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Local food @ the ECO HUB: What are the benefits of a Food Forest?

The February sessions of the ECO HUB Sidmouth will be focussing on ‘local food’ – with lots more info at Events – Climate Awareness Partnership Sidmouth

The month will round off with the fabulous Six Inches of Soil film being shown at the Radway Cinema – together with a Q&A from local farmers – on Sunday 2nd March.

The two sessions at the ECO HUB will feature the Sidmouth Community Food Forest – at the Tourist Info Centre on Saturday 8th February and at the Library on Saturday22nd February, both between 11am and 1pm.

As asked – and answered – by joint founder of the project, Stefan Drew:

What Are The Benefits of a Food Forest?

Here are some benefits of food forests:

  • Produce Food With Zero Food Miles: A food forest in your garden means no food miles. And the food is a fresh as it is possible to be. Imagine picking herbs, veg or fruit and eating them minutes later .. how fresh is that? 
  • Biodiversity: Food forests are incredibly diverse ecosystems, supporting a wide range of plant and animal life. This biodiversity contributes to a healthier environment and greater resilience to pests and diseases.
  • Improved mental and physical health: Food forests act like a gym membership without the membership fee expense. Just go along when it suits you and have a gentle or vigorous workout. 
  • Soil health: The deep root systems of trees and other plants in a food forest improve soil structure, increase water retention, and enhance nutrient cycling. This leads to healthier soil, which benefits all the plants in the forest.
  • Water conservation: Food forests can help to reduce water runoff and improve water infiltration, which can help to conserve water resources.
  • Climate change mitigation: Food forests can help to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees and other plants in a food forest absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, and this carbon is stored in their biomass.
  • Community building: Food forests can provide opportunities for community members to come together to learn about gardening, share skills, build relationships and combat loneliness. 
  • Brings Families Together: Food forests are ageless. Family members of any age can take part, from toddlers to grandparents our food forest is somewhere where families can spend time together.  . 
  • Economic development: Food forests can provide a source of income for local farmers and businesses.
  • Food security: Food forests can help to ensure food security for local communities by providing a reliable source of nutritious food.
  • Education: Food forests can be used as outdoor classrooms to teach people about ecology, gardening, and sustainable living.
  • Reduced carbon footprint: Because we have reduced food miles and our plants has sequestered carbon dioxide we have potentially reduced our carbon footprint. 

Overall, food forests offer a wide range of benefits for both people and the planet. They are a sustainable and resilient way to produce food, improve environmental health, and build stronger communities. We know this from our experience gained when running the Sid Valley Food Forest.  

Photos by Food Forest co-founder Tess Bisson – pictured above.