The food forest of the Hyderabad Collective in its early stages of formation

If you have been following the journey of any of our collectives, you must have come across the term ‘food forest’ often. But what exactly are they? Are they forests which provide us with our food? Or are they just an ‘in’ word for agroforests? Let’s find out!

What is a Food Forest?

Food forests are agricultural systems where numerous diverse food crops are grown within any given patch. They’re called food ‘forests’ and not food ‘farms’ because they are designed to look, function and feel like forests. 

Why forests? For the simple reason that they are epitomes of natural ecosystems. They are resilient, adept at coping with changing climatic conditions, and independent of external support. All forest elements – trees, vines, shrubs, animals, insects, even soil and water – speak a common language and rely on each other to survive and grow. This makes the forest ecosystem self-sustaining. 

The 7 Layers of a Food Forest

The main defining characteristic of a food forest is its ‘layers’. While the number of layers can vary depending on the design and local conditions, a typical food forest comprises 7 main layers that are designed to mimic the structure of a forest while incorporating food-producing plants. 

1. Canopy Layer

The canopy layer consists of tall, large trees that provide the uppermost layer of the food forest. These trees offer shade and habitat for wildlife and can produce fruits or nuts. Examples of canopy trees include almond, oak, neem and babul trees.

2. Sub-Canopy Layer

Below the canopy layer, we have smaller trees and large shrubs that make up the sub-canopy layer. These plants may also produce fruits or nuts and provide additional structure and diversity to the ecosystem. Examples include pear and papaya trees.

3. Shrub Layer

The shrub layer consists of medium-sized shrubs that fill in the lower portions of the food forest. These shrubs may produce berries, fruits, or other edible parts and help create a diverse microclimate. Common examples include berries, currants, and vegetables such as tomatoes & brinjal.

4. Herbaceous Layer

This layer includes herbaceous plants, perennial vegetables, and ground covers that grow close to the ground. These plants often provide edible leaves, stems, or roots. Examples include basil, mint, okra and fenugreek.

5. Ground Cover Layer

Ground cover plants help protect the soil, reduce erosion, and suppress weeds. They can include low-lying herbs, cover crops, and spreading perennial plants. Clover, thyme, or sweet potatoes are examples of ground cover plants.

6. Vine Layer

Vining and climbing plants make up the vine layer, using trellises or other supports to grow vertically. This layer can include beans and gourds.

7. Root Layer

The root layer consists of root crops and tubers that grow beneath the soil surface. These plants are harvested for their underground parts, such as potatoes, carrots, or beets.

The above 7 layers work together to create a diverse and productive ecosystem in a food forest, with each layer contributing to overall plant health, soil improvement, pest management, and food production. Depending on the specific goals and environmental conditions of the food forest, additional layers or variations in layer composition can be incorporated to enhance the system’s resilience and functionality.

Characteristics of a Food Forest

Food forests are designed to mimic the processes and patterns of nature. Naturally, they will include all the characteristics of an actual forest. 

• Lushness that is reminiscent of the wild
• Several intertwined, dense layers of trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers
• Diversity of plant and animal species
• Coexistence and inclusivity of all life forms
• Three-dimensional growth of life, including the underground
• Presence of several micro-ecosystems of varying scales within the forest

The biggest visual characteristic of a food forest, however, is that it looks drastically different from modern monoculture farming. Typically, in a food forest, no two patches will look the same. In addition, the plants grown are primarily edibles.

But unlike forests, food forests do not grow on their own. Well, not initially. Permaculture farming methods are applied to design a food forest. Deep land studies and analyses dictate the best course of action for the land that is in tune with the landowner’s aspirations for their ‘food garden’. In the case of our Beforest Collectives, food forests are integral to securing food for the community that is dependent on the land.

How do Food Forests Aid Sustainable Agriculture?

Modern agriculture has been suffering due to climate change. It is also heavily market-dependent. Hence, farmers are forced to grow more on smaller parcels of land. This leads to the excess use of fertilisers that ultimately degenerate the soil. 

Food forests, on the other hand, make use of permaculture farming principles. It is a regenerative approach to farming where all activities work towards restoring the land’s nutrients and capacity. Albeit a slow process, it guarantees self-sustenance over a few years of nurturing. And as they say, good things take time!

This approach to farming provides a promising solution to sustainable agriculture. Here’s why food forests can be the key.

1. Regeneration of Soil Health

A curated selection of native species eliminates the need for using fertilisers. Furthermore, plants of various sizes can help strengthen the root network. Groundcover plants/ low-growing shrubs protect the soil from sun and harsh weather. This prevents soil erosion and restores the carbon in it. 

2. Inclusion of All Life Forms

Just like in the jungle, several species of animals and plants coexist in a food forest. Any design element that threatens the life of another species is modified/eliminated. Animal-friendly designs like bio-fencing and temporary shelters are encouraged.

3. Efficiency of Resources

Food forest designs include channelling water smartly, relying on renewable energy for power and building permanent structures from local materials. This helps reduce the carbon footprint.

4. Reduced Need for External Inputs

When there’s a goldmine of agricultural inputs on your own land, why look outside? Planting species that act as natural pest controls and using the waste from one facet as a valuable resource in the other are just some of the many ways food forests reduce the need for external inputs, slowly inching towards complete self-sufficiency.

Food Forests or Farms? We have made the Choice!

Food forests and conventional monoculture farms represent two distinct approaches to food production and land management. Each has its own set of characteristics, benefits, and challenges. Over the last few decades, the benefits of monoculture farms have been reaped year after year while the challenges and their overarching issues were pushed to the bay, leading to severe environmental degradation, the biggest one being the depletion of our forests.

Both methods of food production serve different purposes. Food forests prioritise biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience, while monoculture farms focus on the maximum production of specific crops or livestock. The choice between the two depends on factors like land availability, individual or collective goals, and environmental values. At Beforest Collectives, our choice is clear. Our community, from the founders to members to the on-ground team, is aligned with the values of sustainability & resilience, and we are committed to exploring the growth of food forests in all their forms, colours, layers, varieties and abundance.