pdc+++ module 3 class 10 forest gardens i

M3.10 PDC+++M3.10 PDC+++At about the time humankind discovered agriculture, forests covered about 50% of the land

area on planet Earth. Now they barely cover some 30%, & falling. This is now the single most urgent physical repairing of the environment we need to engage in, as forests are so vital for

every aspect of life on Earth, safeguarding the vital cycles of air, water, earth, stabilizing the local & global climate, creating soil & habitats for a huge number of species, sustaining

entire economies & our health.

Forests play a key vital role on many levels as they are so basic & even primal for humans. In

this class we get intimately acquainted with Forests, their make-up, how they work & especially we learn how to design Forest Gardens: our future human habitat, if we are to survive & thrive

as humans

of the

an integral exploration

PDC++ +

M3.10 Forest Gardens

Importance of Forests

Forest Mythologies

How to Design Edible Forests

Examples of Forest Gardens

Re-Storying - WoodLand of the Future

M3.10 Forest Gardensan integral exploration

Wangari Maathai

"Until you dig a hole, plant a tree, you water it

& you make it survive,

you haven't done a thing.

You're just talking"

It's a matter of

life and death

for this

country.

The Kenyan

forests are

facing

extinction and

it is a man-

made

problem.


Forest Mythologies





5

Forest importance

AlterAlterrunoffrunoff

Prevent soilPrevent soilerosionerosion

Negative ionizationNegative ionizationThat atractsThat atractsPositive ionsPositive ions

Biomass,Biomass,InteraccionsInteraccions

SafeguardSafeguard from thefrom the

windwind

Increase rainfall, Increase rainfall, Modify Weather Modify Weather

conditionsconditions

TranspirationTranspiration

ProductsProducts

Wind-Forest interaction

Rain-Forest interaction

Rain-Forest interactionRain-Forest interaction

Trough gas exchange, forest keep and oxigenate atmosphere and anTrough gas exchange, forest keep and oxigenate atmosphere and anActive water-vapour cycle essential for life.Active water-vapour cycle essential for life.

Hot and dry airHot and dry air

Cold and humid airCold and humid air

Cooled and humidifiedCooled and humidified

Heated, dehumidifiedHeated, dehumidifiedAnd released by the tree crownsAnd released by the tree crowns

Winds deflected over the forest cause compresion in the streamlines of the wind,Winds deflected over the forest cause compresion in the streamlines of the wind,So there are more water vapour per volume and the air is cooled.So there are more water vapour per volume and the air is cooled.Both conditions are conducive to rain.Both conditions are conducive to rain.

The impact on the canopyThe impact on the canopyCauses evaporation and don'tCauses evaporation and don't

Reach the ground directlyReach the ground directlyAvoiding erosionAvoiding erosion

Trees intercept rain. Till allTrees intercept rain. Till allLeaves are wet no droplet reachLeaves are wet no droplet reach

The ground. The ground.

Forest-weather interaction

CondensationCondensation

Rehumidification of streamlinesRehumidification of streamlinesEvaporation takes place in theEvaporation takes place in thecosts and air currents carry the moist aircosts and air currents carry the moist airwhen it hit the tops of the treeswhen it hit the tops of the trees form water droplets.form water droplets.condensation can reach 80-86% ofcondensation can reach 80-86% ofTotal rainfals.Total rainfals.

Forest create clouds. This water is Forest create clouds. This water is richer in nutrients that come fromricher in nutrients that come from the forest.the forest.

TranspirationTranspirationThe release of water through theThe release of water through thePores of trees and other plantsPores of trees and other plants

temperature down 3-5 degrees Ctemperature down 3-5 degrees Cair humidity up 10%air humidity up 10%

cloud cover up 11.5%cloud cover up 11.5%rainfall up 25%rainfall up 25%

137 species of birds (up from 5)137 species of birds (up from 5)9 species of primates9 species of primates

3000 people getting income3000 people getting income

Lestari project class 3.2Lestari project class 3.2

CO2 + H2O + sun/chlorophyll -> O2 + C6H12O6

Forest are

Carbon sinks

&Energy

generators


Forest Mythologies





The Garden The Garden of Edenof Eden

the first famous Forest Garden of history?

The Tree of Knowledgeof Good & Evil

The Tree of Life

the first famous Forest Garden of history?The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life

BioDiversity & InterConnection

The Garden of the Hesperides

Ladonthe Dragon

protects the Tree of the Golden

Apples- the Tree of Life, or of Immortality

- a wedding present from

Gaia

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Safeguards very precious, magical

things

Inspired ancient &

modern artists

& our imagination

because primal & very

attractive

The Garden of the Hesperides


Forest Mythologies





Forest Gardens/Edible Woodlands

What are they?• ecosystems that imitate the structure & functioning of ecosystems that imitate the structure & functioning of

a natural forest a natural forest

• but they provide us with food & other resourcesbut they provide us with food & other resources

• edible tree, bush & herb species are selectededible tree, bush & herb species are selected

• & other support species (wind protection, parasites, & other support species (wind protection, parasites, leguminous, mulch)leguminous, mulch)

• Design: aims to become self-maintaining & we will Design: aims to become self-maintaining & we will have to do very little maintenancehave to do very little maintenance

it is only by devolving responsability & self-regulating functions that a stable life system

can evolve

Policy of Responsibility (to devolve power)The role of a beneficial authority is to devolve function & responsability to life & to people; if it's successful, no more authority is needed.

The role of a successful design is to create a

system that self-regulates

Edible ForestEdible Forest

Forest StructureForest Structure (various levels)(various levels)

Perennial Perennial PlantsPlants

Soil not tilledSoil not tilled

LOTS ofLOTS ofDiversityDiversity

Products:Products:Fruits, Nuts, Fruits, Nuts,

Leaves, Wood,Leaves, Wood,Medicine, BeautyMedicine, Beauty Little Maintenance Little Maintenance

WorkWork

High Total High Total YieldYield

Habitat for WildLifeHabitat for WildLife

Some inportant aspects

of Edible Forests

Covered Soil

Niches for Fauna

Aromatic Plants

Polyculture

Mulch

Vegetable Cover

Insects, toads, hedgehog, birds,…

• Habitat• Food Plants• Water (ponds)• No cats (predators)

The 7 Layers:Form or

Structure of Edible Forests

1.• Tall Trees2.• Lower Trees3.• Shrubs4.• Herbs5.• Roots6.• Soil Cover7.• Climbers

• Each one is different (no recepies)Each one is different (no recepies)• in general - use design principles & methodology:in general - use design principles & methodology:• Observe, observe, OBSERVE, esp. good complete "client Observe, observe, OBSERVE, esp. good complete "client

interviews" (careful with who is the 'client/clients' in each case) interviews" (careful with who is the 'client/clients' in each case) • Accellerate Natural Succession Accellerate Natural Succession • Learn from / Imitate NatureLearn from / Imitate Nature• Start very SmallStart very Small• Incremental DesignIncremental Design• etc.etc.

Forest Gardens/Edible WoodlandsHow are they Created?

How does the Edible Forest illustrate these How does the Edible Forest illustrate these Principles?Principles?

- Stacking- Stacking- High-Lows- High-Lows- Cycling Energy- Cycling Energy- Unlimited Imagination- Unlimited Imagination- Diversity- Diversity- Connexion Strategies- Connexion Strategies

32

How it can startHow it can start

““with whatever you've got”with whatever you've got” Observe the emergent DesignObserve the emergent DesignororDeduction from NatureDeduction from Nature

Establishing a system: an area is fenced & a mix of species is planted & protected from pasture Establishing a system: an area is fenced & a mix of species is planted & protected from pasture animals. Only ducks, geese & some annual crops are harvested animals. Only ducks, geese & some annual crops are harvested

33

Incremental DesignIncremental Design

The system evolves to a semi-mature stage. Chickens are introduced occasionallyThe system evolves to a semi-mature stage. Chickens are introduced occasionally

Observe, OBSERVE, observeObserve, OBSERVE, observe adapting all the time, adapting all the time, continuouslycontinuously

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A mature system provides forrage, wood & animal products + is self-sufficient in production of A mature system provides forrage, wood & animal products + is self-sufficient in production of mulch & fertilizer. A mature system requires maintenance more than an input of energy & mulch & fertilizer. A mature system requires maintenance more than an input of energy & has a variety of sellable yield. has a variety of sellable yield.

Only MaintenanceOnly Maintenance

But there are many But there are many other ways... other ways... depending on what depending on what you've got when you've got when startingstartingEg.. Eg..

• if you already have the if you already have the canopy or the shrub layercanopy or the shrub layer

• if you need to start by if you need to start by fertilizing the soil & it's fertilizing the soil & it's appropiate to use chicken appropiate to use chicken tractors tractors

• starting with guilds starting with guilds

• small or large scalessmall or large scales

• start with a standard start with a standard garden ...garden ...

3366

In the old farm ...

we focused on anti-erosio strategies

* mini-max

* an element (Event) fulfils

multiple functions

1) news at the end of the day

2) food for goats

3) prune trees

4) observe finca / design together /

client interview

5) sunset viewing

6) water storage

7) anti-erosion structures

8) wildlife refuges

9) wood stores (twigs)

10) physical excercise* problem is the

solutiongoat rutine every day

gets boring ...... multifunction

* fluctuations

completely different situation to now ...

But in the new farm ...But in the new farm ...we focused on designing the gardens we focused on designing the gardens

(food!)(food!)

Creating a Garden of EdenCreating a Garden of Edenstarting with OUR particular starting with OUR particular conditions & characteristicsconditions & characteristics

< The Vision< The Vision

> The Mission> The Mission

< Methodology< MethodologyPrinciplesPrinciples

< 2005 < Chicken < 2005 < Chicken TractoredTractored

2006 Starting >2006 Starting >

> 2006 > > 2006 > Lots of Lots of food >food >

< Sara designed & < Sara designed & implemented the first implemented the first phase of the gardenphase of the garden

20102010

20092009

< now < now Semi-Semi-

ForestForest


Forest Mythologies

How to Design Edible Forests > Part 2




> Part 2

pdc+++ module 3 class 10 forest gardens i

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