Book reading
Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 1
Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier
Chapter 4 — niches, relationships, and guild logic
Pages 239 to 243: succession (Chapter 6)
Pages 285 to 287: succession (Chapter 6)
Book access & editionsModule 11 / 25
Trees, Forests, Plants, and Cultivated Ecologies
Topics
- Architecture, growth, and function of trees; placement and role of forests
- Guilds and polyculture
- Agroforestry, tree crops, multifunctional hedgerows, and orchard design
- Plant selection and identification; life strategies, succession, and niches
- Plant physiology and propagation
- Design and establishment of vegetable gardens and edible landscapes
- Season extension: Cloches, hoop houses, greenhouses, and other techniques
- Integrated Pest Management
- Seed saving and exchange
What you’ll learn
Learning goals
- Understand forest succession, plant layers, and diversity within the forest
- Basic botany; identify types of plants and understand their roles
- Propagate four different types of plants
- Understand polycultures and the niches of plants
- Design a small food garden
- Knowledge of decision-making tools to work with pest challenges
Read, watch & explore
Getting the books · access & editions
Use your own copy, buy the book, or borrow it through a library when possible. If you are local to me, contact me about borrowing a copy. You can also contact me for information about digital or other access to assigned readings.
Ask about reading access ↗If your edition uses different page numbers, contact me and we can match the correct section. Contact instructor.
Forest relationships and succession
Book reading
Practical Permaculture
Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein
Pages 247 to 249: propagation methods
Book access & editionsWatch
Permaculture Design for Food Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
Agroforestry Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
Alley Cropping Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
New Forest Farm Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
Season Extension Techniques - OSU Extension webinar
extension.oregonstate.edu
Open resourceWatch
Season Extension Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Read
Defining the spatial patterns of historical land use associated with the indigenous societies of eastern North America
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Open resourceIf you cannot access this resource, contact me for help with this reading or media.
Propagation, plant care, and identification
Use the propagation, Hardy Kiwi, season-extension, and integrated-pest-management resources in this module.
Read
Propagation by Cuttings, Layering and Division - Virginia Tech Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Open resourceWatch
Plant physiology and propagation Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Read
Integrated Pest Management - Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Open resourceWatch
Integrated Pest Management Video
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
Permaculture guilds part 1 - companion planting on steroids
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
Polycultures and Guilds - Episode 1 - Apples -n- more!
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
Hardy Kiwi - Easy Propagation Technique
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
How To Identify Wild Plants - A Guide To Botanical Terms
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Propagate and save seed
For seed harvesting and storage, use Seed Savers Exchange’s seed-saving guide and the short PBS Wisconsin seed-saving demonstration with Kent Whealy.
“Four different types of plants” means four plant kinds, not four propagation methods. A suitable method may be repeated. Keep a single four-entry record with the plant, method, date, conditions, and observed result. Plant growth may extend beyond the study period; record progress so far. Include seed saving in one of your four plant records where appropriate by recording how mature seed is collected, dried or otherwise stored for that species, labelled, and shared.
Read
Seed Savers Exchange’s seed-saving guide
seedsavers.org
Open resourceRead
PBS Wisconsin seed-saving demonstration with Kent Whealy
PBS Wisconsin
Open resourceIf you cannot access this resource, contact me for help with this reading or media.
Choose plants for your site
For the 10–20-plant selection exercise, use niche fit, future shade, and management needs to select plants. Check local restrictions, spread, toxicity, and pollination needs before implementation.
Book reading
Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 2
Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier
Appendices — references for niche fit and plant selection
Book access & editionsExplore
Plants spreadsheet
Google Sheets
Open resourceExercise & discussion
Exercise and discussion: Choose four different types of plants and propagate each using an appropriate method. Record what you did and what happened.
Exercise: After discussing it with me, review this Plants spreadsheet and identify 10-20 plants that would work at your design site. Choose plants that complement each other (i.e. make sure there are nitrogen fixers, food plants, ground covers, different sizes, shapes, and rooting patterns, etc.).
Consider moisture, sun, and other needs, as well as what stage in the implementation process they would be planted (i.e. should some be planted only once soil fertility and organic matter is better?).
Discussion: Placing wild forests at high elevations starting with pioneers and doing speedy/instant succession.
What to prepare
- Your four-entry propagation record: plant, method, date, conditions, and results so far, including seed-saving details where appropriate.
- Your 10–20-plant selection list or spreadsheet, with each plant’s role, site needs, and proposed planting stage.
- Notes for the forest-placement and succession discussion.
Save written notes as a document or PDF. For paper maps or handwritten notes, use a clear photo or scan. You can combine related work in one file.
Share & discuss
Attach your propagation record, plant-selection list or spreadsheet, and succession notes.
Email the address listed under “Get In Touch” on my contact page. Do not use the contact form. Include the Permaculture Design Course, Module 11, and “Propagation and plant selection” in your subject or message.
Find my email address ↗Optional quick check
Select your answers, then submit to see your score and explanations. You can retry. Results are not sent or stored.
Readings & resources
- Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 1Chapter 4 — niches, relationships, and guild logicPages 239 to 243: succession (Chapter 6)Pages 285 to 287: succession (Chapter 6)In lesson ↑
- Practical PermaculturePages 247 to 249: propagation methodsIn lesson ↑
- Permaculture Design for Food VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- Agroforestry VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- Alley Cropping VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- New Forest Farm VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- Season Extension Techniques - OSU Extension webinarWatchIn lesson ↑
- Season Extension VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- Defining the spatial patterns of historical land use associated with the indigenous societies of eastern North AmericaReadIn lesson ↑
- Propagation by Cuttings, Layering and Division - Virginia Tech ExtensionReadIn lesson ↑
- Plant physiology and propagation VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- Integrated Pest Management - Virginia Cooperative ExtensionReadIn lesson ↑
- Integrated Pest Management VideoWatchIn lesson ↑
- Permaculture guilds part 1 - companion planting on steroidsWatchIn lesson ↑
- Polycultures and Guilds - Episode 1 - Apples -n- more!WatchIn lesson ↑
- Hardy Kiwi - Easy Propagation TechniqueWatchIn lesson ↑
- How To Identify Wild Plants - A Guide To Botanical TermsWatchIn lesson ↑
- Seed Savers Exchange’s seed-saving guideReadIn lesson ↑
- PBS Wisconsin seed-saving demonstration with Kent WhealyReadIn lesson ↑
- Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 2Appendices — references for niche fit and plant selectionIn lesson ↑
- Plants spreadsheetExploreIn lesson ↑