Earlier this year we encouraged you to plant a garden. Recently, I found out about the interesting concept of a forest garden that we would like to try. A forest garden is the gardening answer for many who have a wooded lot that is too shady for a conventional garden plot. There are many plants that will grow in the shade or semi shaded areas. Here on the farm the wild grape vines climb up trees. They are not out in the open pasture. The wine berries grow at the edge of the woods. The following description of a forest garden is from the Plants for a Future website, http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/woodgard.php

"A woodland, on the other hand, might seem to be a very unproductive area for human food (unless you happen to like eating acorns). By choosing the right species, however, a woodland garden can produce a larger crop of food than the same area of wheat, will require far less work to manage it and will be able to be sustainably harvested without harm to the soil or the environment in general…

"One of the main reasons why a woodland garden can be so productive is that such a wide range of plants can be grown together, making much more efficient use of the land. The greater the diversity of plants being grown together then the greater the overall growth of plant matter there is. Thus you can have tall growing trees with smaller trees and shrubs that can tolerate some shade growing under them. Climbing plants can make their own ways up the trees and shrubs towards the light, whilst shade-tolerant herbaceous plants and bulbs can grow on the woodland floor."

An inspiring description of "The garden of love", a forest garden in England:   http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/gdlovene.php
Forest Garden Website:
http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/about_gardening