Growing 500 Edible Plants in a Forest
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Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: April 27, 2021
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video explains how forest gardens yield crops in a more sustainable and resilient manner.
- Students will be introduced to forest gardener Martin Crawford, whose forest garden in South West England produces more than 500 types of edible plants.
- The video shows how this form of agroforestry provides natural protection for crops during severe weather events, which are likely to increase because of climate change.
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: The Kid Should See This, National Geographic
Region: Europe
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Students will be intrigued by the stark differences between forest gardens and monoculture.
- Beautiful cinematography makes this video engaging.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the terms temperate, succession, annual, perennial, cultivated, and resilience.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Science classes can design their own forest gardens using the seven layers mentioned in the video (high trees, smaller trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, root crops, and climbers). Students can find two or three plant species for each layer of their forest garden and make slideshows to present their gardens to the class.
- Biology classes can discuss how forest gardens can fight climate change (e.g., trees can sequester carbon, deep root systems prevent erosion, and forest gardens do not require tilling, fertilizers, or pesticides).
- Other resources on this topic include this video on the traditional Maya Milpa farming cycle, this Ecosia video on a forest garden in Senegal, and this lesson plan on carbon and food.
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Kid Should See This
The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
