Barren areas of land are a matter of uncultivated agricultural products and negative scenarios for the future of younger generations. The soil in such areas gradually degrades because nutrients from various plant species do not reach it. In addition, such areas are losing biodiversity due to the migration or extinction of many species of insects, birds, and animals. There are various solutions to bring plant and animal life back to barren lands. And one of the most trendy and attractive is cultivating food forests.
What Are the Dangers of the Barren Lands?
A sustainable ecosystem is characterized by a healthy cycle of biodiversity reproduction. But as soon as some key element falls out of this chain, irreversible consequences begin:
- The disappearance of trees and bushes makes the soil unstable because there are no roots to hold it.
- The soil becomes defenseless against the rains that wash it away and the sun that dries it out.
- Birds and animals are losing their homes and migrating to more habitable areas.
- The soil dries out quickly after rain, and the climate becomes very dry.
- The result is land desertification and the impossibility of its productive use in the future.
Reasons for the Appearance of Barren Lands in a Previously Prosperous Ecosystem
- Use of the territory for extraction of natural resources. Minerals are often extracted using technologies that are destructive to the environment, and therefore, nearby lands become uninhabitable.
- Deforestation for profit. With the help of the latest technological solutions, it is possible to cut down a large forest area quickly. But it will take 70 to 150 years to grow a new forest.
- Overgrazing. In areas with too many livestock, plants do not have enough time to recover after grazing, and gradually, their root system disappears.
- Inefficient farming. The use of large amounts of chemicals and fertilizers degrades the soil. In addition, improper watering leads to the accumulation of salts and the unsuitability of the soil for growing crops in the future.
Food Forests as a Solution to the Abandoned Land Problem
Bringing life back to abandoned lands demands a long and patient effort. But it rewards those who take this effort on and the community as a whole. One interesting solution is the concept of food forests. It is financially attractive because it allows you to receive tangible profits without significant investments in cultivating such a forest. Therefore, it is suitable even for those who were unsuccessful in previous business projects and received bad credit ratings while trying to stay afloat. With the help of the payday loans for bad credit at FCLOANS for bad credit, you can get start-up capital to launch a project and try to plant a small plot of abandoned land with fruit trees.
What You Can Grow in Food Forests
The specific composition of trees, shrubs, and grasses depends on the region and climate, as well as your priorities. The cultivator’s task is to imitate the structure of natural forests with the help of:
- Fruit and nut trees
- Berry bushes
- Vegetables
- Edible and medicinal herbs
Additionally, you can add environmental design elements by transforming the food forest into a park or recreation area. In this case, you can provide recreational services, which are also essential to developing healthy living practices in the community.
Bringing Back Biodiversity Through Fruit Forests
The fruit forest is a powerful magnet for attracting various forms of life:
- Insects
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Animals
You can also create artificial ponds and populate them with fish for decorative and commercial purposes.
Food forests are a regenerative form of agriculture because vibrant ecosystems are self-sustaining. Therefore, the main task is to launch this ecosystem and maintain it in the first stages of development. Moreover, the implementation of such a project will not require any complex maintenance or ongoing investment. Such projects provide valuable fruits, berries, and herbs produced in an eco-friendly manner without chemicals. In addition, they revive the soil, saturating it with nutrients. But you achieve this aim not with the help of chemicals and fertilizers, but thanks to perennial crops, shrubs, trees, etc. The reward will be diverse fauna and flora and gratitude from the community and future generations.
