We live in trying times! Modern industrialized farming has created unbalanced monocultures with the relentless use of chemicals, resulting in not only poisoning nature, but also ourselves in the process. These have resulted in large tracts of land being destroyed through soil erosion, increased salinity, and the destruction of supporting ecosystems.
It is not just the soil and ground water, but also the skies that are bearing the brunt. A recent report claims that rainwater across the world has become undrinkable due to ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancer.
Monocropping has had a negative impact on biodiversity – from increasing the number of pests to wiping out companion plants which otherwise acted as a counter to these problems. In contrast, alternative solutions such as food forests have the potential to provide healthy food, sufficient livelihoods, and environmental balance.
Forests and Food Forests
Before we get to food forests, lets first understand forests.
When I think of forests, I think of lush, multi-coloured, abundant wilderness with rich biodiversity full of trees, plants, birds, and animals, all co-existing within the same space and thriving with the least effort. Forests have healthy soil that is 'spongy' enough to store water from one monsoon till the start of the next one. No one goes about watering plants or preventing pest attacks in a forest. Likewise, there is no mowing, weeding, spraying or digging required. No use of harmful chemicals of any kind. The diversity of plant and predator makes it almost impossible to wipe out a forest with infestation.
Forests exist perfectly well on their own. Now, imagine if everything in these amazing, lush, abundant, forests was edible … you would call it a Food Forest.
Food forests are based on permaculture design systems and aim to replicate the structure of a natural forest to grow food more efficiently. A food forest can have up to 7 layers of food growing within the same space.
The 7 Layers of A Food Forest
- Canopy (Large fruit & nut trees)
- Low Tree Layer (Dwarf fruit trees – Up to 4 meters tall)
- Shrub Layer (Currents & Berries)
- Herbaceous Layer
- Soil Surface (Ground cover crops)
- Vertical Layer (climbers, vines)
- Rhizosphere (Root Crops)
Any remaining space is occupied by ground cover plants which form a living mulch that protects the soil, reduces water loss to evaporation, and prevents weeds growing. A food forest may not necessarily have all seven layers, but it does have multiple layers, and even more importantly, it is a virtually self-sustaining living ecosystem.
It is estimated that while traditional farming needs 370 hectares of land to feed 500 people, a food forest can do this in 70 hectares.
Advantages Of Food Forests
- Higher yield and productivity, with year-round produce
- Natural mulch, compost & fertilizer
- Natural pest control
- Biodiversity
- Resilience ecosystems
A Food Forest is built to replicate a real forest — only that we fill it with the food plants and trees that we want. To do this on your own could be a long and tedious process. However, considering the growing interest in sustainably produced food, there has been an increasing interest for individuals, especially from crowded metro cities like Mumbai, wanting to set up or collectively participate in growing and supporting food forests. To cater to this need there has been an increase in companies offering managed farmlands near Mumbai that are themed around natural food forests managed by experts along with the participation of members who can decide on their level of participation.
This is an encouraging step in fixing challenges like food security, encouraging biodiversity and building resilient ecosystems.