Here’s a video I took of a forest garden we built in Waimea, Hawai’i:
https://youtu.be/4ABRbDkvRzI it has a lot of canoe crops (crops brought by Polynesians) as well as native plants. These plants can work well together and function as a mini forest ecosystem, providing food and habitat for a wide variety of animals (including humans). Soil organisms and diverse understory communities recycle nutrients and create a labyrinth of different microclimate habitats under the protection of larger trees and shrubs.
This area of the property was lawn earlier this year (plus the 3 young native trees that are a few years old and which provided the framework for this project). Succession from pasture to functioning food forest occurs very quickly in a tropical climate, especially when permaculture methods like chop and drop are used. Initial setup required minor external inputs, mostly in the form of some compost, woodchips, and the rocks. Now, the system is nearing self-fertility and is providing its own food through the natural regenerating processes inherent to forests. This kind of system has a tendency to gravitate towards stability and resiliency.
The drystack rock walls are functional as well as aesthetic. They provide various microclimates, from arid to moist and shaded, giving home to a variety of plants and animals. They also hold back the soil and help regulate soil moisture and air flow.
Hope you enjoy
https://youtu.be/4ABRbDkvRzI
