Food security has always been a priority in human civilization. The challenge of nourishing a growing human population is one that farmers, scientists, and policymakers continue to address every day.
On a small scale, one solution to localized food security is to create food forests. Unlike a garden, food forests are diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems composed of mostly food-bearing plants. They can provide a resilient source of food that requires minimal inputs while promoting biodiversity and soil health. These human-designed food forests take inspiration from actual forests as designed by Mother Nature, as these natural ecosystems are full of life, sustainable, and require no human intervention to thrive.
Where gardens are usually only composed of one flat layer of vegetables, food forests simulate the verticality of forests to create a highly diverse ecosystem. Typically, food forests are composed of seven layers, though depending on scale, it can be a little less and still function the same. These layers are:
Canopy, composed of large fruit and nut trees
Understory, composed of dwarf fruit trees
Shrubs, such as blueberries or currants
Perennials, or herbaceous plants
Soil surface, composed of ground cover crops like creeping thyme
Soil/rhizosphere, composed of root crops
Vertical layer, composed of climbing vines
Because of the biodiversity created by this layering, many of the problems that come up in traditional gardening or agriculture are self-addressed in a food forest. For example, the environment of a food forest attracts bugs that prey on common pest insects, eliminating the need for pesticides and reducing damage to the vegetation. This same diversity attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies which are essential for the healthy reproduction of many food crops.
A major environmental benefit of food forests is their ability to sequester carbon. Trees are known to be excellent carbon sinks, and food forests can sequester even more carbon than traditional forests due to their high plant diversity and density. In addition, food forests can help to mitigate climate change by reducing the need for transportation and storage of food, as the food is grown and consumed locally.
Another benefit of food forests is that they can help to conserve water. The deep roots of trees and shrubs in a food forest can help to retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for irrigation. Additionally, the diverse range of plants in a food forest can help to prevent erosion and improve soil health, which can further reduce water consumption.
In terms of social benefits, food forests can promote community building and education. Food forests can provide a space for community members to come together to learn about sustainable agriculture practices, share knowledge and skills, and build relationships. Additionally, food forests can provide opportunities for education about nutrition and healthy eating, as well as food preparation and preservation.
Finally, food forests can promote economic development by providing a source of income for farmers and small-scale producers. Food forests can produce a wide range of crops, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs, which can be sold in local markets or used for value-added products such as jams and preserves. In addition, food forests can promote ecotourism, which can generate income for local communities.
These are just some of the great reasons why the Science Mill is developing its own food forest in the heart of Johnson City, Texas. Designed as a self-sustaining food forest and an aesthetic, educational space where kids can learn about sustainable agriculture and nutrition, the Science Mill food forest will be the newest addition to the interactive science museum. Stay tuned for its grand opening this year!