Overview

Ecological Vision & Practical Application to a Regenerative Future

Forest Gardening is a unique course combining the ancient wisdom of Ecological Design, Deep Ecology and Forest Gardening with the application of Regenerative Practices.

Forest Gardening is experiencing Gaia in Action. It is the ancient art of rooting to place.

You can create a beautiful, diverse, high-yield garden. If planned and created with attention and a deep understanding of ecosystem function, you can also achieve a primarily self-maintaining garden.

“Those concerned with the full implications of the ecological crisis which we now face generally agree that urgent steps should be taken to plant many millions of trees. There is no reason why many of the desperately needed new trees should not be fruit trees planted in people’s gardens and public green spaces comprising of fruit and nut trees, fruiting bushes and climbers, as well as herbs and perennial vegetables.” ~Robert Hart, Pioneer and Originator of the term forest gardening

Forest ecosystems exhibit numerous advantageous properties we humans would be wise to follow: they sustain, restore, enrich and increase themselves without human efforts; they build, store, and maintain clean water, clean air, nutrients, soil quality, and biodiversity; and they create stability, resilience, and adaptability. These qualities transpire from the dynamics of the forest as a whole system, not from any one or more of the elements that comprise the woods alone.

We can provide universal access to fresh, healthy organic food, green our cities, and protect biodiversity. With this poetic and pragmatic action, we can commit to our town’s environmental and community health and the next generation!

Intuition and common sense tell us that we are one with the Earth. If our world is sick and poisoned, then so are we. If the forests are being destroyed, we die a little with each felling. Humanity faces the beautiful reality that we are part of a ‘shared planet.’

We are at a turning point on the planet, realizing that the intimate embrace of our world is a healing force moving humanity towards a transformation in our relationship with the Earth, each other and ourselves.

Having studied and integrated the various aspects of forest gardening, you may feel called to share what you have learned with others. Certified forest garden educators will be able to facilitate this wisdom-centred course. Each training includes practical instruction, which you can apply immediately into your daily life.

The forest gardening correspondence course can be taken individually or as a part of the diploma course. Previous organic gardening or forest gardening practice, no experience is required. This educational process is for people from all walks of life who are enthusiastic about bringing the path of the forest gardening lifestyle practice into their own lives and to their communities.

“When the world wearies, and society fails to satisfy, There is always the garden.”

~Minnie Aumonier