Let’s say you have a wooded property and want to grow food in the woods.
However, you want to do it in a way that preserves as much of the forest as possible. I.e you want to minimize clearing and cutting down the trees but still be able to grow food.
Is growing food in this way even possible?
Well, it is, and today I’m going to give you three options of what you could do.
Let’s tackle them one by one.
1. Growing food in the understory of the forest
Forest Farming Ginseng Credit: Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
In closed canopy areas of the forest, you can still grow food, but you’ll need to be more strategic about it. The light is a limiting factor here, but it’s not like there isn’t any. The conditions might vary from classic shade to partial shade depending on the type of trees and forest maturity. Not all closed canopies are made the same and some are letting enough sun for the understory growth.
In this area you could grow ‘forest crops’ – mushrooms, ramps (wild garlic), ginseng, and goldenseal. And even some fruit and nut crops like elderberries and (American) pawpaws, currants, honeyberries, and hazels… Of course, the yields won’t be as in the full sun, but the point is – you have options.
Also, you could have animals in the forest and do silvopasture. Animals are food, right, and some are well adapted to roam the forests (e.g. pigs). Others might need pasture, but you could combine it with a forested area in some way to give the animals more shade and shelter.
2. Growing food in existing forest gaps, clearings, and edges
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The forest will also have areas that have more sun.
For example, there might be existing gaps and clearing for whatever natural reason – wildfire, windstorm, natural death… Also, every forest will have an edge, where the forest stops and your pasture, backyard, orchard, pond… start. Naturally, these areas will have more sun and room for your plants.
In addition to all the fruit/nut plants outlined under no.1 above (elderberries, currants, honeyberries..) you could add other plants that might do well in partial shade like raspberries, chokeberries, blueberries, and kiwi. And if the area has solid access to the sun, and is open the the south (or north in Southern hemisphere) you could even plant all the classic food and nut crops your heart desires.
3. Growing food in intentionally cleared areas
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Finally, you can always clear some forest to make room for your food production but do it in a way that actually boosts the overall health of the forest. Here’s what I mean.
In the forest, you’ll have trees that are showing signs of decline. They might be crooked, diseased, or have dieback on branches. Nothing wrong in removing them and by doing so making space and letting in more sunlight. Actually you will be helping the forest by removing the ‘weak’ genetics in a sense. Something that would happen on its own, but you are accelerating the process a bit.
Also, you could approach this from the other side and select trees that are the most healthy, and then support them by removing everything around them that is suppressing their growth. Thus selecting for the best genetics.
In both cases, you’ll get more space and light, and then you could plant some canopy-type species like chestnuts, walnuts, hickories, and sugar maples, with supporting species and make guilds. Plus everything else we mentioned in no. 2.
All in all, you have plenty of options when it comes to growing food in the forest WHILE preserving it as much as possible!
I hope this was insightful and that it got your head buzzing with ideas on how to utilize your forest.
In the permaculture design, we call this growing area – zone 4 forest farm – and as you can see it can be a valuable system to add to your land. It lets you grow food in a semi-wild way, with less worrying about maintenance as there is less weed pressure.
It’s a win-win for everyone – you get the food, and the forest gets preserved or even enhanced.
And that’s all for today. If you found this helpful, and would like to read more guides like this, I suggest you subscribe to my newsletter using the form below.
See you next week!
Talk soon,
-William
