Grow a Food Indy Forest

A variety of herbs and lettuces growing well together.

Growing food is a practice that connects us with our ancestors and the earth, and weaves together the fabric of our past and present.  Just like our grandmothers, and thier grandmothers who tended crops, modern growers nurture life, creating a shared bond that transcends generations.   

Think back just a couple of generations.  Each home and neighborhood had a lush, thriving garden, filled with organic fresh produce, flowers, and pollinators, all working together.  Each of you can do the same, creating a nature’s buffet, giving you all sorts of food and garden goodness that you can prepare for your family.  We call it a Food Indy Forest. All about food independence.

Each layer of the Food Indy Forest has a different function, with some layers providing food, others providing shade, and still others providing nutrients and support for the rest of the system. The best part of it is that the Forest does not have to be planted year after year.

In this blog post, we’ll specifically look at the layers and how to map out this sustainable, space-efficient garden, even in a small space. 

Lettuces, beets, and strawberries all growing together in a small spaces. This gardening approach saves water, time, and money.

The Food Indy Forest

Before getting started, look around your garden and see which trees and plants are already there.  How do they already work in your space?  Here are some tips for how to build out your food forest.

Layer 1, Tall trees: If you do not have trees already, plant the tallest ones in the back, preferably oak or bamboo.  The litter from them are fantastic for mulching and composting. These will also provide shade and structure for the layers below.

Layer 2, Fruit bearing trees: Fruit-bearing trees are like magic trees that give us tasty fruits like apples, oranges, cherries, plums, and more.

Layer 3, Shrubs and bushes: Shrubs bring diversity to your garden and are important because they not only bring food, but act as pollinators too.  These are low maintenance plants are aromatic herbs like rosemary, mint, thyme and oregano, berry bushes, and fruiting shrubs. They smother weeds and provide an easy harvest, in addition to creating thriving ecosystems that will attract bees and butterflies to your garden.

Layer 4, Groundcover vegetables: In the sunniest part of your garden, make space for your favorite annual vegetables like lettuce, collards, kale, and chard.

Layer 5, Bulbs: Garlic, onions, leeks, are shallow growing and also serve as natural pest repellant. 

Layer 6, Root Vegetables: Create an area for deep root crops including carrots, potatoes, beets, and radishes.  Loose well-drained soil is key to this layer. 

Layer 7, Vines: Beans, grapes, blackberries, kiwi, passionfruit, squash, pumpkins, and melons.  If you are working in a small space, this layer does well on trellises. Using vertical space is key in a small garden.  

Mulching is highly important to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil quality. (See Layer 1)

Mapping the Layers

In small spaces, efficient mapping is really important.  Here are some tips.

Vertical gardening: Use trellises, arbors, or vertical garden systems to make the most of limited space.  Vines and climbers love to grow up toward the sun. 

Intercropping: Plant compatible crops together.  For instance, plant tall sunflowers next to tomatoes and garlic or low growing strawberries under your fruit trees.  

Container gardening: Use pots and containers for annuals and herbs.  Put them in sunny spots and move them as needed.  

Companion planting: Mix and match plant varieties that complement each other.  Marigolds are good for pest control while beans add nitrogen to the soil for neighboring plants. 

Choose small varieties: Opt for dwarf trees and compact bush varieties to fit the space without compromising your harvest.  

Succession planting: After harvesting early crops like lettuce, plant news seeds to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the season.

In a small garden, every inch counts, but the possibilities are endless.  By carefully planning and mapping the 7 seven layers of your Food Indy Food Forest, you can create a thriving, sustainable ecosystem that not only provides abundant food but also supports local wildlife and pollinators.  Your small space can yield big rewards, nurturing both your body, mind, and the environment.  Happy gardening!