What Is a Food Forest? And How to Grow Your Own

Imagine walking into your backyard and finding yourself immersed in a natural and thriving supermarket of produce like pears, strawberries, cilantro, carrots, mushrooms and cucumbers, all ready for the picking. With some careful planning, this can be achieved with a forest garden, an agricultural model where edible crops are grown in a multi-story system that mimics natural forests from forest floor to canopy.

Layers of a Forest

Naturally occurring forest systems have several distinct layers that receive varying levels of sunlight and feature different plant species. For instance, the canopy, where tree tops tower above everything else and serve as a roof for the rest of the forest below, gets the most sunlight. Meanwhile, the forest floor is the lowest level. It’s the darkest and most humid because it receives the least sunlight. In addition to some ground-growing plants, this layer is also where fallen branches, seeds and fruits end up. As these elements decompose, they help to create nutrient-rich soil. In between are other levels of forest that may include an herb layer, shrub layer and understory.

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Layers of a Food Forest

Just like naturally occurring forests, edible forest gardens feature a similar layer system:

Canopy Layer

The canopy/high tree layer features the largest trees, which are typically those producing fruits and nuts — think oak, pecan, pawpaw, persimmon and walnut trees. Additionally, you can utilize nonfood-producing species such as hemlock and cedar, which have long been the go-tos for forest garden canopies.

You can also plant nitrogen-fixing trees in this layer to help build soil and attract beneficial insects. Some options include black locust, mesquite, alder and, in low-frost climates, acacia, algaroba, tagasaste and carob. However, some experts say you should forego dense, spreading species like maple, sycamore and beech, which cast deep shadows over a large area. Just like in a traditional forest, the leaves and twigs from these trees will fall to the forest floor from time to time, helping to provide much-needed nutrients to the soil.

Mid-Canopy Layer

Next up is the mid-canopy/low tree layer where you’ll find trees that aren’t quite as tall as those in the canopy layer. Popular options for this layer are apple, cherry, pear, apricot, peach, nectarine and almond trees.

Shrub Layer

As we continue down, the slightly lower shrub layer contains smaller, woody shrub species like blueberries, currants, elderberries and raspberries. Meanwhile, the herb layer features nonwoody plants like asparagus, garlic and horseradish, along with herbs like basil, cilantro and thyme.

Floor Layer

Now we’ve finally made it to the forest floor, where you’ll find the ground cover layer. The crops here – mint, creeping rosemary, strawberries, clover and other similar plants – not only provide more food for your dinner plate but also aid in erosion control and weed suppression. Plus, they’ll act as a natural mulch.

Vine Layer

And then there’s the vine layer. Here, you can grow crops like grapes, beans, cucumbers, squash, honeysuckle and melons. These plants may grow up trellises or arches or maybe even up the trunks and branches of your trees and shrubs. This layer provides additional food and habitat for animals, including beneficial pollinators.

Root Layer

As you go beneath the soil, you’ll find the root layer – here, underground crops like carrots, potatoes, radishes and ginger will help stabilize the soil and provide even more food options. You can also add a fungi layer by planting mushrooms.

Remember that all of the layers of your garden can benefit from nonfood flowering plants that will attract pollinators and encourage biodiversity, resulting in stronger harvests.

Benefits of a Food Forest

In addition to supplying endless food throughout the seasons, edible forest gardens are a great way to support wildlife like birds, small mammals, bees and butterflies, which will all benefit from the food and habitat that they provide. Plus, some of the plants in a food forest can help attract pollinators that will eat unwanted garden pests. This is a natural way to help you improve your crop yields. Forest gardens are also more self-sustaining than traditional plantings, meaning you won’t need to use as much fertilizer or pesticides.

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Picking a Spot for Your Forest Garden

Don’t rush the process. You’ll want to observe possible planting locations for some time, noting the sunlight they receive throughout the seasons, as well as any pests that visit, the irrigation situation, weather factors and any other observations that may affect your garden. Investigate elements like soil texture and anything else you need to know to understand the landscape better. For instance, you may want to perform soil tests. You can also keep a journal and/or map out the area, indicating what is happening in different areas. For example, one section of your map may say “cold and moist” to indicate the conditions in that spot, while another may say “wind exposed.”

During the planning phase, you can also make visits to local forests, taking note of what naturally grows well in your plant hardiness zone and finding commercially productive variants of those wild plants that can be incorporated into your garden. This will help you create an edible landscape that requires less work and maintenance, as native plants have evolved naturally in the local landscape.

When it comes to soil, arguably the most important consideration is good drainage, as poor-quality soil can be built up through amendments like compost and mulch. Meanwhile, sunlight and water needs will depend on the species you choose and the climate where you live.

Designing a Forest Garden

After you’ve picked a location, it’s time to start prepping. In addition to choosing which plants you’ll integrate into the space, you might consider other elements such as pathways, benches, birdbaths or tables. Then, you’ll want to sketch everything out, making sure to account for how much space plants like trees and shrubs will take up once they are fully mature. For instance, you’ll want to take note of not only how tall your trees will grow but also how much canopy/shade they will produce, as this will have a cascade effect on the rest of your garden.

This is also a great opportunity to strategize some companion planting. For instance, certain plants like strawberries and chives naturally grow well together. Meanwhile, tall and sturdy plants like sunflowers can help provide support for vines while also sheltering plants below from too much sunlight.

After you’ve mapped everything out, you’re ready to prep the space and get to planting! There’s no correct order for putting everything in the ground, but many people like to plant trees and shrubs in the fall to allow their root systems to become established before hotter summer temperatures arrive. Smaller plants can go in the ground in the fall or spring in most places.