class: center, middle # The Backyard Forest _Introducing the Backyard Forest_  [Course preview](/) by [Jake Rayson](mailto:hello@forestgarden.wales) [preview.backyardforest.uk/intro](https://preview.backyardforest.uk/intro/) ###### **Press `P` to see notes and credits**
Work licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), embedded work may have other licenses. ??? * Greetings & welcome to the Backyard Forest! * My name is Jake Rayson, I am a forest gardener and forest garden designer * Online forest gardening course for everyone who wants to transform their garden into lush food forest * Key aspect, working with nature to grow edible crops, whilst creating wildlife haven * Couple of notes: * This is the first of 8 lectures * Press `p` to see the notes * Slides always available online * Slideshow license means you can share the slideshow non-commercially --- class: middle, center ## Jake Rayson
Forest Garden Wales
[](/) Website: [forestgarden.wales](https://www.forestgarden.wales/) Email:
Twitter: [@ForestGdnWales](https://twitter.com/ForestGdnWales) Facebook: [@ForestGardenWales](https://facebook.com/ForestGardenWales) YouTube: [Subscribe](https://www.youtube.com/c/ForestGardenWales?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1) to my [channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKXKUlYUniJwEy1Lkvs78qw) ??? * I am Forest Garden Wales on internet * Subscribe to my YouTube channel! ## Short bio & motivations! * Interested in engaging with ecological & climate emergency in 2012 * Bought Martin Crawford's โCreating a Forest Gardenโ * Moved to West Wales farmhouse in 2015 * Forest garden on 3 acres of hillside --- # What youโll learn  ## Transform your backyard
into a lush food forest
and wildlife haven
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Whole course based on idea that _everyone_ can contribute * No matter how much space you have * **You** can create a functioning, edible ecosystem --- # What youโll learn  1. Course overview 2. Backyard Forest definition 3. Characteristics of a forest garden 4. Forest garden guidelines
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Backyard forest, term implies **small forest garden** * Most people have yards, not acres! * I use terms interchangeably * Course overview * Butterfly is [Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)](https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=urticae) * Flower is [Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)](https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Centranthus+ruber) * Definition * Defining characteristics, how to tell if you have a forest garden! * Guidelines, key things to keep in mind --- class: middle, center # 1. Overview
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
--- # Course overview
1. [
Introducing
](/course/intro/) 2. [
Plan
](/course/plan/) 3. [
Design
](/course/design/) 4. [
Protection
](/course/protection/) 5. [
Perennial Veg
](/course/veg/) 6. [
Canopy
](/course/canopy/) 7. [
Ground Prep
](/course/prep/) 8. [
Shrubs & Ground Cover
](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * 3 sections * First 3 lectures are theoretical, observational & designing * Next 3 are "structural" planting * Last 2 lectures are filling out the structure * Possible to pause between each section --- # Course overview
1. [
Introducing
](/course/intro/) ๐ 2. [
Plan
](/course/plan/) 3. [
Design
](/course/design/) 4. [Protection](/course/protection/) 5. [Perennial Veg](/course/veg/) 6. [Canopy](/course/canopy/) 7. [Ground Prep](/course/prep/) 8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
--- # Course overview
1. [
Introducing
](/course/intro/) 2. [
Plan
](/course/plan/) ๐ 3. [
Design
](/course/design/) 4. [Protection](/course/protection/) 5. [Perennial Veg](/course/veg/) 6. [Canopy](/course/canopy/) 7. [Ground Prep](/course/prep/) 8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Surveying tips * Creating a map * Making a wishlist * Moving things around (design) * Schedule --- # Course overview
1. [
Introducing
](/course/intro/) 2. [
Plan
](/course/plan/) 3. [
Design
](/course/design/) ๐ 4. [Protection](/course/protection/) 5. [Perennial Veg](/course/veg/) 6. [Canopy](/course/canopy/) 7. [Ground Prep](/course/prep/) 8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Purposefully putting things in the right place! --- # Course overview
1. [Introducing](/course/intro/) 2. [Plan](/course/plan/) 3. [Design](/course/design/) 4. [
Protection
](/course/protection/) ๐ 5. [
Perennial Veg
](/course/veg/) 6. [
Canopy
](/course/canopy/) 7. [Ground Prep](/course/prep/) 8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Windbreaks * Dead hedges * Nurse trees * Paths! Access & presence. * Polytunnel, greenhouse, potting shed, cold frames, heated propagation bed --- # Course overview
1. [Introducing](/course/intro/) 2. [Plan](/course/plan/) 3. [Design](/course/design/) 4. [
Protection
](/course/protection/) 5. [
Perennial Veg
](/course/veg/) ๐ 6. [
Canopy
](/course/canopy/) 7. [Ground Prep](/course/prep/) 8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Accessibility * Protecting your crops * Top 10 perennial veg * Propagation --- # Course overview
1. [Introducing](/course/intro/) 2. [Plan](/course/plan/) 3. [Design](/course/design/) 4. [
Protection
](/course/protection/) 5. [
Perennial Veg
](/course/veg/) 6. [
Canopy
](/course/canopy/) ๐ 7. [Ground Prep](/course/prep/) 8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Protection, spacing & planning * Planting & caring * Species * Propagation? --- # Course overview
1. [Introducing](/course/intro/) 2. [Plan](/course/plan/) 3. [Design](/course/design/) 4. [Protection](/course/protection/) 5. [Perennial Veg](/course/veg/) 6. [Canopy](/course/canopy/) 7. [
Ground Prep
](/course/prep/) ๐ 8. [
Shrubs & Ground Cover
](/course/shrubs-cover/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Timing * Sheet mulch * Cardboard mulch * Deturf --- # Course overview
1. [Introducing](/course/intro/) 2. [Plan](/course/plan/) 3. [Design](/course/design/) 4. [Protection](/course/protection/) 5. [Perennial Veg](/course/veg/) 6. [Canopy](/course/canopy/) 7. [
Ground Prep
](/course/prep/) 8. [
Shrubs & Ground Cover
](/course/shrubs-cover/) ๐
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Protection, spacing, planning * Future shade * Bark/wood chip mulch * Planting shrubs * Top shrub species * Temporary mulch * Planting ground cover * Top ground cover species * Propagation --- class: middle, center [](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/video/shorts/1438178883749/) _โYou donโt have to know everything to beginโ_
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * But _where_ do you begin? * Photo still & [Martin Crawford](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk) quote from the short film [A forest garden with 500 edible plants could lead to a sustainable future](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/video/shorts/1438178883749/) by [Thomas Regnault](https://www.thomasregnault.com) on National Geographic --- # Books & websites * [Martin Crawford](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/): books, courses, plants * [Thomas Regnaultโs short film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_m_0UPOzuI) of Martinโs garden * [Plants for a Future](http://www.pfaf.org/): massive database of useful plants * [RHS Plant Finder](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Form) with native filter * [Orange Pippin](https://www.orangepippin.com/apples): super fruit tree reference * [A New Garden Ethic](https://newsociety.com/Books/N/A-New-Garden-Ethic) by [Benjamin Vogt](https://www.monarchgard.com/benjamin-vogt.html) [](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/product/creating-a-forest-garden-2/)
Overview
โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Totally recommend buying [Create a Forest Garden](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/product/creating-a-forest-garden-2/) by Martin Crawford * Forest gardening encompasses many disciplines, ongoing endeavour by many individuals. --- class: middle, center # 2. Definition
Overview โ
Definition
โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
--- # 2. Definition  ### โWork with nature
to grow edible crops,
emulate woodland edge using
[perennial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_plant) & [ground cover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundcover) plantsโ
Overview โ
Definition
โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * Backyard Forest to emphasise suitability of forest gardening techniques for gardens of all sizes * Most people have yards, not acres > Work with nature to grow edible crops, emulate woodland edge using perennial & ground cover plants ## Key points * Work with nature: sustainable garden, grow natives, create wildlife habitat * Edible crops: productive * Woodland edge: easier to maintain natural balance * Perennial plants: better for wildlife, less work * Ground cover plants: permanent living ground cover --- # Edible ecosystem  ### โGrowing edible crops
in a wildlife gardenโ
Overview โ
Definition
โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * **Edible ecosystem**โedible crops in a self-sustaining wildlife garden system * Put your garden in a more _natural_ state * Central role of nature Forest garden also known as: * Food forest * Edible landscape * Also look out for edimentals, portmanteau edible+ornamental --- # Why a Backyard Forest?  1. ### Ecological Emergency 2. ### Climate Emergency
Overview โ
Definition
โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * What we have now isnโt working ๐ * Need to show alternatives * โOnce you can grow your own food, you can do anythingโ โ liberating * Life as the measure * [showyourstripes.info](https://showyourstripes.info) โ with matching badge! --- # Climate Emergency 
Overview โ
Definition
โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * [1.5ยฐC rise by 2026](https://climatenewsnetwork.net/warming-exceed-1-5c-limit-2026/), 6-7ยฐC by 2100 * Photo by Matthew Abbott/The New York Times, labelled for reuse --- # Ecological Emergency 
Overview โ
Definition
โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
??? * BBC [Nature crisis: Humans 'threaten 1m species with extinction'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48169783) 6 May 2019 * [15% species under threat of extinction in UK](https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/state-of-nature-2019-summary-report-uk.pdf) ## Plenty other reasons * Low maintenance, for when you get older * Also olanting for future generations * Positive activism * Health, both physical & mental * More habitat for wildlife * Sequester carbon * More resilient --- class: middle, center # 3. Characteristics
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
--- # 3. Characteristics  1. Sustainable 2. Productive 3. Wildlife friendly 4. Layers 5. Perennial
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
??? * Illustration of forest garden in โclimax vegetationโ * The further right you go, the more energy, less diversity, more fragility * Illustration from Martin Crawfordโs Creating a Forest Garden --- # 3. Characteristics  1. Sustainable ๐ 2. Productive 3. Wildlife friendly 4. Layers 5. Perennial
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
??? * Mineral accumulators & nitrogen fixers * Wildlife predators for pests * Permanent โliving mulchโ ground cover * Trees, perennials & soil biota sequester carbon. * Biodiversity encouraged * Native plants **where possible** * Low maintenance! --- # 3. Characteristics  1. Sustainable 2. Productive ๐ 3. Wildlife friendly 4. Layers 5. Perennial
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
??? * Fruit, nuts, leaves, shoots, rootsโฆ * Herbs, wood, canes, dyes etc * Multi-layered, using all available space efficiently --- # 3. Characteristics  1. Sustainable 2. Productive 3. Wildlife friendly ๐ 4. Layers 5. Perennial
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
??? * Native plants, as co-evolved * [Wildlife features](https://www.forestgarden.wales/wildlife-features/) * Create ecosystem, create pest control & nutrients --- # 3. Characteristics  1. Sustainable 2. Productive 3. Wildlife friendly 4. Layers ๐ 5. Perennial
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
??? [Forest garden layers](https://www.forestgarden.wales/layers/) 1. Canopy 2. Small trees 3. Shrubs 4. Herbaceous perennials 5. Ground cover 6. Climbers 7. Rhizosphere  * Layers are really efficient, in a lazy way! * My logo is 3 basic layers: canopy, shrubs, herbaceous perennials --- # 3. Characteristics  1. Sustainable 2. Productive 3. Wildlife friendly 4. Layers 5. Perennial ๐
Overview โ Definition โ
Characteristics
โ Guidelines
??? Perennial, mostly, plus easy annuals ๐ * Lower maintenance * Less soil disturbance * More efficient * More nutritious Some annuals, veg like courgettes & squash, and some that self-seed, eg [Marigold](https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Calendula+officinalis) and [Nasturtium](https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Tropaeolum+majus) --- class: middle, center # 4. Guidelines
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ
Guidelines
--- # 4. Guidelines  1. [Protection](/protection/) ๐ 2. [Spacing](/spacing/) 3. [Ground cover](/ground-cover/) 4. [Nutrients](/nutrients/)
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ
Guidelines
??? * Protection from elements & predators * Wind * [Windbreak hedge](/windbreak/) * [Nurse tree](/nurse-tree/) * [Dead hedge](/dead-hedge/) * Wind & cold * Greenhouse * Polytunnel * Cold frames * Potting shed * Heated propagation bed Also protect some young plants from direct sun. --- # 4. Guidelines  1. [Protection](/protection/) 2. [Spacing](/spacing/) ๐ 3. [Ground cover](/ground-cover/) 4. [Nutrients](/nutrients/)
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ
Guidelines
??? * Forest garden emulates woodland edge * Need to make sure enough light gets to understorey * **Plant for final size**! * Check [PFAF](https://pfaf.org/user/Default.aspx) & [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Form) for sizes * More work to move than to plan! * For cultivated fruit trees, choose right [rootstock](/rootstock/) * Formula: ยผ to ยฝ average canopy diameters Illustration based on Martin Crawfordโs Creating a Forest Garden --- # 4. Guidelines  1. [Protection](/protection/) 2. [Spacing](/spacing/) 4. [Ground cover](/ground-cover/) ๐ 5. [Nutrients](/nutrients/)
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ
Guidelines
??? * **Always** keep the ground covered * Annuals, use a mulch. Forest garden, use ground cover plants * When establishing, use bark or wood chip, plus temporary ground cover * Wood chip mulch [does not rob nitrogen](https://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf) (PDF)! * I prefer bark but wood chip more available * Best temporary ground cover in West Wales, [White Mustard](https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Sinapis+alba)โbuy bulk --- # 4. Guidelines  1. [Protection](/protection/) 2. [Spacing](/spacing/) 4. [Ground cover](/ground-cover/) 5. [Nutrients](/nutrients/) ๐
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ
Guidelines
??? * Calculate **[nutrient budget](https://www.forestgarden.wales/nutrients/)**, Creating a Forest Garden Ch.6 * Have soil test for nutrients & pH, local farmers co-op * Make sure to have enough โsystem plantsโ providing nutrients * NPK โย Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium * Nitrogen: alder, pea family, Sea Buckthorn, Autumn Olive * Potassium: [comfrey](/comfrey/) * Phosphorous: not really provided by plants * ['Bocking 14'](https://www.organiccatalogue.com/products/comfrey-bocking-14-plants_mh6390), sterile, bred for nutrients * [Dwarf Comfrey](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/75444/Symphytum-ibericum/Details), good thick ground cover --- # Backyard Forest takeaways  * Edible ecosystem * Sustainable * Take your time
Overview โ Definition โ Characteristics โ Guidelines
--- class: middle, center # The End 
[www.forestgarden.wales/newsletter](https://www.forestgarden.wales/newsletter) Music: _[Chegsticks](https://iamthemightyjungulator.bandcamp.com/track/chegsticks-3) by [I Am The Mighty Jungulator](https://iamthemightyjungulator.bandcamp.com)_