DesignGeneral

How About Temperate Climate Forest Gardens?

There’s a few books on how to make a forest garden, all wonderful, but actually, where are they? How many people have actually done it in the 40+ years since permaculture came to be? There have been reports of tropical, and desert systems, but not much from the temperate climate. In this chat, you will find out the result of four years of work, from the idea to the book that is coming out in March.

The book will contain a short lesson in ecology, a review of a variety of gardens with a ton of beautiful images, and lastly a step by step guide to designing your own. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m sure you will too. If after listening you feel the urge to have it, you can now pre-order it direct from the author: https://reallifeforestgardens.com/book, or with the publisher: https://www.green-shopping.co.uk/forest-gardening-in-practice.html

Interview notes:

-Oldest gardens 25 years old, youngest looked at 5 years.
-More than a half of these in the UK.
-All of them northern hemisphere temperate climate.
-There hasn’t been a comprehensive review of forest gardens in temperate climate to date.
-Four years from the first thought to now releasing a book.
-Research started with an online survey together with the Permaculture Association.
-This resulted in a string of visits in person.
-Balkan Ecology Project.
-Sagara, East Devon forest garden. See his way of design using large scale boards with paper cutouts for individual trees:
How about temperate climate forest gardens? 01

…and the result, six years into establishment:
How about temperate climate forest gardens? 02

Five categories that the survey asked to choose from:
-Biodiversity
-Food self-reliance
-Commercial production
-Research
-Education

-1 acre seems to be the average scale of existing forest gardens.
-The largest garden in the visit was created for foraging.
-Graham Bell’s garden is worth a visit – exemplary!
Reading International Solidarity Centre rooftop forest garden.

How about temperate climate forest gardens? 03

Alara Wholefoods forest garden
-School forest gardens that allow children to forage, play in the “wild” and interact with one another.
-Imagining what you could expect from a semi established perennial garden.
Paul Pivcevic.
-Tomas Remiarz on Facebook.
-You can now reserve your copy of Tomas’ book
-Go to RealLifeForestGardens.com

Music used: Luxe by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

If you would like to listen to more inspiring interviews with permaculture practitioners in the UK, head over to https://danieltyrkiel.co.uk/.

Images copyright respective authors.

2 Comments

  1. How come Robert Guyton’s 25 year old food forest in New Zealand wasn’t included? He has a YouTube video about it as well

    1. Hi Dale,

      I’m sure given the choice Tomas would love to get there, but he was working with very limited budget for travel.

      Something for a follow up I’m sure.

      Thanks for listening!

      Regards,
      Daniel

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