Editing the Forest Garden

I am wondering how other permaculture practioners make the decision to edit items from their food forests; what motivates them, what initiates the need, and do they feel concern about upsetting the balance?

I don't know that I have a food forest by a strict definition. I certainly didn't plan it or sketch it out ahead of time.  I pay attention to sun exposure and other basic things but mostly I've just planted and still do plant, in a pretty haphazard way.

If I was to describe the areas outside the mowed parts of the yard as a food forest I eliminate things that don't hold up or produce there. Apples for example are on their way out, a few apples once every 5 years or so, just isn't worth it. Peaches and pears can have their space.  Some blackberries that were smothering the goji berries also had to go but I have lots more blackberries. I'm going to burn out a lot of the rugosa roses, maybe all of them as they don't produce hips as I thought they would and are too much hassle to have around.  Black walnut trees that made by my standards inferior nuts are gone, replaced by better quality ones and pecans.

Basically I guess if it isn't a making respectable amount of food, it's gone. If it's overwhelming something I like better it's gone.  I don't know if I ever had anything resembling a balance in the first place, so I don't worry about that. Or maybe a "balance" is what's slowly evolving, as someday maybe only those those things that happily coexist and produce well will remain.

I treat my food forest more like Mark does.  I don't worry about balance.  That is Nature's job.  I plant anything and everything I like and let Nature weed out the things that don't belong.  I, and I think most people, put too much "stuff" in to begin with.  Otherwise, it looks like a pasture with a few twigs.  Once everything comes in, it can get very crowded.  At that point, I thin out the things that aren't productive or that I have too much or too many of, but really, I plant and watch.  My idea of permaculture is simply working with Nature, rather than against, so I let Her do the heavy lifting :)

For me it also is a balance between productivity and plant needs. I will baby a new transplant for 2-3 years because with our summer droughts it's the only way. While doing so, I try to notice what's helping and what it's not happy about and if there's an easy way of helping it out (a little less competition or a little more shade for example), I will try to do so. However, then I get to the point that my priorities shift just enough that I say to the plants - "it's up to you and Mother Nature, if you live, great, if you don't you're organic matter above and below ground to feed happier plants.

I'll edit for three main reasons.

Dietary balance. I like to keep a diverse diet, balanced between different food groups. If the output of the garden is tending too much to fruit, or leaves, or whatever, I'll reduce that set of plants to make more space for something I'd like more of.

Concluded experiments. I don't like to say 'failed' experiments, but having tested some plants it's time for them to come out or be relocated. Some over-aggressive species end up in pots. Or the plant might not thrive, or I might not like it. Temperate forest gardening is still very much an experimental adventure, and you need to test things in your own garden and kitchen. I am fairly slow to completely get rid of a plant, as a new growing or cooking technique has often turned a disappointing plant into a stalwart after many years of experiments. To an extent I let the garden self-edit. When I get a new plant I'll usually plant it in a few different spots in the garden. Usually I'll then thin (or the plants will self-thin) to the place where it does best - although with some 'spready' pants there is an argument for thinning them to where they do worst!

Density. If self-seeded plants are coming up too thickly or it turns out I've planted something too close, I'll thin. Overcrowded plants are usually less productive of the parts you want than well-spaced ones.