Creating a Forest Garden

Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops

by Martin Crawford

Reviews

London Permaculture - March 11, 2011

I've been getting quite into the FG thing, and have just got hold of Martins new long awaited book. Its excellent - the best FG book so far. Get hold of this book from the library or whatever. I went on a FG course with martin a while ago, and the book replicates that and more in permanent form. Martin clearly explains all the concepts and practice of FG construction including plant propagation, species description and design principles...even a chapter on the use of the products from the FG. Its surpassed David Jackes encyclopedic volumes due to its clarity (including use of language - Jackes is degree level ecology in parts) and brevity. Respect has to be given to David Harts original temperate FG work. Martin completes the circle of FG (scientific) completeness.

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Creating a Forest Garden

Bread & Buttercups - January 28, 2011

This book is fantastic.

For example, in the shrub species section of the book, I discovered some information that still amazes me: fuchsias actually bear fruit! The only reason we don’t know this is because most fuchsias outside of South America have been bred for their flowers rather than their fruit. The fruit is described as “reminiscent of plum with a peppery aftertaste”. Imagine a jam made with this fruit!

So if that isn’t enough to make you at least pick up the book, let me list these bonuses. There are plant photos along with the names and descriptions. The introductory chapters clearly define what exactly a forest garden is, and how maintaining it is a delicate balance. Too many trees and shade, your edible “crops” will suffer. But without the canopy growth, you won’t have the proper variables for growing certain plants.

Clearly written by someone that has a comfortable working knowledge of gardening, forestry, ecology, and farming, I also found out via Greenbooks Online that the author Martin Crawford

“has spent over 20 years in organic agriculture and horticulture and is director of The Agroforestry Research Trust, a non-profit-making charity that researches into temperate agroforestry and all aspects of plant cropping and uses, with a focus on tree, shrub and perennial crops.”

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