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Food forest

Food forest

A food forest is a production forest, although here the focus is not on timber production but on the production of edible nuts, berries, fruits, mushrooms, etc. Thanks to its layered structure and water management, the food forest contributes more to the absorption and retention of rainwater than a monotonous timber production forest.

The impact

Forest planting versus spontaneous forest development

Natural forest develops spontaneously. However, this development takes tens to hundreds of years. On a former arable field, spontaneous forest development occurs more quickly than on former grassland. Trees and shrubs germinate more easily on bare farmland than in a closed grass cover. By planting a forest yourself, development is even slightly faster, that is to say: in the initial phase. But ultimately, a planted forest only reaches maturity after many tens to hundreds of years. In a planted forest, the choice of tree and shrub species is made deliberately. With spontaneous forest development, one must wait and see what emerges, but what does emerge has been selected and hardened by nature from the outset; nor do the trees stand in neat rows.

N.B.

Due to the slow development of the forest, it is important to take great care of existing woodland.