The potential of edible forest gardening in urban areas

– a case study from Stockholm, SwedenChristina Schaffer , Stockholm University

Christina SchafferDepartment of Physical Geography, Stockholm UniversityStockholm, Swedenchristina.schaffer@natgeo.su.se

- Örebro University (supervizor Johanna Björklund)- Research and experimental agroforestry farming on

small farm Kopparberg (Örebro)- Applied edible forest gardening Stockholm- EURAF member

My PhD work• Sustainable food production• Agroforestry pilot study 13 small farms

Sweden-on choice of crops, potential environmental benefits, culinary aspects = food• Urban agriculture temperate zones

(Stockholm)• Edible forest gardens, urban food

forests,edible parks • Multifunctional benefits /ecosystem services

This aim of this paper…

…is to study the 4 existing edible forest gardens in Stockholm by investigate how have these edible forest garden been used so far? And what are the benefits and constrains with these edible forests gardens?

What is an edible forest garden?

• Multi layers• Edible perennials• Intercropping• Guilds (groups)of veg,

herbs, flowers• No digging/tilling• No irrigation, fertilization

• Contributes to several ecosystem services

…and for some reasons becoming popular in Sweden!

InspirationMartin Crawfords Forest Garden in Devon UK

Book:”Creating a edibleForest garden” 2010

Material and methods

• Study visits 2011-15 on 4 gardens Stockholm

• Participatory observations in planting and community events

• interviews with initiators and managers of the gardens.

• Studies of planning documents, initiatives and ambitions regarding sustainability from the municipality of Stockholm.

Findings (some)

• The 4 edible forest gardens are used by local residents, children, green groups, students and the public.

• They are used (intentional) study visit groups or (unintentional) passers by etc, or by actively taking part in planting, management and harvesting

• The potential benefits are community building, informal and informal learning, recreational values, and experience of new crops

• High interest in new crops like healthy “super berries” but also

• Insecurity on what and when to harvest• Volunteers as managers is a challenge for the continuity• Local authorities and housing companies are interested in

edible perennials in public parks, if introduced to them

Some conclusion

Edible forest gardens: • as community gardens, could

function as an arena for participation in creating a sustainable city and

• contribute to social cohesion, security and to public health

More conclusions• as a replacement of ornamental

trees and shrubs in dense urban areas could contribute to food security

• located in public areas as parks could function as communication on sustainable food production in general and in particular on agroforestry, which is not well known in Sweden

Two ways (at least) with this data

1) more on these types of gardens function in the urban landscape and add maps, list of spieces, ecology, climate mitigation and environmental aspects2a) Compare the benefits from EFG with goals, initiatives and programs in Stockholm municipality/ county-So far; match with ”social sustainability” and various environmental programs-new housing vs conservation of green areas-”green roof fever”b) Or compare this with benefits from diffrent kinds of urban agriculture?

Thank

Thank you!