Sustainablefoodproduc2oninSweden–togrowandeatfromperennialintercroppingsystems
Resultsfromapar2cipatorylearningandac2onresearchproject,2012-2016
Mainprojectaimsweretoprovideprac-calandtheore-calknowledgeforthedevelopmentofagroforestrysystemsinagriculturalandsubsistencefarmingandiden-fytypesofsystemsthatcouldprovideimportantcontribu-ons,aswellasrelevantcombina-onsofspeciesandvarie-estobeincluded.
Study sites&methods:One of the systems studiedwasedibleforestgardens.Thirteenresearchsites(60m2)witha common three dimensional design have beenestablished.
Theresearchgroupcomprised13smallholdersandtworesearcherswithexper-seinenvironmentalscienceandinpar-cipatorymethodologies.
Findings• Edible forest gardenswere found toworkwell on
marginallands• Harvestfromperennialswassmallandthelevelof
ground cover low the first year of establishment,whileannualswouldeasilybeincluded
• Fromyearthreeintheestablishment"salads"fromperennial leafy vegetables were availablethroughoutthegrowingseason
• IntheSwedishclimateanedibleforestgardenmaynot fully provide the bulk of energy, proteins andcarbohydratesneededinadiet
Conclusion• The main benefits is produc-on of vitamins and
mineralsinmul-plelayerswithlowlevelsofinputs,while at the same -me increasing the amount oftrees and bushes in the agri-cultural landscapecontribu-ngtogenera-onofecosystemservices
• For forest gardens to give serious contribu-on tofood produc-on scaling issues without losingcrucial ecosystem services will be of specialconcern
• Small-scale machinery for management andharvestneedtobedeveloped
• Availabilityofplantsandusefulvarie-esforedibleforestgardensintemperatewillbeimportant
• More knowledge about harvest poten-al andnutri-onal values of different plants and varie-eswillbeneeded
Strata% Plants%Medium'to'large'canopy'trees'(>'10'm)'' alder'(Alnus&glutinosa)'Small'trees'and'large'shrubs'(4<9'm)' apple'trees'(Malus&domestica)'and'
hazelnut'(Corylus&avellana)'Shrubs'(<3m)' Siberian'pea'tree'(Caragana&arborescens),'
silverberry'(Elaeagnus&commutata),'buckthorn'(Hippophae&rhamnoides),'saskatoon'(Amelanchier&anifolia),'dwarf'quince'(Chaenomeles&japonica)'
Herbaceous'perennials'(<'3m)' garlic'mustard'(Alliaria&petiolata),'mentha'(Mentha&spp.),'mallow'(Malva&spp.)&and'comfrey'(Symphytum&uplandica),'daylilies'(Hemerocallis&spp.),!anise'hyssop&(Agastache&Foeniculum),'sweet'cicely'(Myrrhis&odorata),'oregano!(Origanun&vulgare),'good'king'Henry'(Chenopodium&bonusChenricus)'
Climbers' vines'(Vitis&vinifera),'Caucasian'spinach'(Hablitzia&tamnoides),'arctic'kiwi'(Actinida&kolomikta),'blackberry'(Rubus&laciniatus)'
Ground'cover'plants'and'creepers' strawberry'(Fragaria&×&ananassa)&and'wild'strawberry'(Fragaria&vesca),'Welsh'onion'(Allium&fistulosum)''
Underground'layer' common'bistort'(Bistorta&major&Gray)''
Permanent sampling points, inside and outside of theresearchsite,wereestablishedtheyearofplanta-on(2013).Ini-al vegeta-on and basic soil parameters weredocumented. In- and outputs, labour hours, photographicdocumenta-onatpermanentpointatsetdatesandadiarywithnota-onsonimportantobserva-onswererecorded.All experiences have beenwell discussed in the group andconclusionsdrawntogether.
Caucasianspinach(Hablitziatamnoides)
GoodkingHenry(Chenopodiumbonus-henricus)
Contact:JohannaBjörklund,SchoolofScienceandTechnology,ÖrebroUniversity,Örebro,[email protected]ärd,InspireAcLonResearchAB,Knivsta,Sweden,[email protected]:DepartmentofPhysicalGeographyandQuaternaryGeology,StockholmUniversity,Stockholm,Sweden,[email protected]
Hazelnut(Corylusavellana)
Saskatoon(Amelanchieranifolia)
Daylilies(Hemerocallisspp.)
Sweetcicely(Myrrhisodorata)
Photo:JohannaBjörklund Photo:EsbjörnWandt
PhotoAnnikaKorhonen
Photo:JohannaBjörklund
Photo:JohannaBjörklund
Photo:JohannaBjörklund
Photoodla.nu
Photoodla.nu
PhotoAnna-LenaAnderberg
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