Inspiration: Food Forests Magazine

Restoring the link with our food

The people behind Stichting Groener are driven to help spread food forests throughout the Netherlands: preferably one in every municipality. By publishing the magazine, among other things, they stimulate the development of food forests and make the concept known to a wide audience. Where does their drive and interest come from?

Nelleke explains: ‘We believe that the link with our food and where it comes from has been disrupted. The way we have organized agriculture has a negative impact on nature, on animals, but also on people. Modern agriculture, especially monoculture, causes a lot of damage to biodiversity and species diversity. Permaculture projects, on the other hand, contribute to increasing biodiversity and create a rich habitat for animals.’

‘We think it is very important that people reconnect with nature and want to help restore that relationship. That is good for the climate, for the environment, actually for all living things on earth.’

Local and sustainable food

Food Forests Magazine is an informative and inspiring magazine for the novice and experienced food forester, whether you work in a professional food forest or as a hobby. But the magazine’s focus goes further than that: it is on local and healthy food. The magazine has a lot to offer to people interested in sustainable living, edible gardens, permaculture projects, foraging and more. Nelleke: ‘Our magazine is about all topics related to local and sustainable food.’

Food forests in the spotlight

The magazine that comes out every season has fixed parts that return every season. You will find an extensive report on three different food forests in the Netherlands and surrounding areas. It not only describes the forest, but it also gives an insight into the people behind these food forests. What moves them, what are their ideals and dreams, how have they achieved them and what are their challenges? Many lessons have already been learned that are worth sharing.

Nelleke: ‘Food forests come in all shapes and sizes, there are now hundreds in the Netherlands. This varies from hobby food forests that are actually large edible gardens, to agricultural companies with several hectares of food forests. It is interesting to see how the dreams and ideals of the initiators become reality and how differently it turns out. I find it very hopeful to hear these stories. Food forests are still relatively new in the Netherlands and things do go wrong, but when people just do it, they learn in practice. This is happening all the time and in the magazine we convey the lessons learned to others, to inspire and encourage them to get started.’

New inspiration and knowledge every season

In addition to the three main articles, you will find articles on the theme of local food. Articles about learning to recognize edible plants and about picking them from the wild, but also information about the health applications of plants. Nelleke: ‘There is always food around you, but you don’t always know it.’ Columnists write about the green world around us in every edition. Such as Anna Koster, who writes a column about the use of edible flowers for the Food Forests Magazine.

There are also substantive sections on biodiversity, the creation of networks in food forestry and practical information about how to build a food forest. There is also attention for art and creativity, books and films, tips for green restaurants that work with local products from a food forest or their own garden, and more.

Summer 2024 edition

Since this year, every edition of the Food Forests Magazine has a theme, this time it is ‘water and fire’. The three food forests in this edition are very appropriate: Het vuurpad in Zuid-Limburg, the De Woudezel food forest in Belgium, and a food forest in Glimmen, on the border between Groningen and Drenthe. Nelleke: ‘You can find restaurant Water en Vuur near De Woudezel, where, among other things, they cook with products from the food forest.’

You will find Food Forests Magazine in bookstores from June 21, subscribers will receive it in the mail a few days earlier. You can also order it separately via the Groener Foundation website.

Food forests and Tiny Houses

How does Nelleke view the link between Tiny Houses and food forests? Nelleke: ‘Tiny Houses emphasize simple living, in connection with the place where you are. Less stuff, less focused on consuming, living in the here and now. Being aware of the impact you have on the world, the footprint you leave behind. Many Tiny House residents try to grow their own food and/or find it important to know where it comes from, who worked for it and what it takes to get it to your plate. This all has similarities with food forestry. I think the most important shared motivation is the connection with nature.’

‘I know many ‘food forest people’ who live or would like to live in Tiny House-like settings, it just fits together well. We have reached the limits of the planet on several fronts, our way of life is no longer feasible. We want to return to a simpler life in connection with nature. There is also a need to be more social, to live somewhere and eat together. Don’t have food come from the other side of the world, but from here, the place where you live and where you have a bond with the land and the people.’

We couldn’t have said it better. Do you have ideas or suggestions for Food Forests Magazine? They are always open to that! Send an email to redactie@groener.org.