THE FOREST GARDEN

This magnificent book offers all the keys to creating an edible forest in permaculture adapted to our climate to regain autonomy and abundance! Creating a "forest-garden" or "edible forest" consists of planting a wide range of edible plants at different heights, inspired by forest ecosystems. Thanks to their mutual interactions, the chosen species require little soil work, weeding or pest control, and result in a productive and healthy system. This book gives all the keys to creating a forest-garden adapted to our climate, whatever the size of the project: design, planting and maintenance advice; directory of more than 500 trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables and climbers, all edible or tiles, all cultivable and available here, and many unknown. Martin Crawford worked in England for more than 20 years in the fields of organic farming and horticulture. He is the director of the Agroforestry Research Trust, a foundation studying temperate agroforestry and all aspects of plant cultivation and use, with an emphasis on trees, shrubs and perennials grown for food. Martin Crawford's Forest Garden will be a veritable encyclopedia for all temperate climate permaculture enthusiasts, those who dream of creating an edible forest at home but don't know where to start. This book will also be a very useful source of inspiration for experienced permaculture enthusiasts, landscapers and professionals or anyone who has embarked on a process of research into food autonomy with no fewer than 500 references of mainly edible plants to create their autonomous and resilient forest system. ContentsPreface to the English edition by Rob HopkinsPreface to the French edition by Charles-Hervé GruyerHow does an edible forest work?1. Edible forests2. Characteristics and production of an edible forest3. The effects of climate change4. Native Plants, Exotic Plants5. Mimicking the Forest6. The Fertility of Edible Forests Designing Your Edible Forest7. Soil Preparation and Planting8. Producing Your Own Plants9. First Steps in Design10. Windbreaks11. Canopy Species12. Designing the Canopy13. Shrubs14. Planting the Shrub Layer15. Herbaceous Perennials and Ground Cover Species16. Designing the Perennial and Ground Cover Layer17. Annuals, Biennials, and Climbers18. Designing with Annuals and ClimbersAdditional Design and Maintenance Elements19. Clearings20. Pathways21. Growing Mushrooms in an Edible Forest22. Harvesting and Preserving23. Maintaining the Edible Forest24. Routine Maintenance