Symbiosis in EFGing Definition & Description Native plants & EFGs Symbiosis is an ecological relationship An Edible Forest Garden (EFG) is ‚a There are many native Pacific Northwest between organisms of different species living perennial polyculture of multipurpose plants‛ species that have been identified as well- in direct contact; these interactions are the (Dave Jacke, Edible Forest Gardens). suited for EFGs, and still more that have basis of EFGing, and connect garden layers Gardens are consciously-designed, self- yet to be recognized due to lack of modern and components together to ensure overall renewing, diverse ecosystems that follow a experimentation. The largest barrier to wellbeing. A few examples: In mycorrhizal woodland-like pattern to provide food, widespread use of native plants is relationships, soil-dwelling fungi grow into medicine and other useful products. EFGing availability, as species are sold primarily for cells of roots and use the plant’s sugars to encompasses an entirely new way of thinking re-vegetation projects and are difficult to bring in nutrients and water. Leguminous - an ecological worldview. EFGs provide a find commercially. Shade tolerance is a key plants provide nitrogen surpluses for other more resistant, sustainable, diverse, holistic, characteristic for growing productively below plants through associations with soil bacteria and energy-efficient form of food production a canopy, and this region features many that extract nitrogen from the air. Pollination than modern agriculture. A small-scale, such plants. Perennial vegetables and and seed dispersion create links between locally-cropped system facilitates awareness herbs are generally grown in the herbaceous flora and fauna and lead to co-evolution. about, interaction with, and love of whatever story and rhizosphere, while the shrub and Companion plants constantly exchange patch of earth you are lucky enough to be canopy layers provide nuts, berries, and nutrients, fluids, water, and even hormones a part of. EFGing is the intersection of other fruits. 90% of the world’s food with neighbors. Mixed-age stands create development and preservation, creating comes from just 20 species, and EFGing more systematic stability, and the different productive spaces based around forests to offers the potential to increase this number composition of each plant contributes different help ensure their survival. exponentially by providing diverse habitats nutrients to the soil upon decay. that allow many different plants to flourish.
While While
sustainable through careful cultivation
temperate temperate climates rainforest ecosy
concepts symbiosis of
book In widespread
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the the idea has slowly
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Bibliography rainforests totropical only second ,
Jacke, Dave and Eric Toensmeier. Edible Forest Gardens. White River
EFG gardens gardens
E
s like Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2005
FGing in Hart, Robert. Forest Gardening: Cultivating an Edible Landscape.
and his White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing Temperate forests are some of the most productive ofmostthesome productive are forests Temperate
Company, 1991. t field of lack is itation
ears
practice has gained more widespread attention. Terra attention. Terra widespread more gained has practice strong historical and ecological foundation, most EFG mostEFG foundation, ecological and historical strong
Pojar, Jim and Andy MacKinnon. Plants of the Pacific Northwest ecosystems
community members to them help establish edible forest forest edible establish help tothem members community
peoples of North America America ofNorth peoples
lim
. current biggest The regions. other for written is literature patches and patches
Coast. Vancouver: Lone Pine Publishing, 1994. non local a Commons,
agroforesty, typically using fire management to create habitat habitat tocreate management fire typicallyusing agroforesty, habitat. dominant the as forest still maintaining
Garden Structure Ethnobotany Forest gardens come in a gigantic range of Bioregions are areas with a clearly forms, sizes, and ecological contexts, but the recognizable identity in terms of geological principals remain constant. A garden is structure, soil, climate, history, culture, and ‚more than the sum of its parts‛ (Jacke). energy. The patterns found in the way Organisms are mutually beneficial, and all Edible things grow and interact reflect a bioregion’s are integral to the health of the self- character, and this context helps to shape sustaining system. Instead of separating the many aspects of human societies. A diet ecosystem by species, the yield of the whole Forest that is based around native species positively system is taken into account. The 5 main affects human and environmental health, the components of any garden are: vegetation two of which are inextricably linked. Eating layers, soil horizons, vegetation density, Gardening locally, which requires less net energy, is a patterning, and diversity. Species niches are key step towards climate stability. Minerals commonly divided into 4-7 vertical layers, and nutrients are obtained from diverse but these layers overlap without specific at evergreen, the sources, and, in addition to being a source distinctions, and are not necessarily present of food, regional plants also provide in all gardens. These layers encompass a pacific northwest, medicine, fuel, fiber, and fodder for livestock. diversity of species and vary in density and beyond! Traditions and customs of native peoples are accordingly. The structure of a garden both a wealth of ethnobotanical wisdom gained affects and is affected by the larger through millennia of living with the land, and governing ecological patterns and soil. are vital for guiding EFGs.
=13= Contents Cover =4=
Contents he throat he
(Climbing vines) D on all layers, adaptable to *you are here* goals of garden but can layer Vertical =15= 1 4 Definition 7
be parasitic =17= fern Licorice
Thecanopy/overstory Helps soot Helps
(Taller trees) A History Found on tree trunks tree on Found
nutrients and water, patches, uses most 2 5 8 =11= glycyrrhiza Polypodium
garden’s habitat
undergo
photosynthesis This region
3 9 =16=
6 nut Structure
evelops
es most
=18= one paper, Symbiosis
ffects ffects =1-3= two sides Layer descriptions =10= 16 Ethnobotany
food for wildlife
large shrubs) P ( 13
Low Low and =12= will join overstory 10 cornuta Corylus 17 Native plants 14 11 18 =7-8= Hazelnut Beaked
Understory
Plant bios
Large shrub with edible edible with shrub Large
Eaten alone and as flavoring as and alone Eaten
maturity
young treesand =5-6=
C 15
Garden 12 EG’s garden
(
an form thickets, important
Shade , s , =14=
rovides key
habitat for wildlife
ome trees Local resources
upon
-
tolerant Shrubs
Layers Evergreen’s EFG
species) As one of Evergreen’s teaching gardens, this
bes sanguineum sanguineum bes
flowering Currant flowering -
layer
and banking horizons nutrients) site (located next to the HCC) is meant to Ri
material
Include
ed Bright, fragrant flowers fragrant Bright, provide an opportunity for learning more shrub beloved Beautiful,
R
make up topsoil
through key nutrients,
about EFGs and the overall ecology of this
diversi
highly productive
s s 6 horizons:
(accumulates nutrients for
species)
Ground layer Ground
,
contributes to
(Herbaceous
region. In addition to serving an educational
in Evergreen’s EFG Evergreen’s in
and substratum and bedrock
role, the garden is designed to produce food onally
ty, supportsty, for community members. It contains edible
C and medicinal plants and species with a
ycle ycle Soil
(incorporates nutrients)
form subsoil
organic matter and assi huge variety of other uses. The space itself
Horizons can be a place of meditation, celebration,
(Creeping
Serviceberry
collaboration, appreciation, reflection, rest; a Amelanchier alnifolia Amelanchier
exchange
preserve topsoil
vegetables) Important for
Soil Surface place to come together with nature and
(Plant roots, tuberous an important food source food important an
(receives and stores
nut traditi berries Delicious oneself and others. The responsibility of
long
Native Plants Native
rient
Rhizospere Rhizospere
herbs) H
caring for this garden is shared, and the
-
together
, ties ecosystem
term fertility) provideparent
campus must work together to repay the
and water
, bounty this site provides through continuing
milation
eluviation
elp the garden creation process. It is our hope
that this EFG will soon be just one of many
on campus, as others are inspired to take used as spice as used
an active role in embracing an ecologically-
WildGinger caudatum Asarum
harmonious way of life. Root Excellent groundcover groundcover Excellent
This is an image of the site before the garden was established.
Banking Many students, when asked about what they thought of the area,
reported having no opinion or never really noticing it.
A Sampling of the of Sampling A
dieuretic
upon contact upon
Bedrock a known known a
Eluviation
Urtica dioica dioica Urtica Stinging Nettle Stinging
Organic matter Organic
Root is Root
Substratum
Stings bare skin bare Stings
Assimilation
“The earth is what we all have Devil’s Club Devil’s
Oplopanax horridus horridus Oplopanax Helps treat diabetes treat Helps
` in common,” Covered in brittle spines brittle in Covered –Wendell Barry