A Food Forest Garden Checklist (including tips and suggestions)

I remember those days when my gardens needed a lot of input. When my goals for it were seldom reached and I had as many disappointments as I did successes. Those days when gardening was more of a struggle and my goals were kept humble because I had little faith in how much my gardens could give back.

I kept on trying and then one day, about 5 years ago, the light went on when I heard the good news: I can set up a garden that will be a functional, living ecosystem. I can imitate naturally renewable, self-sustaining, naturally occurring ecosystems, except I would select plants that are beneficial for me and for my soil.

My garden would have a biological community of interacting organisms that also interact with their physical environment. In short, this system would do most of the gardening work on its own and it would increase its resilience and output over time.

Sounds too good to be true? Would it be complicated? Would it require the knowledge of a scientist?

Does it sound complicated? Not when you think from a new point of view. It’s really as easy as a hike through the forest. As seeing leaves, sticks and fallen logs decomposing. sighting mushrooms, dappled shade, thickets and sunnier edges. The beauty was in the simplicity of it all. Setting up this garden was more like a child’s play.

As I developed my forest floor, the canopy grew in mass, under story plants took hold, layers interacted and became one unity that functions as such. Its plants became mature, reliable, dependable and I became a free plant parent whose plant kids are doing it all on their own.

If a light is going on for you too, scroll on and check out the following checklist of garden elements that would play an important role in your piece of paradise.

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• Early blooming spring bulbs. The roots of bulbous plants grow in the chilly temperatures of early spring. These wake the ecosystem up early, start photosynthesis and root growth which in turn, wakes up the soil microbes. Microbes then turn organic matter into soil nutrients while enhancing beauty and inviting humans to get out, observe and interact.
  

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• Late blooming perennials. These are plants that help the bee populations in late fall. Examples: Gaillardia, Sweet Alyssum, Zebra Mallow, Asters.

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• Nitrogen fixing plants; trees (if space allows), perennials and shrubs. Tree examples: Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustfolia), Wolf-Willow (Elaeagnus commutate). Shrub examples: Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens), Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia canadensis). There are Perennial prairie species that fix nitrogen, for example: Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis), Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis), Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense), Canada Milk Vetch (Astragalus canadensis), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Red clover (Trifolium pratense). Please note that Canada Tick Trefoil has proven extremely effective in my food forest but beware of the seeds because they cling to cloths and you’ll be removing them all year round. I now prune them right after flowering and it helps. I do love the flowers and am very happy with it.
  

• Insect confusers. These are plants that emit a fragrance that is repelling to pests. Examples: Garlic, Garlic Chives, Basil, Catmint, Sweet alyssum, Tansy, Dill, Lovage, Giant hyssop, mint (best grown in pots) Onion, wormwood, Herbs and weeds of the Lamiaceae (mint) family.
  

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• Nutrient accumulators. These plants have deep taproots that can be surprisingly long. They break hard soils and are crucial for water penetration into the soil. They also accumulate minerals from depths unreachable to other plants. When cut and dropped as mulch or as their leaves die on the ground, these rare minerals feed the soil microbiome and the other plants in the plant guild. They build up organic matter deep within the ground and they are crucial to creation of a healthy soil structure where soil particles are arranged in the best way suitable for plant growth. Examples are: dandelion, comfrey (Symphytum), and dock species (Rumex).
  

• Ground covers, for example: Strawberry, White Clover (Trifolium repens), Red clover (Trifolium pratense) Thyme, catmint, purslane (Portulaca oleracea), Comfrey (Symphytum). Ground covers will serve as a live mulch. They will keep soil moisture from evaporating and shade the ground to prevent weeds from growing. Clovers double as nitrogen fixers and are stepable, meaning they tolerate foot traffic. Strawberries enhance your food production.
  

• Fruiting shrubs and trees that enjoy your climate, sourced from a reputable nursery.
  

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• Perennial and free seeding vegetables and greens, for example: Asparagus, Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliate), French sorrel (Rumex scutatus), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Tree collards, Bloody Dock (Rumex sanguineus). Why replant everything every single year again and again?
  

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• Annual vegetables, herbs and greens of choice. Include classic kitchen garden plants planted in sunny, open areas of your forest.
  

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• Plants for a purpose: Medicinal, cut flower arrangements, plants that attract birds and allow you opportunities for bird watching, Supporting wildlife, basket weaving, animal feed, timber.
  

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• Windbreaks. A windbreak can be a hedge of edible shrubs, an evergreen or mixed hedge, the walls of a structure or a row or two of any tree or shrub that reduces wind damage at times of storms and reduce water evaporation.
  

• Shallow bird baths and bird houses. Note that bird droppings make a great manure additive.
  

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• Walkways and pathways for accessibility.
  

• A sitting or dinning area. Remember, humans are the centre element of the garden. Human's best friends are a big part of it too!
  

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• Composting area. Possibly worm bins or tubs.
  

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• Natural pond, if space allows. A natural pond will increase plant and insect diversity and may also help with soil drainage, if placed strategically.
  

• Rocks. Especially mounded rocks create beneficial micro climates. Rocks accumulate and distribute warmth. They also lock moisture under their mass and make it available to roots.
  

• Pots. Pots are great for nursing young plants until you decide where is best to plant them. It is sometimes beneficial to take time and think plant placement for a few seasons. This way, your plant is much more likely to end up growing in the right place. fabric pots are affordable and are best for healthy root development. Square fabric pots are preferred over round.
  

Nursery area, especially if selling plants is a goal.

• Animal living spaces. It would be wonderful to have ducks to pick up the slugs and chicken manure to compost together with regular chop and drop plant materials. For me this is yet another goal to look forward to as I did not allocate space in my backyard garden for animals. If you have the space and resources you will surely enjoy this aspect.
• Additional beneficial elements to consider are: swales for water management and hügelkultur mounds for soil creation and aeration.

There you have it my friends! Build your system as you see fit and let it amaze you and all who see it. You don’t have to do it in one season or even in one year. Enjoy the process. Processes are in the nature of nature 😉 and you are nature too 😉 so be a part of it. “Observe and interact”.