus hedges along the property line with neat garden beds. And sharing the harvest with neighbors
• Observing your space before you go wild!
  • Attention to the sun’s location: low in winter, high in summer
  • Understanding microclimates
  • Sources of water from rain, A/C condensate and city water
  • Observations can change over time

RESOURCE

• The Urban Farm Free Classes On Fruit Trees

Permaculture Design

COMMENTARY

• Sign up for The Urban Farm’s Permaculture Design Course
• Learn about Stacking Functions
  • Easy definition is one element that performs many functions
  • Chickens are a stacking function
    • Produce eggs
    • Provides fertilizer a.k.a chicken poop
    • Great dirt tillers
    • Eat bugs and weeds
    • Can make great pets
• Check with your city ordinances to see if they allow backyard chickens
• Takeaways
  • Observe your space
  • Plant what you like to eat
  • Plants that attract pollinators