forest gardening/agroforestry

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astra

Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 1243
Location: Somerset

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 10 6:20 am Post subject: forest gardening/agroforestry
Hello out there! Has anyone tried forest gardening on any scale? I'm thinking of setting up a small area to give it a go but would like to avoid any costly mistakes if possible. Would welcome any advice.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 10 6:58 am Post subject:

I've not done anything on a large scale but done a bit in the garden and now have some woodland to play with. If you're worried about costly mistakes then I think spending a bit on a good book would be worth it. I'll be reviewing "CREATING A FOREST GARDEN: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops" by Martin Crawford that is available at the end of this month. First glance through it looks like a very detailed and useful book. Link here: https://secure.agroforestry.co.uk/publs2003.html

astra

Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 1243
Location: Somerset

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 10 11:55 am Post subject:
Thanks, look forward to your review on that book. It looks excellent.I've been told today that Alys Fowler from Gardeners World is doing something on it in a prog on her garden so going to see if I can track that down on iPlayer.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45426
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 10 12:08 pm Post subject:
You're not that far from Martin, he normally runs a course in May, I found it very interesting: https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/courses.html

yummersetter

Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3241
Location: Somerset

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 10 3:08 pm Post subject:
I'm going down to Agroforestry for an evening walk as my birthday treat in early June

cassy

Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 1047
Location: South West Scotland

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 10 9:15 am Post subject:

If you want to experiment on a small scale, why not take cuttings or divide plants you already have or can get from friends. Plant up a small area with layers including fruiting plants, insect attracting plants, plants which fix nitrogen etc and see how they all do on your plot.

If you stick to stuff which you know will grow in your area you'll give yourself a better chance of success. You don't have to use expensive or hard to find plants - just use ordinary fruit and veg plants in a different way and mix them together with your flowers and fertiliser plants.

If you do decide to splash out on new plants, mulching them well will help them establish. Use cardboard or natural fibre carpets under the mulch to make it more effective.

I would also recommend visiting Agroforestry Research Trust (especially as you're so close) as it really bring home what it is all about.

If you can't wait for Martin's new book, there are a couple of book recommendations here. Lots of discussion of guilds and other permaculture ideas on the Permies forum here.

Have fun experimenting!

Piggyphile

Joined: 02 Apr 2009
Posts: 891
Location: Galicia

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 10 11:44 am Post subject:
Tim and I did Martin Crawfords weekend Agro Forestry course last year and it was wonderful. He covers loads and his forest is lovely, very different to what I was expecting (lighter and greener). We can't wait to get going ourselves.

astra

Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 1243
Location: Somerset

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 10 8:17 pm Post subject:
Thanks so much everyone for all the helpful advice and for your suggestions cassy.I'll certainly be making a trip to the Agroforestry Research Trust, can't think why I've never heard of it before!!

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 10 8:56 am Post subject:

Another vote for Agroforestry Trust people.

I wrote to them last year enquiring about Siberian pea - as supposed to be good for feeding chicken. Laid out where I am and soil type. Got a most helpful answer back (basically don't bother, S pea won't thrive) and recommendations on other plants.

Have bought four eleagnus and a rosa rugosa plus a lot of seeds. Very impressed by the plants that came in terms of size and quality - best I've bought. They are currently in pots and are sprouting leaves. Going to start planting later in the year. (Got behind on where we planned to be, crises plus that delightful winter.)

Seeds are still in the fridge, stratifying. Even if you don't buy anything this year, I'd suggest browsing their catalogue just for fascination at what is out there.

Plants for a Future website is also a good place to go to check whether what you fancy will suit where you are.

Res

Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: Allotment Shed, Harlow

Posted: Tue May 11, 10 3:23 pm Post subject:

Mutton wrote:

Even if you don't buy anything this year, I'd suggest browsing their catalogue just for fascination at what is out there.

I was doing exactly that all Sunday afternoon. could not put it down as it were. I was spell bound with the Catalogue

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Tue May 11, 10 5:47 pm Post subject:
I want to do it, and have maybe half an acre as a blank canvas, and then the idea of planting up a larger area of woodland here perhaps on similar lines if it's a success? But it's all very overwhelming and I can't afford the book or to visit this wonderful place everyone's on about, thus I am resorting to trial and error!!!

astra

Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 1243
Location: Somerset

Posted: Tue May 11, 10 6:13 pm Post subject:

Nat S wrote:

I want to do it, and have maybe half an acre as a blank canvas, and then the idea of planting up a larger area of woodland here perhaps on similar lines if it's a success? But it's all very overwhelming and I can't afford the book or to visit this wonderful place everyone's on about, thus I am resorting to trial and error!!!

I haven't got much money either but it's quite close to where I live. When I go I'll get some piccies to post on here and anything that seems useful for the novice! Trial and error ain't such a bad way to learn as long as it doesn't cost you too much

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Tue May 11, 10 7:05 pm Post subject:

Nat S wrote:

Ask your library to get it in for you?

Res

Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: Allotment Shed, Harlow

Posted: Tue May 11, 10 7:56 pm Post subject:

Nat S wrote:

I can't afford the book or to visit this wonderful place everyone's on about, thus I am resorting to trial and error!!!

Having had a good look at the info available on the web site, you can get quite a good idea of where to start for just a small area so I would suggest having a good read through. The trouble with trial and error with this is it takes soo long to see any results

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45426
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed May 12, 10 9:10 am Post subject:

Res wrote:

I was doing exactly that all Sunday afternoon. could not put it down as it were. I was spell bound with the Catalogue

OiOi, where you been?

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