Food Forest Freedom
Permaculture Design and Edible Landscaping for Northern Michigan and Wisconsin
Safe food. Stress-free zones. Self-reliance. Stronger communities. Habitat for wild things. Or finally saying goodbye to those pesky stickers on all the fruit. Whatever freedom means to you, a food forest will help you find it!
What is a Food Forest?
A food forest, or forest garden, is a garden or landscape designed to produce an abundance of healthy, delicious food in ways that follow – not fight – nature’s own patterns of growth and production. Instead of constant plowing and weeding to produce annual crops, a food forest relies mainly on perennial plants to produce plentiful crops each year with minimal input.
The result is a beautiful and naturally productive yard, garden, or park space that requires minimal maintenance. In return, it produces an abundance of delicious food, medicines, teas, sanctuary space, and so much more—growing in beauty and diversity with each passing year.
Our Services
Edible Landscape Design
Your Food Forest Landscape Blueprint will be fully customized to your climate, planting zone, and site—as well as to the beauty, functionality, self- reliance, and abundance you wish to have. Pricing is based on the desired size of your design (not your total lot size).
Food Forest Installation
Don’t want to do it all yourself? We provide done-for-you and done-with-you edible landscape installation services. We can also build spaces and pathways for you to meander, sit in, meditate, read, socialize, and immerse yourself in your food forest design.
Food Forest Maintenance
Food forests are designed to have minimal maintenance needs. However all landscapes need periodic upkeep. We offer biweekly, monthly, and seasonal aftercare service options to maintain the health of your system while you sit back and enjoy your food forest.
Why Food Forests? Why Now?
As the late great Bill Mollison (known as the “Father of Permaculture”) put it: “Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.”
Our world has become increasingly polarized and separated from Nature— which has contributed greatly to many of the most pressing problems we face today. Food forests (including edible landscaping and permaculture) offer an embarrassingly simple solution.
From food security to soil degradation, chemical exposure to mental health, and so much more, planting a food forest can have a positive impact on your health, family, and community in so many ways! Watch this 2 minute video to learn more:
Growing Local Connections…
Food forests grow more than plants. They grow community.
As much as possible, we partner with local nurseries and suppliers to keep our communities strong.
…With Global Support
We are proud to be a co-op partner of Food Forest Abundance, LLC, a global leader in food forest advocacy and support. Having their world-class permaculture design team, training, and support at our back allows us to make your food forest experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
To learn more about the Food Forest Abundance organization and movement, visit them online:
MISSION
To build a free, healthy, and abundant society for generations to come.
VISION
Food forests growing in every community and in every yard around the world.
Latest from the Blog
Every week, we share timely articles on food forests, permaculture, gardening tips, self-reliance, food preparation and preservation, and other great topics. Check back often to see what’s new!
Permaculture Philosophy and the Ethics of Earth Care
Living in harmony with the earth may be one of the most important things we can learn to do in our lives. The planet lives and breathes, and all of its plants and animals deserve an opportunity to thrive, just like us. That's why the permaculture philosophy and ethics...
Time Sensitive Food Forest Grant Opportunity – Apply by April 18
We have an exciting food forest grant opportunity for you: how would you like a food forest installed, for free? We have only until April 18th…
7 Ways Planting a Food Forest Builds Strong Communities
Learn 7 reasons planting a food forest is a natural choice for restoring healthy communities of all kinds!