FOOD FOREST PROJECT

INSPIRA Permaculture

One of our main projects is to build a Permaculture and Syntropic Food Forest, that is: is a small eco-system of food production that aims to mimic what nature mostly tries to do with a piece of land: build a forest. The idea is to create a self-sustaining, resilient, and diverse environment that is designed to provide us with food and resources, as well as provide habitats to a large number of creatures, plants, microorganisms and fungi. In the end, we will support biodiversity and soil health, while producing food for the most part of the year.

HOW?

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IMITATING NATURE

The Food Forests’ goal is to emulate or mimic the structure and functions of a forest edge, with layers of trees, shrubs, ground cover, and vines, but to do so with mostly plants that provide us with food. By incorporating a wide variety of edible plants, such as fruit and nut trees, shrubs (e.g. berries), herbs, vines (e.g. grapes), and perennial vegetables (e.g. asparagus), we ensure a yearly yield of food with minimal maintenance.

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MINIMAL MAINTENANCE

Once established, food forests require minimal maintenance, as the plants support each other and create a balanced ecosystem. We become stewards and help them in the first years until the ecosystem is established and self-sustaining. Because like most forests, they rely on natural cycles (nutrient cycling and pollination), rather than external inputs, the forest feeds itself... And she feeds us.

RESOURCES & HABITAT

Besides food, Food Forests can provide other useful resources for us, such as firewood, and of course, they become a welcoming habitat for wildlife. Furthermore, they improve the soil health and water retention. How does this happen? The diversity of plant roots and organic matter build healthy, fertile soil, and deep-rooted trees and ground cover help conserve water. So an increased biodiversity will be a welcome side-benefit as the wide variety of plants in the Food Forest supports a wider range of insects, birds, and other wildlife. This same plant diversity makes the system less vulnerable to pests, diseases, and climate change.

FOOD YEAR-ROUND

But how will be ensure food produce year-round? Well, different plants provide food at different times of the year, and that is part of the design. To ensure a consistent harvest, even in a temperate climate such as our Mediterranean climate, where the winter can get cold, we find varieties of apples and pears that give fruit through January, as well as Mulberries and Strawberry trees, not to mention Olives!

PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION OF FOREST GARDEN SYSTEMS

From the beginning of the year, we've been observing, documenting and planning what in November 2025 has started to be implemented on the few hectares of our land that we want to dedicate to the our Food Forest. Here's a quick overview:

Study the land and atmospheric conditions
Integrate water management (retention) measures
Create a healthy humus soil layer
Plan and plant fruit and nut trees, support trees, shrubs, perennial produce plants, fungi, tuber, "pest" deterrent plants, and "green manure" or cover crops.
Plant succession planning and maintenance until the system becomes self regulating

The view from the height of the rice fields_edited.jpg

WATER MANAGEMENT: KEYLINE DESIGN & EARTHWORKS

Keyline design is a landscape design technique used to optimize the water resources of an area and to irrigate it. Compared to terracing for cultivation and water retention, the keyline swales method is gentler and easier to implement. By adapting contour lines of the terrain we can enhance deep water percolation, while preventing erosion and drought. Swales can also be a significant contributor to humus build-up, a blessing for any soil.

THE INVALUABLE SUPPORT OR ADVISORS AND HELPERS

Marcus Pan, an internationally active permaculture designer and our teacher. He has accompanied our project and shared his many years of experience in the planning and construction of permaculture systems. He generously shares his knowledge of deep the connections in nature and how to restore them, as well as his insights into nature's interconnections. We are ever grateful¨
www.down-to-earth.ch

Janick Peter, our "swales digger" and friend, who inspired by the vision of a new, healthy and diverse world, completed the Permaculture Design Course in 2013, and the multi-year diploma course in applied permaculture design, completed in 2017.

Our WWOOFers: So many people from all over the world have come to participate in putting together several of key elements for the Food Forest, from tending to our plants in the greenhouse to creating Biochar for the "Terra Preta" soil we've been preparing, to those here during the second week of November digging and planting trees and lavender and so many other plants. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts: Felipe, Annie & Jake, Paul & Daria, Victorien, Lindsey, Ryken, Sarah & Maureen, Nina, Merle, Andrea, Leah, Maria Barbara, Karen & Giovanni, Bill, Dawson & Amber, Johanna, Massimo, Yara, Hanna & Linda, Lenke, Cassidy, Sanne, Anna, Andy, Dimi, Keira, Charlotte, Inés, Nathane, Maggie, Annina, and not wwoofers, but also supporters: Tania & Chanti. If we forgot a name, please send us a note to include it.