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What is a
Food Forest?
A food forest is a thoughtfully designed, human-inclusive ecosystem that mirrors the structure of a natural forest—layering fruit and nut trees, berries, herbs, roots, and ground covers to grow food while regenerating soil, supporting biodiversity, and deepening our relationship with the land.
A living system.
Every forest we help create is a carefully designed ecosystem that mimics the diversity, resilience, and layered structure of a natural forest. It is wild and intentional—planted with species that offer food, medicine, habitat, and beauty, while still honoring the untamed intelligence of natural systems. Each forest becomes a rich, living environment that grows in harmony with the land and the people who tend it.
Through the lens of Permaculture and Syntropic Agroforestry, food forests invite us to be active participants. They ask us to observe, respond, and care—for the land and for what it offers. This means harvesting with gratitude, pruning to guide growth, watering to support abundance, and filling bare spaces to maintain balance. In return, the forest gives back—offering nourishment, connection, and the quiet knowing that we are part of something thriving.
At Tree Born, we design each food forest as a 20m² 'nest'—a hexagon-shaped planting inspired by the patterns of bees. At its center stands one chosen tree, a living anchor that offers shade, symbolism, and a place to gather or simply gaze.
A circular path invites wandering and wondering, as layers of food-producing and support plants radiate outward in all directions. These nests can stand alone as sacred, abundant spaces—or replicate like honeycomb, growing a mosaic of connection, community, and care.
More than a garden, a Tree Born food forest becomes a living story—one that roots children, families, and communities in resilience, reciprocity, and reverence.
In a world longing for reconnection, this isn’t just a new idea—it’s a remembering. A return to relationship, to rhythm, to the quiet intelligence of the land.
It’s a re-wilding of how we live, grow, and belong.
What are Food Forests?
At Tree Born, we believe that the best way to nurture the future is to grow with it. Our food forests are living, breathing landscapes designed especially for children—spaces where connection, learning, and nourishment take root. Whether you're planting a tree to honour a new life, dreaming of a nature-rich learning space, or creating a legacy of abundance for your community, food forests offer a beautiful and regenerative way to grow alongside the land.
