Food Forest Design for Success – Gateway Farm

Perennial food systems are an essential part of any sustainable and regenerating human future. Annual-based food systems can be highly productive, but they are also often resource hungry and wasteful. Ultimately, they are unstable systems – ecologically, agriculturally, socially and financially. The need and the demand for perennial food systems and food forests is undeniable and currently growing rapidly.

This workshop explores the difference between myth and reality to help create practical perennial food systems. There are many food forests being experimented with and established around the world and it’s so important that these be successful. 

In this workshop we will learn the design, implementation and maintenance of food forests and perennial food systems. This includes ground preparation, layout and design, systems thinking, plant selection, as well as the under-pinning values and the skills required to create and maintain these life-saving systems. The workshop culminates around a series of ‘Tricks & Tips for Successful Food Forests’.

This workshop weaves information and theory, practical sessions, skilling-up, and exploration of underpinning values. Participants will come away with a draft design of their own projects, and have a good idea about their next steps in establishing perennial food systems. Along with a few goodies to get your food forest growing!

Your facilitators Bridget & Charlie are passionate about perennial food, edible food forests, and forest gardens. They design and install them in the US, UK & Australia and present at international conferences. During the lockdown they started perennial food plant nurseries! This workshop is at the perennial food system they have designed and installed with, and for, Gateway Farm. You’ll be impressed!

This workshop could be for you if:

• The thought of designing fruitful ecological relationships is an exciting challenge to you.
• You’re ready to move beyond the fantasy of a food forest and dive into the practical logistics of designing, installing, and caring for one.
• You have some experience around permaculture and whole systems design.
• You enjoy the process of creative thinking and wish to be surrounded by other creative problem solvers.
• You care deeply about the world and want to help provide a sustainable food source for yourself and others.

What to bring:

• Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, note pan and pens.

We supply:

• Workbooks & Activités
• Tea, coffee, snacks and one meal a day

Workshop details:

• Location: Gateway Farm

• Date: Saturday, August 12th – Sunday, August 13th

• Time: Saturday: 10am-5pm; Sunday: 9am-4pm

cwsbrennan@gmail.com