Food Forest

What is a Food Forest?

Food Forests are mini ecosystems comprising up to 7 layers of different edible species. The seven layers are canopy (large fruit and nut trees), low tree layer (dwarf fruit trees), shrub layer (currants and berries), herbaceous layer, rhizosphere (root crops), soil surface (ground cover crops) and vertical layer (climbers, vines). 


Ideally, every plant within a food forest enhances other plants' production in varying ways, with plants carefully selected to provide delicious food for humans, while creating a mini ecosystem that requires little maintenance and functions independently. 


There are over 50 varieties of plants in Curly Community Garden's Food Forest, including numerous native bush tucker plants. 


The Food Forest is a "Secret Garden", adding beauty and ambience, where people can enjoy nature. A walk through the forest is also an educational experience, as the names and uses of many of the plants are posted on informational signs. And the forest ecosystem, especially the native species, helps attract many native and beneficial insects to the garden.


The Food Forest has evolved significantly from its original plan and continues to be a work in progress. 

Dana Le
Chronology of the Food forest

Food Forest Design, Sept '17

2017-7Nov-excavating-2

Excavation, Nov '17

2017-7Nov-excavating2-2

Sandstone seating added, Nov '17

2017-18Nov-mulchIrrigate-2

Irrigation & mulch added, Nov '17

2017-30Dec-FF-GreenManure

Green manure crop, Dec '17

2018-10Mar-postGreenManure

Ready for planting, 10 Mar '18

2018-31Mar-bananaCircle2

Making the banana circle, Mar '18

2018-31Mar-bananaCircle3

Banana and papaya trees planted, Mar '18

2018-31Mar-FFplantings

31 March 2018

2018-14April-Plants

More plants purchased! April '18

2018-19May-DiggingHoles

Digging holes & adding gypsum, May '18

2018-16June-plantings

16 June 2018

2018-8Sept-VineHoles

Digging holes for passionfruit,  Sept '18

2018-20Oct-VineHoles2

Holes refilled with added nutrients, Oct '18

2018-24Nov-VineTrellises

Trellises erected, Nov '18

2019-19Jan-BananaCircle

Banana circle, Jan '19

2019-23Feb-FoodForest1

23 Feb 2019

2019-23Feb-FoodForest2

23 Feb 2019

2019-23Feb-Trellises

Trellises, Feb '19

PXL_20210305_222643343

March 2021