Food Forests

These next images show the transformation from ornamental hedge to infant food forest. My neighbor and I took out the laurel, built a fence, and now, I have planted multi layered perrenials on my side of the fence. The plantings imitate a natural multi story plant community. This food forest, designed by a highly skilled neighbor, includes trees such as mulberry, almond, yellow horn and English Walnut. Smaller shrubs include currants, sidulcea, gooseberry, sedum, oregon grape and lower

A West property line looking north. Laurel hedge 2007.

growing herbs and perrenials such as salal, musk mallow,yarrow, ox eye daisy, day lily and others. All the plants either produce food or have medicinal properties. Some claim a food forest can produce more food than a similar space of vegetables. They do not have to be replanted every year. I have also added domestic blackberry, a canadice grape vine and hardy kiwi.

The posts will support 2 by 6s to the eave of the house forming a structure that will allow me to shape the trees into a pergola, a tunnel of food.

West property line looking south. Laurel hedge 2007.

B Bobcat after laurel is pulled out with Bill's Suburban.

Laurel were pulled out using a chain and Bill's suburban.

C Stumps and roots out. Refill with new dirt.

Food forest planted.

D New fence.

Common Circle work party removes stump.

E Same view as left. Food forest planted.

Stump gone. New fence and site of new grape arbor

Grape arbor, 2010. Grape vine planted 2011.

Grape trellis from above. More about food forests.