FOREST GARDENS

SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION

If we as a species are to carry on existing on the planet, we must have permanent and sustainable agricultural systems.

Whats the problem?

The majority of modern day food production systems are geared more to economic gain than to ensure the health and prosperity of planet and people. Cheap production takes priority over quality of goods and whether those goods have been produced without harm to other factors. Most current agricultures are mono-cultures and unsustainable; they are heavily reliant on the earths resources and require high levels of inputs every year when compared to yields. Lots of irrigation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides cause imbalances in nature, to the detriment of wildlife, . Huge amounts of fossil fuels are burnt in the production, transportation (often hundreds of miles!!), processing, packaging, displaying of food. Even the consumer burns fuel to go and buy the food. All these greenhouse gas emissions contribute heavily towards global warming. Soils are compacted by heavy machines and depleted as many nutrients are not replaced.

This industrial agriculture which is ironically inefficient, being ‘extensive’ not ‘intensive’ as commonly described, is leading us to disaster. We must act now to lessen the struggle of future times and generations.

So What can be done?

There are ways to produce food without damaging the earth; by designing food production systems which integrate land, crops and wildlife. Furthermore these systems can be integrated with settlement to create an all encompassing permaculture, which designs systems holistically by observing natural processes and mimicing them, linking up elements in design so that outputs of a system become inputs of another, thus reducing pollution, which is just unused waste. Its about reducing energy inputs for increased energy out puts. We have little need for expensive scientific crop research, especially genetic modification which has neither statistically been proven to increase yield, nor can be determined as safe when there has not been sufficient time to observe potential long term damaging effects. Artificially modifying the genetic code for life itselfraises obvious concerns, the fact that super pests have evolved in nature as a response top gm crops backs this up.  Also much of the research is dependant itself on fossil fuels.

The solutions to our impending global food crisis (which is part of the greater all over problem of a universal ecological dilemma) already exist, no search is needed. We must change the way the world has become, we must consume less, not try to find ways to meet current levels of consumption which are high due to greed, waste and unsustainable economics. Trying to find solutions to provide enough food for the next 50 years for the world by using the conventional methods or adaptations of, much in place today, will end in disaster. Systems must become energy efficient and sustainable, individuals, homes settlements, businesses governments need to take responsibility in conserving life on earth, which is a deeply moral issue. The earth supports us, maintains our existence, if we destroy the earth we destroy ourselves. So taking the subject of food production only, how do we remedy the situation?

To achieve sustainable food production systems, where calorific energy from products is equal to or greater than the embodied energy used to produce it, we concentrate on reducing the energy inputs. Wherever possible food should be grown as close to the dinner table as possible to reduce energy used in its transportation and storage. Most food should come from home gardens and local allotments, community supported agriculture and farms. Furthermore the majority of the food has to be from plants not animals, because this is far more productive on the whole unless well designed mixed farms are established when yields can be overall increased using animals.  On the whole though in present times, meat and dairy production is not sustainable.

The rise of capitalism fuelled by the industrial revolution, fuelled by fossil fuels has brought on widescale insanity; it is nonsensical to grow food for export when similar foods are being imported. The reasoning is purely economics.

Perennial species must be used more as they are more energy efficient.

Forest gardens are sustainable, perennial agricultural systems. They may require quite a lot of work to implement but once established they require relatively very little maintenance compared to annual crops. They give food and useful products year upon year, with few inputs needed. Products include fruits, nuts, seeds, perennial vegetables, herbs, honey, saps, timber, poles, firewood, game etc. The beauty is the fact that there is great bio-diversity, by working with nature productivity is increased. This is a great example of a permaculture, benefiting all forms of life.

How do they work?

They are designed using the principles observed from a naturally formed forest.

The productivity per area is greater than that of an arable field because so much more vertical space is used.

There are seven distinct layers

Tall canopy trees

Smaller trees and large shrubs

Shrubs

Herbaceous

Groundcover

Roots and Fungi

Climbers

This layering is known as ‘stacking’

The selected species will all be edible and/or useful.

The large bio-diversity helps to create a natural harmony and a healthy ecosystem which is stable and resilient.

A healthy system makes for higher productivity.

They work on any scale, from urban backyard to large forests covering many acres. The key is that they are local to the markets and consumers. This means so much less fossil fuel use. Food is fresher too, and picked at the right time so riper and more nutritious. These gardens can also support a local work force and be a community area.

Whether you are looking to just grow food in the back garden for yourself and your family, or if you have a large area to create a system which is not only ecologically sustainable but economically profitable as well, helping towards permanent agriculture is a very worthwhile action.