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Adult Opportunities

Food Forest Design Workshop

Learn how to sustainably grow your own food using the principles of forest layering.

Content Detail

Please note: This program has been canceled. Participants are invited to register for Cómo conservar semillas (How to Save Seeds), a bilingual program on Saturday, November 9, or register for How to Create a Food Forest, a free online program that is accessible at any time.

Food forests are an approach to growing edible plants that incorporates all of the layers found in naturally occurring forests. This holistic approach is beneficial in several ways, both for the local population as well as for the environment.

This unique garden design course provides general information and guidelines on food forests and how to plan and care for them, including information on edible native species, companion planting, and other considerations for better cultivation. This course is for everyone; no special knowledge is required.

After taking this course, participants will:

  • Understand what a food forest is and its benefits
  • Become familiar with current examples of food forests
  • Understand the structure of a natural forest
  • Understand how the structure of a natural forest is applied to a food forest
  • Understand the steps of planning a food forest
  • Understand the considerations for cultivating a food forest

This program meets in person at The Morton Arboretum. If you’d like to learn from home, please check out the self-paced online course, How to Create a Food Forest (on demand).

Instructor: Natalie Burgos, steward, Chicago Region Trees InitiativeArboretum

Age: 16 and older

Course number: H980

Instructor

Natalie Burgos, steward, Chicago Region Trees Initiative

Always keen to help people learn about new and unexpected aspects of the environment around them and enthusiastic about exploring opportunities to improve and protect the natural world, Natalie Burgos strives to bring this energy into all her work in the environmental field. Her varied experience with multiple entities, from the National Park Service to restoration companies to The Morton Arboretum, helps her provide a unique perspective on the community tree plantings she leads, the virtual education bundles she’s created, and the various talks she’s given to professionals and students about how we can all better care for the natural world.

Her own experience of growing up interacting with and learning to love nature is one that she aims to help others experience. She wants more people to care for nature and realize how much of a part of it they truly are.

What to Know

This program meets indoors and outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather.

Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Please bring the following with you: a picture of the area where you want to create your food forest, a list of fruits and vegetables that you like to eat or would like to grow, note-taking materials, and a water bottle.

Program Schedule

Please note: This program has been canceled.

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