Instead of neat rows of monoculture, forest gardens combine fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables together in one seemingly wild setting. This type of agroforestry mimics natural ecosystems and uses the space available in a sustainable way. UK-based Martin Crawford is one of the pioneers of forest gardening. Starting out with a flat field in 1994, his land has been transformed into a woodland and serves as an educational resource for others interested in forest gardening. This short film by Thomas Regnault focuses on Crawford’s forest garden, which is abundant, diverse, edible, and might be one answer to the future of food systems.
Sierra Magazine’s Mr. Green tells you how to brew coffee without brewing trouble for the planet. Get more green living advice at sierraclub.org/MrGreen.
Up to 40 percent of all food in the United States is wasted. Just producing that food swallows up roughly 20 percent of America’s cropland, fertilizers, and agricultural water. NRDC’s Food Matters initiative partners with cities to strive toward a 15 percent reduction in food waste within five years through a comprehensive set of policies and programs.
