Contact Food Forest Farm West:
510-403-1344 or foodforestfarm.west(at)gmail.com
or select from the menu on the left to learn more about available services
or select from the menu on the left to learn more about available services
Please Support http://blackpermaculturenetwork.org/solidarity-statement/
The idea of food forests comes from the pre-industrial farming practices of many indigenous peoples. Using the model of a forest system and it’s many layers, these early farmers incorporated food production into existing eco-systems in stark contrast to the “slash and burn” or clear cutting methods of modern agriculture, which requires annual tilling of the soil, and continuous inputs of water, fertilizer, and pesticides to support an unnatural monoculture.
Learning from the wisdom of our ancestors, we can now mimic
the context of a forest using edible and medicinal perennial plants.
The benefits of the food forest system work in a dynamic way
with the environment so that soil is built
not tilled, and it requires much less (if any) weeding, watering or chemical
inputs.
Besides being both ecological and practical, food forests can also appeal to an overall sense of beauty, harmony and well being.
Besides being both ecological and practical, food forests can also appeal to an overall sense of beauty, harmony and well being.
About Food Forest
Farm West
Over the last ten years I have watched (and helped) my
brother Jonathan Bates and our friend Eric Toensmeier grow a food forest
in Western Massachusetts. A couple years ago my brother
began a nursery propagating from his own back yard and the original Food Forest Farm began!
Marikler with a chicken in the 'Paradise Lot...' Holyoke, Mass
While visiting family back east, FFF West was born one wintry January in Western Massachusetts, when my friend Javiera asked what I was doing. At the time I said I was thinking of starting a nursery and Javiera said “like Food Forest Farm West?” And the rest is history….
About Jessica Bates
I have been gardening for over 10 years, run multiple
gardening education programs (adult, high school and elementary), co-founded
the Ashby community garden, have worked with multiple bay area landscapers and
I am a certified permaculture teacher and designer as well as an Alameda County
“Master Composter”. I specialize in organic perennial and annual food production
and CA native and "bay friendly" plants.
I have also raised chickens in the urban environment. I
have raised chickens since 2010, and built four different chicken runs. Each run was
made out of reused or reclaimed materials.
Beekeeping is something I began learning about when I worked
at the Sircadia eco-farm in Perú.
I am now assisting renowned East Bay
organic bee keeper Alan Hawkins.
A special thanks to my friend, and business partner, Bakari Kafele, for encoraging me to start my business and for being a dear friend and support along the way.
A special thanks to my friend, and business partner, Bakari Kafele, for encoraging me to start my business and for being a dear friend and support along the way.
Contact Food Forest Farm West by phone at 510-403-1344 or email foodforestfarm.west(at)gmail.com or select a link from the left menu to learn more about the services I can provide you.