Food Forests NZ

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Comment by Kali on November 14, 2011 at 12:50am

I just picked up nzgardener mag from jan 2010 and Robert was writing about his fledgling grapevines! how are they doing now?

Comment by Robyn Guyton on November 1, 2011 at 2:32pm

Oh and I forgot kiwifruit as well!

Comment by Robyn Guyton on November 1, 2011 at 2:31pm

Hi

we have a climbing nasterium with edible tubers (just), outdoor grapes (in Southland), hops, climbing peas and beans and some wild blackberries which persist!

Comment by Kali on November 1, 2011 at 11:57am

I couldn't agree more Robyn, just been out photographing our patch, its becoming very diverse and full, with little vignettes of beauty where happy companions are coexising. its a very personal way of gardening, ours probably wouldn't make it into house and garden on the wide shot, on first glance its a bit of a mess, but in my head its even better than it has become so far :) need to scythe the weeds around the fruit trees again but the buttercups are so pretty with the alkanet and the comfrey has its first flush of flowers....

what kind of vines do you mostly have? runner beans?

Comment by Robyn Guyton on November 1, 2011 at 6:11am

It is a more natural layout and so relaxing as you focus on the overall effect as you live amongst it.

I like to stand in one part of our forest and count how many different plants species I can see in a 360 view- it is alway at least 30. You can fit so much more per area as a result. 

We try and have a good mix of fruit, berries and nuts, natives, nitrogen fixing plants, perenial vegetables, herbs, wild flowers and weeds, bulbs and root crops, vines and make sure there are plants to attract insects and birds in the mix.

Some patches our now stable systems on their own - others the ground cover is still 'cow parsley' dominant as we smother the last of the grass then we will diversify that up.

Lawns, edges, weeds, lines, boundaries just don't apply and that saves a lot of unnecessary work involving constant maintenance of un-natural systems. 

Comment by Christopher Dempsey on October 30, 2011 at 4:34pm

"I think one of the best things about permaculture forest gardens is that they are ultra three dimensional.  The layering you can achieve on one small patch with every root and top in it's own space. "

 

What a neat way to thinking through things! Thanks!

Comment by Jane Maarie on September 18, 2011 at 9:41am

Hey Robyn, just watched it on TVNZ on demand & throughly enjoyed it! Very impressed with all those apple varieties you pulled out of the bucket & now I'm thinking that I have got to get a peasgood nonsuch to add to my lot & do you sell seeds of your now famous Whorchester berry? Who would have thought you could get a banana shaped potatoes! I've been inspired yet again! :O)

Comment by Robyn Guyton on September 18, 2011 at 7:12am

If you missed it our food forest was featured on Al Browns cooking show 'Get Fresh' last night (September 17th).  It was in the last third of the show and you can watch it on line though the TVNZ website .

Comment by Robyn Guyton on September 10, 2011 at 3:09am

http://perennialvegetables.org/perennial-vegetables-for-each-climat...

 

found good lists at link above  - the book is American

Comment by Robyn Guyton on August 31, 2011 at 7:19am

We have been finishing the pruning of our fruit trees and at the same time thinning out our native shelter belts that have started to shade rather than stop the wind.  It is nice this time of year as the plum blossoms are out and the herbal layer is starting to come away yet we can still see the layout of the orchard.  In a few weeks time it will be like a jungle again! 

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