Forest Garden Tours
Growing & Eating for Nourishment & Nourishing the Future
"Obviously, few of us are in a position to restore the forests. But tens of millions of us have gardens, or access to open spaces such as industrial wastelands, where trees can be planted. and if full advantage can be taken of the potentialities that are available even in heavily built up areas, new "city forests" can arise..." ~ Robert A.de J.Hart
This garden walk series gives you an opportunity to experience the array of learning opportunities of edible forest gardening and plants that thrive here in Carolinian Canada through the various seasons. Come to one, a series or attend all of them.
It is has been estimated that some 2,200 species of herbaceous plants are found here of the ‘banana belt' of the north. The question is how do we integrate many of these valuable plants into our gardens and use them, as spices, fruits, nuts, vegetables and many are excellent protein sources. There are literally hundreds of less well-known edible plants that grow all around us many which are both delicious and nutritious.
Why is Gardening So Much Work?
We will discover that in a Forest Gardening model that really works with nature, that one does not need to work so hard. A practical working system that incorporates organic practices and goes beyond – Way Beyond – Natural Gardening.
Learn to identify and use many edible, nutritional and medicinal plants that grow wild and through our forest gardens ~ and the 50 acre sanctuary has over 1,000 species of plants. These garden walks introduce to a new – well ancient way of growing food. Learn the basics of wholistic living where nature is the classroom. These plant walks emphasize practical ways we can grow our food here in the north, which is sustainable and very high yielding.
Our garden demonstration walks will take you through our 25-year-old established organic Edible Forest Gardens. Practical information on tree crops, shrub crops, perennials and ground covers will be complemented with visits to our Edible Forest Garden to look at our successes and challenges, as well as to taste delicious and unusual leaf and fruit crops.
Rather than mastering your garden with gas-spewing rototillers and chemical fertilizers, let yourself be inform and inspired on how to create a backyard ecosystem that balances the needs of humans and nature.
Over the series of walks for the next few months you will learn to identify various plants. For each plant you will then explore its ecosystem of origin, and under which conditions it thrives best, or just marginally survives. You will learn how it adapts to our environment, and how you can provide it with optimal care.
Finally you will learn about its non-ornamental uses, such as food, medicine, fiber, etc. Over the next three seasons (May - October), plants are viewed in garden settings, focusing on ecologically sound and successful plant combinations. These walks are open to all who wish to learn more about plants. No prior knowledge or experience required.
Gardens can remind us that whatever gardens are a sanctuary from, they can never be a sanctuary from the natural world or our own underlying economic needs.
These walks can be a source of practical inspiration with its vision of an obtainable peaceful sacred sanctuary.
~ Find out to design your own garden of paradise.
~ Assess the health of your soil.
~ Find out how you may safely identify, collect, and use our delicious, healthful edible wild foods.
~ Learn about how to build the healthiest fertile soil on the planet.
~ Learn about tasty, innovative and tasty vegetarian wild plant recipes.
* Each walk will be totally unique as we focus on what's in season and is at its peak.
Edible Forest Medicine Trail
Come and walk our Edible Forest Medicine Trail. If we compare a large cultivated field to a natural woodland forest, the forest receives no intervention but produces lush growth and diversity of plants and animals. Yet the cultivated land supports very few species. The quality and depth of soil in a forest is maintained and improved yearly whilst erosion and loss of soil structure plague the cultivated field. Discover the beauty and taste the abundance of nature.
Forest Garden Guide: Shantree Kacera, D.N. Ph.D.
Each walk lasts approximately 2 hours, if it is raining, the garden walk will be conducted in a lecture/demonstration format.
Forest Gardening at The Living Centre
An Eco-Spiritual Education Sanctuary in Ontario, Canada
By Meghan Kelly
Veganic Agriculture Network
(Quebec, Canada)
In early spring 2009, after having planted my first fruit and nut trees, I heard about a forest gardening course being offered at The Living Centre in Ontario, Canada. This couldn't have come at a better moment for me: everywhere I looked, in open fields and city parks, I could envision a diverse forest of edible plants awaiting it's becoming. I could see the incredible potential of forest gardening to address a multitude of concerns, including habitat restoration, environmental responsibility, sustainable agriculture, and food security.
When I looked at The Living Centre's website to find out more about their forest gardening course, I not only learned that the centre is vegan, but also that they practice vegan organic gardening. Since Stephane Groleau and I started the Veganic Agriculture Network in 2008, we've made an effort to visit vegan organic growers in North America. The forest gardening course that I took in late June provided a welcome opportunity to learn more about The Living Centre in person.
History of The Living Centre
The Living Centre is tucked away in the countryside near London, Ontario within Carolinian zone of Canada. Fully named Spirit of the Earth, The Living Centre & Living Arts Institute, this eco-spiritual education sanctuary has a far-reaching vision of sustainability, natural beauty, and responsibility to future generations.
Back in the 1970's, inspired by the pioneering work of Helen and Scott Nearing and later by Robert Hart, organic gardener Shantree Kacera moved from conventional organic gardening to creating a forest garden from a bare field. Today his forest garden is a breathtaking example of what can be done with a minimum of effort to produce an abundant crop of unusual edible trees, herbs, shrubs and ground covers. You can apply the principles of forest gardening to spaces big and small. Take a forest garden tour through Shantree's diverse gardens through the seasons in his ever-evolving forest garden; learn how to plan your planting to mimic the layering, density and diversity of a forest. An extensive variety of edible plants can be grown: for example, Turkish rocket, wild purslane, and Good King Henry, Linden trees, (their leaves make a good salad), Persimmon trees, numerous varieties of nut trees. A forest garden builds minerals in the soil - all the while creating a sacred sanctuary for all beings to enjoy and thrive in.
When the land was first acquired in the early 1980's, the lawn was smattered with broken-down vehicles and shattered glass, though the fields and orchards had always been cultivated without chemicals by the previous owners. The Living Centre's founder, Shantree Kacera, D.N, Ph.D., began to grow garlic using vegan organic techniques, and at one point was the largest distributor of organic garlic in Ontario and Quebec. After losing the majority of the garlic one year after faulty storage by a distributor, Shantree saw the precarious nature of monoculture, that one factor can wipe out a year's harvest. He began to see the value of imitating nature, creating biodiverse systems for food production. Realizing that his true interest lay in teaching, he eventually changed his focus from commercial agriculture to developing an education centre for enlightened living.
The Living Centre is now visited internationally by students, and is run by Shantree Kacera and Lorenna Bousquet-Kacera. Their educational programs are aimed at wholistic human development, with teachings that promote peace, spiritual growth, physical and emotional health, and eco-sustainability. They teach and practice bioregionalism, deep ecology, and permaculture. Shantree is an author and an Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner, and has a doctorate in Nutritional Medicine and Herbalism. His teachings include live-food nutrition, herbalism, and forest gardening. Lorenna is a Certified Ayurvedic Living Nutrition Educator and a creativity coach, teaching Shamanu, living nutrition, primordial movement, and inner healing.
The Living Centre's Vegan Organic Gardens
The 50-acre sanctuary is largely made up of meadows and natural forests, with about 5 acres set aside to be cultivated. A place where edible gardening and aesthetics are intertwined, the herb gardens and vegetable gardens are planted in spirals. The centre also includes a cherry grove, a pear orchard, and an edible medicine trail.
The gardens have incredible diversity. Over 500 species of herbs and edible medicinal plants are grown in the Sacred Medicine Wheel Herb Garden, and in total more than 1,000 species of edible and medicinal plants are found at The Living Centre.
The gardens are mulched with local amendments of straw, hay, woodchips, and leaves. The Living Centre maintains sizeable compost piles, and they also make regular batches of nettle tea, kelp tea and comfrey tea.
In the summer and the fall, the gardens provide a large portion of the food that is served at the centre, and part of the harvest is frozen, dehydrated and lacto-fermented for year-round nourishment. Their passive solar greenhouse, an Earthship made from tires and earth, yields fresh produce year round, even through part of the Canadian winter. All meals served at The Living Centre are organic, live-food and vegan.
Shantree gardens vegan organically "for every reason under the sun". With a love for animals, he would rather see animals thrive in the wild than be domesticated. He also finds that working directly with plants is simpler and more efficient than involving farmed animals in the system.
The Forest Gardening Training
When I arrived at The Living Centre for the forest gardening training, I was shown around the grounds, which include an outdoor solar cedar shower, an outdoor summer sprouting kitchen, and compost toilets. Many of the students who I met were staying at The Living Centre for a month, or even the full season, to learn about wholistic, peaceful living as apprentices. Most of the students stay in tents in a forested area, and there are also beautiful rustic cabins.
The forest gardening training began with a walk to observe different systems of cultivation. We visited a neighboring farmer's field, an annual monoculture grown with artificial fertilizers. Showing us a shovelful of lifeless dirt, Shantree explained the importance of the soil food web. We visited several settings: a monocultured orchard, a recuperating meadow, a forest's edge, a climax forest, and Shantree's young forest gardens. He focused on the value of perennial plants, with their ability to improve soil structure, draw up nutrients, self-mulch and self-fertilize, and to provide a harvest for future generations. He questioned, with the multitude of perennial plants that are available, why humans had chosen to focus on cultivating annuals. When we plant annual monocultures, we struggle against the innate tendency of nature to create perennial polycultures. The key to forest gardening is to mimic nature—gardening becomes easier, says Shantree, when we work with nature and allow the natural processes to do much of the work for us.
As perennial plants and trees may be present for decades, Shantree feels that this allows us to develop a personal relationship with the plants. Each morning The Living Centre has a break called "tree time" where each person chooses a tree to sit under in silence, connecting with the natural world.
They are currently establishing forest gardens at The Living Centre, both by planting new forest gardens from scratch, and by fostering ecosystems around existing trees. The course covered the topic of guilding, to develop a forest garden by planting a community of supporting plants around the base of an established tree, with each plant serving an important function, like providing mulch or fixing nitrogen. On the second day of the course we designed a guild as a group, and we finished the weekend workshop by planting this together around a fruit tree.
Shantree says that the way you garden is the way you view the world—it reflects a mindset. Concerned about our society's rapid loss of topsoil, he views himself not as simply a grower of plants, but as a grower of healthy soil, aiming to replenish the fertility and long-term viability of the land. Shantree sees forest gardening as a long-term vision, a positive way to interact with future generations, as the place where agriculture and ecology meet.
See Our Forest Garden History Timeline
About the Forest Gardener
Shantree Kacera has over 35 years experience in practical herbalism, wild plant food nutrition and permaculture. He founded The Living Centre and Living Arts Institute and is currently managing a two-hectare forest garden located 25 minutes southwest of London, ON. in Carolinian Canada, which he has been planting for 30-years.
Testimonies
"Shantree's walk was absolutely brilliant, time flew by and I have learnt so much about the edible and medicinal use of everyday plants that we see around us all the time. I cannot recommend his Wild Medicine Herb Walk enough, and will definitely go again to refresh my memory!" ~Joanna
"I really enjoyed the walk. I liked the experiential aspect of it – actually picking and eating there and then, especially Linden! Never eaten tree leaves before. Shantree was very informative, patient and full of stories." ~Nancy
"I came home with an infectious joy about forest gardening. I bought a book immediately to investigate further. Shantree's huge knowledge about edible and medicine plants and his passion for forest ecology should suit any stage of curiosity. I would love to come back on future garden tours." ~Martin
"The evening tour with Shantree was hugely informative and inspirational. The depth of his knowledge and the enthusiasm with which he talks about the subject had me enthralled. It was a most relaxing evening and I truly can't recommend the course enough!" ~Chris
"This was one of the favourite fieldtrips of the year. The interns left your place full of ideas and inspiration. Many of them came home and immediately began learning more and more about Permaculture and applying its principals to their own lives.
Fieldtrips and farm tours greatly enhance the intern experience by exposing the interns to a diversity of farming systems and styles, and provides them greater exposure to food systems in general, increasing the potential for learning and leading to a wider variety of future possibilities for our interns.
At Ignatius Farm CSA we pride ourselves in the high quality of the educational aspect of our internship program, and we thank you for offering your time and knowledge to us.
This was one of the favourite fieldtrips of the year. The interns left your place full of ideas and inspiration. Many of them came home and immediately began learning more and more about Permaculture and applying its principals to their own lives.
Fieldtrips and farm tours greatly enhance the intern experience by exposing the interns to a diversity of farming systems and styles, and provides them greater exposure to food systems in general, increasing the potential for learning and leading to a wider variety of future possibilities for our interns.
At Ignatius Farm CSA we pride ourselves in the high quality of the educational aspect of our internship program, and we thank you for offering your time and knowledge to us.
Thank you again for your involvement in the education of future organic farmers."
Sincerely,
~Jaye Crawford
Topics & Dates
The Garden Vision: The Future of Sustainability
Tuesday, May 1, 6:30pm.
Discover the amazing benefits of an edible forest garden. Beyond organic gardens for a sustainable future; this walk will explore the vision, theory, design, and practice of forest permaculture using our pristine wilderness as the model. Through field observations learn how to create your own Garden of Eden with the least amount of effort no matter how big or small your backyard. Forest Gardening offers us a vision of the not so distant future and teaching of the past.
Designing the Ecological Garden: The Fundamentals
Tuesday, May 15, 7:00 pm.
Gardening like the forest ~ be inspired by a natural model of growing a food forest. You will bring home to your 'patch of earth': practical design principles, successful berry growing, perennial polycultures of multipurpose plants, year-round harvests, garden design and minimal-management. The primary focus in Forest Gardening is on the creation of plant and landscape health.
Creating Your Own Food Forest
Tuesday, May 29, 7:00 pm.
As more people choose to grow their own food at home, this one day tour will take you through the basics of organic gardening and how to do it successfully. Turn your lawn into lunch. Covers how to get started, no-dig gardens, raised beds, where to source seeds and seedlings, how to get your soil right and natural pest management.
Assembling the Ecological Garden
Tuesday, June 12, 7:00 pm.
Plants that work together create an ecology system of resilient harmony. Some plants in a forest garden produce food in the form of nuts and fruits, while the herbaceous plants often have edible stems, leaves or shoots. Many of these plants also provide food and shelter to insects, amphibians and birds. This balance of predator and prey species imitates a natural forest community. However, not all the plants in our forest garden are intended to produce food for us, or even for wildlife. Some might be chosen for their ability to boost soil fertility.
Creating Garden Communities
Tuesday, June 26, 7:00 pm.
Come and see how dynamic self-organizing plant communities can be composed of numerous species. Imagine blending the best qualities of interplanting and companion planting. interplanting combines crops that minimize competition for sun nutrients. companion planting blends varieties that enhance each other. Expect to be delighted and inspired on this tour of forest garden permaculture demonstration gardens. We will be looking at different techniques of gardening, composting, seed saving practices and maybe get some tastes of the harvest. Learn how to design your own backyard plant community.
A Garden of Perennials
Tuesday, July 10, 7:00 pm.
A new class of food plants are here. With a little planning, you can grow a productive food forest, full of plants that work together in imitation of a natural forest. Just imagine growing vegetables that require just about the same of care as perennial flowers and shrubs - no tilling and planting. These thrive and produce abundant and the most nutritious crops throughout the seasons. Discover the exciting world of edible perennials.
Cultivating an Edible Landscape
Tuesday, July 24, 7:00 pm.
Learn how to cultivate an edible landscape. We begin by exploring how to designing the soil of life. A forest garden is a food-producing garden, based on the model of a natural forest. It is made of fruit and nut trees, fruit and berry bushes, perennial vegetables and herbs. It can be tailored to fit any space, from a tiny backyard to a larger country garden. A close copy of a natural ecosystem, it is perhaps the most ecological friendly way of gardening open to us. As Robert Hart and other teachers have stated about Forest Gardening is to go ‘Beyond-Way Beyond-Natural Gardening.
Growing a Forest Garden
Tuesday, August 7, 7:00 pm.
The concept behind forest gardening is that natural forests produce an abundance of food. Cultures from around the world over have harvested food from the forest, reaping where they did not sow. Forest gardeners imitate the forest's natural structure to take advantage of this abundance, but they increase yields even further through careful planning and management. The result is a productive fusion of garden, orchard and forest. A way of gardening, which is practical, which is based on a low-maintenance for once it is established there is none of the digging, sowing, planting out and hoeing of the conventional kitchen garden. The main task is harvesting the abundance. This walks primarily focus is on practices in creating an abundant food forest.
A Sacred Herb Spiral
Tuesday, August 21, 7:00 pm.
An herb spiral is an excellent addition for both small and large gardens. It retains moisture, creates multiple micro-climates, is compact and attractive too. Place it close to your kitchen door and you'll have herbs galore to flavor your favorite dishes. We'll cover growth habits, care and maintenance and harvesting techniques. You'll leave this tours with basic skills and knowledge – ready to launch yourself into the world of herbs!
Glorious Carolinian Canada Natives: An Ethnobotany Garden Tour
Tuesday, September 4, 6:00 pm.
We'll tour the gardens with a special focus on native plants. Discover fascinating-facts and traditional uses (ethnobotany) of our beautiful natives. We'll discuss garden winners that you can grow at home, proper planting techniques and specific growing tips. We'll finish the tour with a native herbal beverage.
Creating Microclimates of Peace
Tuesday, September 18, 7:00 pm.
We'll explore how microclimates can be created to be sacred sanctuaries. A microclimate of peace is a protected haven for animals, wildlife and individuals seeking a refuge from the harshness of daily life. It is a place to feel the regenerative power of nature. A garden of tranquility for our busy minds, relaxation for our body and a place to rest our burdened heart. This will be a practical walk and filled with inspirational experiences.
Harvesting in a Forest Garden & Beyond
Tuesday, October 2, 6:00 pm.
"For those who have eyes to see, there is much reason for hope."
Let's make a New World. A new world paradigm will need a new breed of human. This breed is already occurring on the planet today. This new paradigm is beginning with how we see the wilderness of nature, how we see where our food is coming from and how it is being grown. This walk will be one you will not want to miss. It will be filled with abundance, inspiration and hope for sustainable future.
Planning & Planting a Winter Harvest
Tuesday, October 16, 6:00pm.
The big question that many folks in the local food movement is: How do you produce high quality organic food all year-round in the northern temperate climate? Come out a see for yourself how we prepare our gardens to nourish us during the colder months of winter.
Time:
Tuesday Evenings (7-9 pm) unless specified differently
There will always be time for Q & A. So, make sure you bring your questions. In other words the Times may vary depending on month and season, check calendar schedule>
Register
If you are signing up for one of our Series of Walks. You can mix and match with any of our Herb or Forest Garden Walks.
You may want to consider join as a CSA member and get further discounts and enjoy the bountiful harvest.
At The Living Centre we are a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Community Supported Education (CSE)
What is a CSA and CSE>
We have numerous ways for people of all ages to connect into the centre and participate at whatever level works best at The Living Centre.
Support the work of The Living Centre
Pre-registration is Required. Please call or email to confirm your attendance.
Payment by Visa, cash or cheque. Make payable to: ‘The Living Centre"
Mail to: The Living Centre, 5871 Bells Rd. London, ON. N6P 1P3
We invite you to arrive early, hike the Medicine Trail, and visit our beautiful Medicine Wheel Herb Gardens, Wild Flower Meadows and Magical Forest.
"In the first age food came by wishing and grew from the Earth without tending." ~ Ramayana
