Forest Gardening

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Comment by Ruth Marsh on September 11, 2011 at 19:18

Hi there. Yes I have a developing forest garden - 10 fruit trees plus a few others... I sowed Koanga Orchard herbal ley under a few weeks ago and the lupin is coming up. I also threw in all my old (out of date) vege and wild flower seed and I see zucchini or possibly cucumber coming up as well.... Maybe not perennial but hey, the more the merrier. Also have lots of comfrey, nasturtium, and calendula. Can't wait to plant kumara as a perennial ground cover and see what else comes up. And yes, my tress are bursting into bloom as well... so very exciting really.

Comment by Deb Butterfield on September 10, 2011 at 8:49

Hello! Just thought I would drop a line or 2 about how nice it is to see my new orchard / forest garden "wannabe" turn from straight grass and twigs to something a bit prettier! I have been watching the trees everyday with my "helper" (Adam aged 11) and the 3 dogs..it is heartening to see a few more blossoms and emergent leaves. Particularly wonderful is to see signs of life in the many "twigs" I poked into the ground!

Welcome to Ruth - do you have a forest garden or plans??

Cheers

Deb

Comment by Deb Butterfield on July 22, 2011 at 13:12

Hi, mostly bought the first lot. Have also got some cuttings growing. We struggled as we didn't have the right pollinators..ie lots of growth, but no nuts..

Comment by Andrew Shepherd on July 21, 2011 at 23:06

Okay. Well, similar goals. But maybe not so far advanced. Pretty much bare land - overgrown grass, in Gladstone. Very dry in summer. Planting fruit trees at the moment, with aim of having about 1/4 acre of fruit trees in the end supported with underplanting. 

Have been planting natives as well but run out of funds for plants for time being, and I only get over for a day every few weekends. Really interested in growing hazel though. Did you propagate yourself from cuttings or buy?

Comment by Deb Butterfield on July 21, 2011 at 18:39

Hi, the forest garden concept is about growing fruit, nut, berries, herbs etc in the same space..using the different needs for shade/ sun of the various plants. So for example, you get the tall fruit trees (pears apples for example). Under them you plant hazels, currants, herbs, perennial veges..my knowledge of forest gardening first came about reading Robert Harts book..UK based forest gardening. I am experimenting here in NZ with an approx 2 acre block..mostly trees and lots of grass at this stage I am afraid! I imagine there will be a few permacultural type growers out there who will also be doing similar..

At the moment I am frantically trying to plant as much as poss..for free! So lots of cuttings going in etc. I am looking forward to the spring when I can see what is hopefully going to take. My tree layer is just about complete so I am now focusing on the understory..I also want to include plantings of edible native plants..have not yet got any, but am hoping to start with horopito maybe..

Comment by Andrew Shepherd on July 21, 2011 at 18:11

So we're not just talking about an orchard gone wild? Native only? I don't think my little bit of land will ever support a forest, probably more scrub-like, but definitely interested in edible.