In March 2018 we held our second month long Food Forest course. The group of eight spent one month learning about trees, soils and food forests whilst researching their own trees and creating designs for a food forest. They then planted a new food forest in an old olive grove in one of our terraces.
This terrace originally was an olive grove which burnt down in a fire in 2013. It was then abandoned and became overgrown with weeds and olive shoots. We cleared it with a tractor and grew one season of annual crops on it before turning it into a food forest. This terrace has now been mass planted with trees, guild shrubs, cover crops and sheet mulching. Our food forest courses are one month long and give students an in depth view of all aspects of living off grid along with how to set up a food forest from making compost to planning and constructing irrigation. Click here for information on our next course.
Take a look at the 5 galleries below showing the course, the workshops, activities, the trees and the designs:
1. Photos of Food Forest Course
Here we built a grey water system for the washing machine and indoor shower water
Planting trees in guilds with perennial companion shrubs, ground covers, root vegetables, herbs and shrubs grown in the green house
Staking trees to make them sturdy against strong winds
We grew fava beans to give us a good supply of high nitrogen green mulch
Each student studied a tree based on their learning s from the course to help the group design the tree into the food forest
Each stydent selected companion plants from the greenhouse based on their learnings and research on the tree and its needs
Everyone had a go at the various propagation methods
We made compost teas to cultivate bacteria and fungai for our soils
We made bio char and activated it in various ways
We propagated from a local farm and then planted the propergations around our farm ir in the greenhouse
We made some bed in the annual garden and planted quick growing annuals like spinach, turnips, mustard, rocket and radishes.
We surveyed the land and students drew a to scale drawing of the land for design purposes
Chinese Mulberry guild after planting
We made a sunken bed and filled it with compost from a hot compost pile we made. We also made boxes to hold the paths together on our carpentry day
We built a wall on the toilet using clay on our fun natural building day
We spent a morning learning how to graft apple and pear trees and we all had a go grafting a tree
On carpentry day we made boxes for raised or sunken beds while getting to practice using different tools
On Carpentry day we repaired a table for the greenhouse
On Irrigation day we had a go at installing an irrigation system
Whenever we plant a tree, vegtable or do sheet mulching, we include four layers of mulch, activated bio char, compost, green mulch and then brown mulch
We got strong from wheelbarrowing compost, bio char, mulch, trees, stones and all sorts around the farm
We all planted several trees and guilds
Planting trees
Digging
Designing a food forest as a team
Wild greens and foraging day with Raquelle
To have soil abundant in nutrients you have to make compost. We made compost in many ways as our organic fertilizer
Designing the food forest in a team
2. Workshops by guest teachers and additional activities on and off the farm
The bulk of the food forest course is taught by Laurence Manchee, however some additional workshops and activities are taught by guests. We also do some activities ff the farm
Horse riding with Erika
Community day helping a local farmer muck out his stables
A trip to the organic Market
We spent a morning learning how to graft apple and pear trees and we all had a go grafting a tree
Wild greens and foraging day with Raquelle
Soap making workshop with Wric
Fermenting Workshop with Kimberly
Orange picking locally
Fancy Dress Party
A trip to the local cheese farm
Portuguese Class with Joao
trip to local cafe
Community day helping with a fire break at a local farm
make our own pizzas at the pizza party
3. Students standing by the trees and guilds they planted
Each student was assigned a tree which they researched through the course.. they then designed their trees together into the food forest based on their leanings. After this each student designed a guild of companion plants and planted them (see designs lower down). Once this was done, open areas of the food forest were filled with paths, shrubs, cover crops or sheet mulching.
Each student is standing by the tree they planted. they also arranged each guild and surrounding paths, sheet mulching and cover crops;
Chaste tree and its respective guild
Chinese Mulberry guild after planting
Strawberry Tree
Wisteria Tree
Dwarf Quince
Blue Bean Tree
Canadian Serviceberry
Strawberry Guava
Lemon Tree
Lime Tree
Chinese Mulberry Guild
Strawberry Guava Tree
We made a sunken bed and filled it with compost from a hot compost pile we made. We also made boxes to hold the paths together on our carpentry day
4. Student Designs of Food Forest and their individual Guilds:
Our Olive grove was converted into a food forest over two food forest courses
Our Olive grove was converted into a food forest over two food forest courses
Polyculture including wisteria and chaste tree plus companion pants planted by Celia and Griet during the March 2018 Food Forest course
Our Strawberry Guava Guild designed and planted in March 2018 by Ula
Quince guild planted by Josina in the march 2018 Food Forest course
Mulberry Tree guild planted by Raheela during our one month food forest course in March 2018
A Lemon tree Guild planted by Hazel on our March 2018 Food Forest Course
Serviceberry and its guild designed and planted by Maia during our March 2018 food forest course
Design of a blue bean guild at Keela Permaculture Farm, by Simone, a student at Keela permaculture Farm’s food forest course in March 2018
To join one of our future food forest courses please click here
Next Permaculture Courses in Portugal
Check out the dates of our upcoming Permaculture Design Course (PDC) and Specialist courses. Each specialist course is held right after a PDC so that you can attend both together if you want.
Followed by Land Restoration Course – 15th – 21st November 2027
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