Forest Garden Approach

Snapshot Solution

Forest Gardening

E.K Mugure

Maximal Space Utilization

Horizontal space Optimization

Crops are planted not in the conventional horizontal rows, but bio-intensive triangular rows (Allongue, 2018). Bio-Intensive Triangular Spacing offers plant density in a farm, thus allowing farmers to put more crops in an otherwise small piece of land.

Vertical Space Optimization

In this second technique of the forest garden approach, the farmer plants crops that utilize the vertical space differently, with some utilizing more of the underground, others more of the atmosphere (Allongue, 2018). In this technique, crops can be dense on a farm, yet give each other space to grow and flourish, as the crops support each other. Cabbages and carrots can for example grow together in one space seeing that carrots will utilize more of the underground space while cabbages will utilize the above-round space. An addition of kales and maize plants into the mix offers shade for the former plants as well as soil conservation from erosion.

Last update: 11 Nov 2022

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Context

Challenges addressed

Drought

Floods

Land and Forest degradation

Loss of Biodiversity

Erosion

Ecosystem loss

Pollution (incl. eutrophication and litter)

Infrastructure development

Physical resource extraction

Lack of technical capacity

Lack of infrastructure

Lack of food security

Unemployment / poverty

Scale of implementation

Local

Ecosystems

Cropland

Green roofs / Green walls

Theme

Biodiversity mainstreaming

Erosion prevention

Food security

Health and human wellbeing

Sustainable livelihoods

Agriculture

Location

Murang'a, Muranga, Kenya

West and Central Africa

East and South Africa

Impacts

Advantages of Forest Garden Approach

Superior to the conventional monoculture, the Forest Garden Approach offers many advantages all geared towards sustainable organic farming, let alone maximal space optimization.

Environmental impacts are:

1. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

2. Reduced introduction of chemicals into the ecosystem

3. Soil preservation by the use of ground cover and shrub crops

Social impacts are:

1. Families have year-round farming

2. Reduced conflicts over farming space since people may now utilize micro spaces

3. Food security for families and hence the society at large due to year-round farming of different crops

4. Families enjoy better nutrition from the wide range of crops

Economic benefits:

1. A reduction in the cost of farming

2. Increased farm produce hence increased year-round trade