EdibleForestGardensisagroundbreakingtwo-volumeworkthatspellsoutandexploresthekeyconceptsofforestecologyandappliesthemtotheneedsofnaturalgardenersintemperateclimates.VolumeIlaysoutthevisionoftheforestgardenandexplainsthebasicecologicalprinciplesthatmakeitwork.InVolumeII,DaveJackeandEricToensmeiermoveontopracticalconsiderations:concretewaystodesign,establish,andmaintainyourownforestgarden.Alongthewaytheypresentcasestudiesandexamples,aswellastables,illustrations,andauniquelyvaluable“plantmatrix“thatlistshundredsofthebestedibleandusefulspecies.Takentogether,thetwovolumesofEdibleForestGardensofferanadvancedcourseinecologicalgardening-onethatwillforeverchangethewayyoulookatplantsandyourenvironment.Whatisanedibleforestgarden?Anedibleforestgardenisaperennialpolycultureofmultipurposeplants.Mostplantsregroweveryyearwithoutreplanting:perennials.Manyspeciesgrowtogether:apolyculture.Eachplantcontributestothesuccessofthewholebyfulfillingmanyfunctions:multipurpose.Inotherwords,aforestgardenisanedibleecosystem,aconsciouslydesignedcommunityofmutuallybeneficialplantsandanimalsintendedforhumanfoodproduction.Edibleforestgardensprovidemorethanjustavarietyoffoods.ThesevenF’sapplyhere:food,fuel,fiber,fodder,fertilizer,and“farmaceuticals,“aswellasfun.Abeautiful,lushenvironmentcanbeaconsciousfocusofyourgardendesign,orasidebenefityouenjoy
FOOD illustrations GARDENS fertilizer FIBER FOREST
