Growing 500 Edible Plants in a Forest
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by The Kid Should See This
What it is
- This video explains how forest gardens yield crops in a more sustainable and resilient manner.
- Students will be introduced to forest gardener Martin Crawford, whose forest garden in South West England produces more than 500 types of edible plants.
- The video shows how this form of agroforestry provides natural protection for crops during severe weather events, which are likely to increase because of climate change.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Students will be intrigued by the stark differences between forest gardens and monoculture.
- Beautiful cinematography makes this video engaging.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the terms temperate, succession, annual, perennial, cultivated, and resilience.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Science classes can design their own forest gardens using the seven layers mentioned in the video (high trees, smaller trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, root crops, and climbers). Students can find two or three plant species for each layer of their forest garden and make slideshows to present their gardens to the class.
- Biology classes can discuss how forest gardens can fight climate change (e.g., trees can sequester carbon, deep root systems prevent erosion, and forest gardens do not require tilling, fertilizers, or pesticides).
- Other resources on this topic include this video on the traditional Maya Milpa farming cycle, this Ecosia video on a forest garden in Senegal, and this lesson plan on carbon and food.
From the scientist review
Nearly all of the crops that are grown for food are annual plants, meaning they have to be planted every year. On the other hand, in natural ecosystems, 90% of all plants are perennial plants (ones that come back year after year). This video showcases a different form of gardening that is more sustainable than our traditional farming methods. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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