Visiting Forest Gardens and Food Forests in Arizona
Guest post by Stefanie Albrecht & Arnim Wiek, ASU Sustainable Food Economy Lab
Food forests are multi-layered systems of edible trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants. Through ecosystem services —such as food production, shade, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration— they offer multiple benefits to the community, from nourishment to recreation and education. They require at least a 1-acre size for full functionality. In Arizona, a few food forests exist, and many smaller forest gardens can be found in private backyards.
In 2019, we visited food forests and forest gardens that are open for tours. We were interested in learning about design, plants, and management to inform our sustainable food forest project at Spaces of Opportunity in South Phoenix.
Epic Yard Farm in Tempe
In a 0.16-acre garden, owner and designer Jacq Davis was growing 90 fruit trees and many more perennial plants such as moringa, dragon fruit, and chiltepin. As a graphic designer and permaculture student, she started transforming her front and backyard into an edible oasis in 2013. At the front, two signs explained to the public how valuable such a garden is for butterflies and other insects. A thick layer of mulch and the diverse plant layers kept the irrigation needs low. We were very impressed by this intense and aesthetic food-production yard that really optimized the available space. Jacq recently moved to another place where she is setting up a new forest garden.
Longevity Garden in Tempe
Many youtube videos show the development of this forest garden since 2011 ( a recent tour) which was initially inspired by Greg Peterson’s Urban Farm. Owner Pamela Mace shared her experiences during the first difficult years. Now she has settled on some favorite trees like dates and other fruit trees. The site resembles more a mature forest with mostly trees and sparse groundcover plants. Pamela recently opened her raised beds to the community for others to join in gardening. Pamela also runs a seed bank micro-business, Seed Bank Box .
Las Milpitas Community Garden in Tucson
Las Milpitas is a 6-acre community farm run by the Community Food Bank with a forest garden designed by farmer and permaculture designer Zotero Citalcoatl. The community garden displays passive rainwater harvesting techniques through retention beds. The forest garden uses drip irrigation and is designed in rows of fruit trees like apricot and peach as well as annual vegetables like eggplant and pepper. Tours can be arranged on the Las Milpitas Farm facebook page and website.
Bean Tree Farm near Tucson
This 20-acre native food forest is an extensive farm with ironwood, mesquite and saguaro as well as cactus and medicinal shrubs. Permaculture designer and owner Barbara Rose installed passive rainwater harvesting swales. She turns native plants like cholla buds, hackberry, chia, prickly pear, mesquite and barrel cactus seeds into tasty stews and spreads that can be bought at her farm stand. Bean Tree Farm offers tours, tasting events and workshops on processing native plants and building with natural materials.
About the Authors
Stefanie Albrecht researches food forests as a sustainability solution and capacity building for implementing them. Her Ph.D. project is conducted at Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany, and Arizona State University as part of the “Processes of Sustainability Transformation” program. She works on two projects, one in Phoenix with Spaces of Opportunity, and one in Lüneburg with the City of Lueneburg.
Arnim Wiek is the director of the Sustainable Food Economy Lab and a Professor in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University. He is passionate about solution research and education with positive impacts on people and the planet. He is involved in projects that support and advance sustainable food enterprises in Arizona.