Das grosse Handbuch Waldgarten

For centuries, sustainably usable forest gardens have existed in the tropics. These are ecologically rich, interconnected systems that are economically viable for the indigenous population in subsistence agriculture. Once established and reaching maturity, they primarily require only harvesting labor. They serve as a model for European forest gardens. The long-time, well-known organic gardening practitioner, permaculture designer, and teacher Patrick Whitefield demonstrates in his practical book, step by step, how similar gardens can be designed and sustainably maintained under Central European climate and soil conditions, taking into account a targeted selection of species and varieties. This refers to both large and small gardens that are designed like an edible miniature forest landscape. Such edible forest gardens are complex garden systems with multiple layers, including perennial vegetables, medicinal and spice plants, ground cover forest berries, berry bushes as mid-layers, and nut trees as overstory. In short: a multifunctional, sustainable habitat for plants, animals, and humans. The book discusses, among other things, what a forest garden actually is and how it works, the numerous advantages over home gardens or horticultural businesses, the forest garden plant community with the right selection of species and varieties (description and care of individual trees, shrubs, vegetable plants, and herbs), forest garden design considering site conditions, plant nutrition, pest regulation, diseases, and unwanted weeds, as well as pre-planting, planting, and maintenance tasks, and much more.