Our Forest Garden Historical Timeline
The Dream
In 1975, Shantree Kacera embarked on a visionary journey, dreaming of cultivating an organic piece of land where he could harmonize with nature and embrace the essence of sustainable living. Fueled by a deep longing to live off the land and embrace a life of abundance, Shantree's aspirations began to take shape.
By 1977, Shantree had meticulously outlined an action plan to manifest his dream. With unwavering determination and a clear vision in mind, he sketched out the steps necessary to bring his aspirations to fruition.
The year 1982 marked a pivotal moment in Shantree's journey as the vision he had nurtured for years was on the brink of realization. A small tree nursery had been lovingly planted in his parents' backyard garden, symbolizing the seeds of his aspirations taking root and beginning to flourish.
In 1997, Lorenna Bousquet joined the dream at The Living Centre, bringing with her a profound commitment and love for the land. Her presence marked a significant turning point, as she became deeply involved in various initiatives to nurture and revitalize the natural landscape.
Lorenna's unwavering dedication played a pivotal role in elevating the aesthetic appeal of the gardens, transforming them into vibrant sanctuaries of biodiversity and serenity. With her keen eye for detail and creative vision, she meticulously curated spaces that captivated the senses and provided sanctuary for various plant and animal species.
This is the story of the land…
History
The site was formerly a rundown organic homestead with very few trees, except for a 25-acre mature forest, a neglected pear orchard, and a recently planted windbreak of evergreen trees around the house and another around the barn. The land has been organic since the beginning of time. Shantree has met all three previous owners, even the children whose parents built the house and barn from 1912 to 1914 and who grew up on the land. The house and barn were built from lumber harvested from the forest, which covered 50 acres.
Over the decades, the property was deforested except for 25 acres, which are now classified as a heritage forest. The 25 cleared acres have been farmed organically for over 100 years. The pear orchard, which consists of a few acres, was planted in the 1970s with Bosc and Bartlett varieties.
Spirit of the Earth, The Living Centre, and Living Arts Institute, home of ‘Earth Wisdom Permaculture,’’ have been operated and co-directed by Shantree Kacera since 1983 as an eco-educational centre. Over three decades, Shantree has developed a productive forest garden that has been an ongoing experiment and evolved into a fertile mature forest garden.
These 45-year-old forest gardens were mainly created and planted for educational research, design, and propagation, allowing for observation, providing material for teaching purposes and foraging for medicinal plants for the ‘Apothecary Clinic in the Garden.’
Assessment
Our forest garden site is located in the fertile countryside of the southwestern part of Ontario, Canada, called ‘Carolinian Canada,’ the banana belt. It is the most diverse and warmest region of the country. It is about 20 kilometres north of Lake Erie, the mildest and fourth-largest freshwater lake (by surface area) of the five Great Lakes in North America and the thirteenth-largest globally.
Latitude: 42°47’58″N; Longitude: 81°12’52″W; and the elevation altitude about 200 meters above sea level.
This is a property with a total of 50 acres:
25 acres is a mature heritage forest,
10 acres, which has been reforesting itself,
7 acres of wildflower meadows,
3 acres of semi-dwarf Bosc and Bartlett pear trees,
3 acres of herb, vegetable, fruit and berry orchards, and greenhouse,
Two acres of semi-wild edible forest gardens around a beautiful tranquil pond, fruit and nut trees, and filbert and pawpaw groves.
One of the unique aspects of this property is the diversity of soil—from hard clay and sandy soil to rich, fertile black muck. The property has a pond, stream, wetland, and swamp. This diversity of land has the most significant potential for a wide range of vegetation and wildlife.
The rainiest months are April through June, and the second rainiest season is from September through November. The rainiest months are June and September, with average yearly rainfall around 100 mm.
The primary snowfall is between December and March.
The growing seasons begin after the spring equinox of March 21, when temperatures rise above 0 (°C). They usually stay above 0 (°C) until around the winter solstice or the holiday season. The primary growing months are from April 13, with temperatures around 7.5 (°C), to November 15, with temperatures around 4.5 (°C). The hottest months are July to August, with temperatures reaching the mid-to-high 30s.
A pond on the southwest section of the site varies from 4 to 5 meters, deep depending on rainfall, and is 45 meters in diameter. The terrain slopes gently up from the pond to the north, leaving much grassy area high and dry. The soil is primarily clay; however, around the south slope of the pond is rich black muck. We have been reforesting this area with edible fruit, nuts, and native trees, such as apples, plums, mulberries, cherries, peaches, and apricots. Also, we have planted filberts, north pecan, and heart nuts surrounding the pond.
The hardiness zone is 6A, with an average last killing frost around May 1 and the first killing frost around October 15. We have established pockets of hardiness zones of 7; these are microclimates located under or near sheltered forest canopies.
There are about 275 days above 18 °C (cooling Degree days) in the summer.
The soils are loamy sand, and some of the property has hard clay; there are a few unique spots with rich loamy black muck with a sprinkling of sand that goes down to one meter deep. The organic matter is between 5% and 10% on average. Soil tests indicated low potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper, and zinc, with a pH of 5.9 to 7.3. Soil compaction was noted in the deforested areas.
Due to the sandy nature of the soil and high rainfall during the spring and fall months, nutrient leaching is common. Rainfall averages 50 to 80 mm during the rainy months.
The yearly average rainfall is 900 mm. The area is subject to high winds from the northwest, and windbreaks exist on the north and west sides. The summer months of July and August bring drought conditions, with temperatures reaching the mid-to-high 30s, often accompanied by hot, dry winds. The area is home to a relatively large wildlife population, including mice, rabbits, and deer. These animals have a taste for young, tender leaves and require tree protection.
Research and Planning
The site initially planned to plant mixed fruit and nut orchards and grow annual vegetables and medicinal herbs when it was acquired. One of our main crops was organic garlic. When planting began, we were not fully aware of forest gardening techniques or had the experience, even though some aspects of permaculture were practiced in the early 1980s. In the interests of diversity, a few trees high on the wish list that were marginally hardy in the climate were selected experimentally with the knowledge that workload would be increased and success not assured. The demanding conditions on the site indicated drought-tolerant, hardy stock, which was sought out for most plantings. Research was done, and many unusual species of interest were put on the list and tried. From the fruit category were persimmons, kiwi, quince, various species of apricots, peaches, nectarines, pawpaw, and figs. Berries and vines included jostaberries, pink currants, jumbo gooseberries, grapes, kiwi, and goji berries. The nut categories we are experimenting with are English walnuts, pecan, heart nuts, almonds, and various filberts.
Our primary focus has been growing various medicinal, culinary, and edible herbs. At one point, we reached over 500 species. Around the perimeter of part of the property, an ongoing project is to establish a native edible medicine hedgerow trail.
Windbreak
Windbreaks already existed on the north and west sides of the house and barn, where cold, windy storms usually blow. A suitable windbreak has now been planted on the remaining eastside. The property has numerous microclimates, from very windy, dry south areas to the somewhat wet, swampy, fertile forest. As more trees were planted, various microclimates emerged and became evident.
Site Preparation and Fertility
To establish trees more quickly, planting in the grassy area with little site preparation was decided. Fertility was created through mulch, compost, and other non-animal product amendments.
Repeated sheet mulching, extensive use of chop-and-drop nitrogen fixers and other mulch plants, and the planting of more trees have created more biomass, resulting in remarkably fertile soil.
Canopy Establishment
What is now the canopy level was initially planted as a mixed orchard, using a circular or spiral planting pattern. The spacing of the earlier trees, back in the 1980s, turned out to be a little too close for a healthy forest garden, which will either limit what can be grown underneath or require a little more management to thin or prune back. A few fruit trees, which are short-lived in our area, are reaching their lifespan for this zone and climate. When we moved onto the property, there were five mature cherry trees, which, we figure, are now around 50 years old. Nitrogen trees and pollinators were planted around the property, something that we would do differently from what we have learned through some of our trials and errors. Now, we create a polyculture around each tree we plant, starting with a one to two-meter circumference. We usually grow 5 to 10 varieties of herbs or edible plants per polyculture.
As the operation has expanded beyond 1000 trees and shrubs over the last 30 years, much of our time is spent maintaining and fine-tuning the forest garden practice. Pears, plums, and grapes are the best fruit producers. New additions to the canopy are established during the fall or spring rainy periods and hand-watered on an as-needed basis during droughts. Locally available soil amendments such as compost, nettle and comfrey tea, and kelp meal were used initially, followed by foliar feedings such as straw or mulch and actively aerated compost teas. Nitrogen-fixing clover mixes were broadcast between the polyculture trees and the legume cover crop to continue shifting towards on-site fertility. The research was conducted into additional nitrogen-fixing plants as well as nutrient miners. The alfalfa/clover cover crop is mowed a few times yearly, and the first mowing is used to mulch around the trees. Chipped wood mulch was brought in as needed from a local tree service.
Shrub Level
When the canopy tree grid had nearly filled the remaining grassy area, windbreak trees were put in on the western edge, and the shrub level was started. Shade-tolerant nitrogen-fixing shrubs that produce edible fruit were planted alternating between existing trees in the least fertile section of the site. Other nitrogen fixers, such as black locust (a mineral accumulator), were planted, with more to be added each year until cropping trees are all adequately supported.
Herb, Root and Ground Cover Understory
When the nitrogen-fixing and mineral-accumulating trees and shrubs are all in, further attention is given to fertility in the herb layer. Comfrey and horseradish have been chosen as significant fertility sources for the herb level, and several hundred plants eventually needed to fill in the herb layer. These are propagated by division in the herb garden and are planted under or near the cropping trees. They are cut and left in place a few times a year. As the canopy and shrub layers have grown and made more shade, the time has been spent finishing the understory. This is the time when the plant nursery is fully utilized. The insectary plants (food, habitat and aromatic pest repellers/confusers), perennial vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, and other ground covers are needed in large numbers, which would be pretty expensive to source from nurseries. Propagation from self-seeders or division is our approach. The herb, root, and ground cover layer is usually done in stages or patches. Sheet mulch is applied around and under the existing trees and shrubs at a rate of between 3 and 5 thousand square feet per year. When the underlying vegetation has died out from lack of light, transplants from the herb garden or plant nursery can be brought in. Mulch will be used initially to suppress weed growth until transplants are established.
Fungi
Since the site has existing woodland and established forested areas, fungi have been well established.
Maintenance Stage
Maintenance is required through all stages of forest garden establishment. At our site, mowing between trees, seasonal pruning, and topping off (chop and drop) mulch around trees are required. Fertility support is also ongoing but diminishing as the nutrient cycles mature. Plantings continue, as will replacing plants that have succumbed to wildlife, droughts, freeze pressures or extreme climate patterns. Mature system maintenance will be minimal in comparison with establishment work. Spring weeding, fall pruning or trimming back over-ambitious species as necessary, replacement of short-lived plants, path upkeep, harvest and food preservation are all anticipated.
Accomplishments & Future Visioning
Our vision for the ecosystem on this land includes the transformation of this Carolinian Forest to an ecologically diverse, socially supportive, and economically viable natural forest. Why do we hold this dream? Out of health concerns, the very existence of tens of thousands of species of living beings is dependent on natural forests. This interdependent web of life is unravelling, torn apart by the way our natural landscapes are vanishing before our very eyes. On the other hand, Shantree is confident that sanity in the forest is possible on a regional scale.
Shantree has also left some areas of the original vegetation or permitted certain species to grow. These islands of biological diversity are essential reservoirs of organisms for pest control, and Shantree considers them a place of calm and beauty within the garden.
The pond is also home to a “tranquillity zone”: a swinging bench, a deck, a path that leads to the water, a sacred tipi, and a spiral garden overlooking the pond surrounded by forest gardens.
It is worth mentioning that the centre has a world-class Earthship passive solar greenhouse with an indoor, 4-season forest garden featuring figs, passion fruit, goji berries, lemon verbena, pineapple sage, and all kinds of fantastic stuff.
Future visions for the research and education centre, in general, are reflected in the forest garden goals and include:
·Emphasizing continuing research in local native foods and medicines
·Regenerating the property
·Serving as an educational property and a living classroom
·Community Gathering
·Serving as a sacred space
·Research and demonstration
Final Thoughts
This forest gardening project has been an ongoing creative endeavour with lots of learning and hard physical work, with hundreds of students and apprentices involved. There is much to discover about forest ecology and the individual plants and trees; this is a life journey. The one thing that keeps me going is a desire to create a more peaceful, healthier, and happier world for future generations.
Fruit Tree Inventory
Fruit Tree
Number & Details
Pear
120 Bosc & Bartlett semi-dwarf trees (the oldest being about 40 years old)
Pear
10 trees of various types (various ages, the oldest being about 45 years old)
Apple
20 trees assorted (12 to 15 years old)
Cherry
25 trees (4 trees about 50 years old; the rest are of various ages)
Plums
12 trees (5 trees are about 20 years old; the rest are of various ages)
Apricots
20 trees (various ages, the oldest ones being about 35 years old)
Peaches
10 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 20 years old)
Nectarines
5 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 10 years old)
Quince
10 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 15 years old)
June Berry
5 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 10 years old)
Cranberry
1 tree (about 5 years old)
Mulberry
5 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 20 years old)
Pawpaw
10 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 10 years old)
Persimmon
2 trees (the oldest being about 5 years old)
Fig
10 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 12 years old)
Goji Berries
5 Vines (various ages, the oldest being about 7 years old)
Kiwi Vines
5 Vines (various ages, the oldest being about 20 years old)
Grape Vines
10 vines (various ages, the oldest being about 30 years old)
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
300 TREES & VINES
Nut Tree Inventory
Nut Tree
Number & Details
Filberts
12 semi-dwarf trees (various ages, the oldest being about 40 years old)
Turkish Hazelnut
4 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 5 years old)
Heartnut
10 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 5 years old)
Northern Pecan
3 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 5 years old)
Walnut
10 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 40 years old)
English Walnut
4 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 30 years old)
Ginkgo Nut
5 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 35 years old)
Butternut
3 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 60 years old)
American Chestnut
1 tree (approximate age being about 15 years old)
Swamp Oak
3 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 5 years old)
Bur Oak
3 trees (various ages, the oldest being about 5 years old)
Almond
1 tree (about 2 years old)
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
60 TREES
Historical Timeline
1982
Dreaming in the Forest Garden
Started a Small Tree Nursery
1983
Moved onto the property Summer Solstice, June 21st
Clearing up the property
Taking out the trash
1984
Started one organic vegetable garden
Pruned back a very neglected pear orchard
Designed a circular medicine wheel herb garden
1985
Planted a half-acre medicine wheel herb garden
Build a grape arbour, followed by planting a few varieties of grapes
Finished repairing a small, unfinished greenhouse
1986
Planted a few English walnuts and other hard-to-find fruit trees
Planted a two-acre vegetable garden
Planted a one-acre cash crop of garlic
1987
Expanded to planting two acres of garlic
Redesigned and expanded herb garden to one acre
Planted ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ pole
1988
The focus begins to be more on educating the public on organic food production and herbs.
The Medicine Wheel herb garden has around 500 species of medicinal plants and is beginning to get attention.
We started planting more trees from the tree nursery (between 50 to 100 trees a year—an assortment of fruit, nut, medicinal trees, and evergreens to expand windbreaks.
1989
Began focusing on harvesting and wild-crafting medical herbs for healing.
We have created a culinary garden just outside of the kitchen backdoor.
1991
Medicine Wheel Herb Garden has become known as one of Canada’s most diverse herb gardens, with numerous write-ups in newspapers and magazines.
Created a rainbow-shaped herb tea garden with around 50 varieties.
1992
Expanded tree nursery in diversity and size
1993
For the ten-year anniversary of the centre, we had a special celebration around the Peace Pole.
1994
The beginning of establishing an edible native plant medicine trail (1 kilometre in length around the periphery of the property)
1998
Planted a Sacred Tree Grove around the pond.
1999
We planted 12 apple trees in the north section of the vegetable garden.
2000
Herb garden looks more like a young forest garden.
2001
Began building a 1,000 sq. foot passive solar Earthship greenhouse.
2002
Completed building a 1,000 sq. foot passive solar Earthship greenhouse containing a solarium.
2003
Landscaped around the outside of the Earthship greenhouse.
2004
Build an outdoor summer sprouting kitchen
2005
Designed and planted a new fruit orchard around the pond.
2006
Planted around 30 fruit trees in the periphery of the vegetable garden.
Began planting polycultures around the fruit trees in the new orchard.
2007
The redesigned vegetable garden is a half-acre spiral garden.
Created a spiral garden just north of the pond.
Began reclaiming a semi-wild pear grove at the forest edge.
2008
Created a sacred spiral garden in the middle of the vegetable garden.
Planted heartnut, pecan trees, and other fruit trees around the pond.
2009
Planted a filbert and pawpaw grove near the pond.
Created a sacred space for tipi next to the sacred spiral
Built a tipi just north of and overlooking the pond
2010
Created an herbal spiral outside the kitchen backdoor.
Designed and planted three native garden polycultures.
Planted a pawpaw trail along the south side of the pond.
Designed a semi-wild edible forest landscape in the pear grove. (This is a microclimate with four large heritage pears)
2011
Planted more of an assortment of edible fruit and nut trees around the pond.
A Forest Garden was started in the Old-Growth Forest.
Expanded the tree nursery
2012
Planted another 50 trees such as Almonds, Plumcots, Chums, Everbearing & White Mulberry, Asian Pears, Haspak Berries, Kiwi, Aronia Berries, Cornelia Cherry, Cherry Olives, Cherry Olives, Shrub Cherries, Seaberries, a few more Peaches and Apricots
Tore down the 100-year-old barn
Dreaming, Designing, and planning to build a bioshelter
2013
Artemisia: Forest Garden Nursery was born
Polycultured a 100-meter Asparagus Patch
2014
Built a Kiwi Walkway
Constructed a Hoophouse
Planted over 100 berry bushes
Expanded Herb Plant, Berry, and tree Nursery around the well
Held the 1st. Annual Forest Garden Convergence
2015
Early stages of a Children’s Children’s Garden
Planted another 100 berry bushes
Inoculated another 100 logs with Oyster Mushrooms and Lion’s MaLion’sd the 3rd. Annual Forest Garden Convergence
Build a Strawbale Studio
Creating a 1 km. Native Plant Trail
Continuing building a Kitty Tool Shed (Earthship, cordwood, and cob)
Complete Kitty Shed
Reconstruct Earthship Greenhouse
Expand Summer Kitchen
Designed and began building Sanctuary
Began building Bathhouse
Continued with Sanctuary
Completed Sanctuary & Bathhouse
To plant more trees!
To plant more peace!
To plant more joy!
2016
Expanded the Summer Kitchen
Held 2nd. Annual Forest Garden Convergence
2017
Pollarded 5 Linden Trees and inoculated logs with Oyster Mushrooms and lion’s MaLion’snted crooked willow archways & willow dome
2018
Planted a Rose-of-Sharon pathway to the tipi area, along with a new sacred spiral entrance to the tipi
2019
Inoculated another 100 logs with Oyster Mushrooms and Lion’s MaLion’sd the 3rd. Annual Forest Garden Convergence
2020
Build a Strawbale Studio
Creating a 1 km. Native Plant Trail
Continuing building a Kitty Tool Shed (Earthship, cordwood, and cob)
Complete Kitty Shed
Reconstruct Earthship Greenhouse
Expand Summer Kitchen
Designed and began building Sanctuary
2021
Continued with Sanctuary
2022
Continued with Sanctuary
2023
Completed Sanctuary & Bathhouse
To plant more trees!
To plant more peace!
To plant more joy!
2024
To plant more trees!
To plant more peace!
To plant more joy!