Forest Gardening for Beginner with small garden

[carolinew]

I live in a semi on the outskirts of London, so my garden is definitely NOT huge However, I'd love to turn it into a forest garden. Does anyone have any advice on books or other resources which I could use to get ideas / learn how to set one up? I'm used to traditional fruit and veg growing, but have never attempted anything like this - or garden design, really.

I'm wondering whether to get Martin Crawford's 'Creating a Forest Garden'. Is anyone familiar with that book, who could let me know whether it's suitable for me or not?

Thanks
Caroline

[Annpan]

Try the library Caroline.... and there should be plenty of online resources to start with (save the money for now)

I know the basic principles and it isn't rocket science once you get to know a few simple rules.... have you got any fruiting trees or bushes yet or are you literally just thinking about it?

[carolinew]

I've got some small apple trees, a small cherry tree, a red currant bush and some blueberry bushes + a cranberry in a large container. Most of the trees are in large containers at present, although 2 have been planted in - to be honest - fairly random positions. I also have some raspberry canes - by default. I actually heeled them in until I was ready to plant them at the allotment, but found the next year that there must have been traces left when I moved them, as I now have a bed full of them (not that I'm complaining! :-) )

I did actually try the library first, thinking they'd have some books on the topic - but unfortunately they don't. I guess I could suggest to them to get some in, it's worth a try. Any recommendations that I should pass onto them?

[Annpan]

Not sure which forest gardening book would be the best....

found this website http://organicgardens.suite101.com/arti ... est_garden

and the permaculture association has some interesting articles.
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/knowledge-base/articles


I also read somewhere about permaculture being such a new method that as much as the theories will remain the same, what works in your locale might be entirely different for what works elsewhere. So following someone else plans might be folly?

You need to start by getting your trees in to let them establish anyway so you could get on with that while you wait for the rest to follow.

[southeast-isher]

Hi Caroline,

Martin Crawford is pretty much the Daddy on all things forest gardening - his new book is excellent. If out of your price range you may want to opt for his DVD which is available although filmed a few years ago now. Or there is also a video transferred to DVD on the late Robert Hart - another Daddy with forest gardening. You can also access the Plants For a Future database online if you google it - this search facility can help you find suitable edible plants for the planning stages.

If you want just a tipsheet to get started then for 50 pence you can order a PDF on the subject from the Centre for Alternative Technology - it might help set you off. Here it is:

http://www.cat.org.uk/catpubs/pubs_cont ... ku=PUBS_30

[scroll down to find 'Forest Gardening Tipsheet']

Good luck.

[southeast-isher]

Robert Hart has books too on the subject (aswell as DVD mentioned)

And Ken Ferns from the Plants for a Future website database had a book out too.

[carolinew]

Thanks for all that. I've downloaded and read the Tipsheet now, which was very interesting. It helped me to visualise it more, and to realise that I'm a bit further along than I realised. I'd forgotten to take into account the 8ft Walnut tree I planted a couple of years ago, plus the edible 'hedge' that I put in one of the borders. I don't have the space for large canopy trees, but I'm guessing that I can do a mini version of it using the dwarf fruit trees and hedge as the canopy level? Will they do the same job, just on a smaller scale?

I've made a list of the books you've recommended, and plan to visit the library to see if they'll get them (or borrow them from another library for me). If not, and I need to buy one, which do you think would be the best one for me to buy? I couldn't afford to buy all of them.

[fifi folle]

I know it's not exactly Forest Gardening but one I found helpful is The Permaculture Garden by Graham Bell. I also found The Earth Care Manual by Patrick Whitefield good but it's really expensive imho, worth getting out of the library. Personally I didn't think much of How to Make a Forest Garden by Whitefield but that might have been because I had read other books on the topic first.
Hopefully your library will have some useful books in!
It's really good that you already have a lot of the framework in place, I look forward to hearing how you get on as we're also setting up a little forest garden in our front garden once we've moved house but it doesn't have much of use!!!

[southeast-isher]

Caroline, if it was me i would go for the new Martin Crawford one as it looks really good. But it's 30 pounds in the high street i think so try Amazon UK

[southeast-isher]

Also Martin Crawford runs short courses at his forest garden

[malcolmfraser]

I bought the Martin Crawford book from Amazon last week and can report that it's superb - it has everything you'd need to know to start planning your forest garden, ranging from design principles, to extensive species lists for each layer in the forest structure.

Highly recommended!

Malcolm

[Green Aura]

I bought the two volumes by Jacke and Toensmeier - edible forest gardens. Very expensive but absolutely fantastic - much cheaper than a course. I also got Patrick Whitefield's book which is good as well.

[southeast-isher]

Blimey GA, the Jacke and Toesmeier books look far too heavy going for me! This one by Toensmeier is on my wants list though:

[Green Aura]

Mine too but I'm not sure if all the info is already in the books I've got.

[southeast-isher]

I just bought it too Malcolm - fantastic book. I'm pleased with my purchase.