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Chicken Food Forest

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Description

Four puddles of plantings surround the chicken coop. The species planted there make the chickens hop for joy. You can find chickens jumping to grab a low hanging goumi, mulberry, or elderberry. The chicken food forest islands are plantings which provide food and cover for the StellaLou Farm flock. Additionally, there is harvestable food for the human residents as well. These islands are continually being added to as we come across plants that could be used for food or cover through gifts, purchase, or various propagation methods.

Process and Timeline

  1. Planning (2018): We selected sites considering access and sunlight and the varieties of trees, shrubs, and plants we wished to grow. We considered plantings that would be beneficial for chickens, wildlife, and humans. They would provide food, protection, medicine, and beauty. We designed each of the islands with canopy and understory trees selected. 

  2. Ground prep (2019): This area is heavily compacted and, for speed of preparation, we used the front end loader to lift the soil up in chunks to allow oxygen and water to move into the soil more easily and more deeply. Loads of woodchips were applied to the sites. No tractor access was allowed in these areas post preparation to avoid further compaction. 

  3. Planting (2019 to present): Plants were planted according to planned design, adding compost and soil as needed. Not all plants thrived and these are being replaced over time. Additional plants are added rather spontaneously. 

What We Have Learned & What's Next...

Some of the islands are more filled out than others, so we will need to continue adding plants for more complete coverage. 

 

Maintenance includes occasionally laying down wood chips to help with weed control as they are not our top weeding priority. 

 

(2022) Weeds and pests have taken hold of our herbaceous layer of planting. In particular bind weed has choked out tansy and wormwood. We are due to put more wood chips down.

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The mulberry trees have been excellent this year, they are big, providing a canopy, and lots of fruit! One of the paw paws has propagated two baby paw paws!

Plant List

  • Mulberry

  • Pawpaw

  • Elderberry

  • Chokeberry (aronia)

  • Alder

  • Comfrey

  • Lilac

  • Gooseberry

  • Horseradish

  • Tansy

  • Coneflower

  • Wormwood

  • Perennial kale

  • Goumi

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