Why Design is Important
Why Design is Important
-By: Kevin Feinstein
It all starts with the design! Sure if you plant a bunch of plants randomly you will yield something. But if you start with a proper design using the permaculture principles then your food forest will take a lot less work to maintain, and less headache. Not to mention a higher yield of food which is the purpose of planting a food forest.
1 - Frenemies
Plants naturally want to be placed close to other specific plants. Just as certain animals co-exist well with some other types of animals and not others. They will thrive more and therefore yield more food if you plant them in harmony with their friends aka frenemies. It can be a lot of work to figure out what to plant where when you take this into account, so let us apply our knowledge and plan it for you.
2 - Enemies
Just as plants have frenemies, they also have enemies. If you plant them close to their enemies you will have more issues with pests, and weeds, and they will produce a lower yield.
3 - Pests
Our designs incorporate the appropriate companion and ecological elements that help create a balanced system that minimizes pests and adjusts and anticipates their presence. Pests are really there for a purpose when they are, and often that is due to not incorporating the principles of permaculture. So if your food forest is designed according to the principles, there is a much lower chance of having an issue with pests.
4 - Yield
Our designs create yields beyond the obvious by bringing in elements that create fertility, wildlife and beneficial habitat, beauty, and a diversity of food and herbs.
5 - Weeds
By using our designs, weeds are minimized by filling in the gaps where they would normally occupy with the appropriate plants and elements such as ground cover, “weed” suppressing plants, sheet mulch, etc. As with pests, weeds only grow if they serve a purpose such as needing to amend the soil. But if you follow the permaculture principles then the soil should not need to be amended.
6 - Soil Health
Soil is the foundation of a healthy functioning ecosystem and food forests. Our designs aim to build and regenerate soil health which in turn increases yields and growth and decreases pests and diseases. Without a good base of soil, you will have more pests and weeds, and a lower yield.
If you are thinking of planting a food forest then you can visit the link below to see what we offer at Food Forest Abundance in terms of designs, consultations, and more. Once you have your design you can choose to plant it yourself, or you can hire one of our expert installers that we have in 15 countries and 43 states so far.
LINK - https://shop.foodforestabundance.com/?ref=5_deb1ys91PT