A Forest from Scratch?

Countless lawns and neglected corners of our overbuilt world can benefit from restored plant communities. With its dual emphasis on low inputs and high biodiversity, the Miyawaki method is one intervention that can achieve restoration leaps at a human scale--and quickly.

Developed in the mid-twentieth century by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, and replicated successfully across the globe, the Miywaki method is a planting technique that focuses on rapid “afforestation,” or the establishment of woodland vegetation in spaces that haven’t recently seen forest cover: spaces like yards, abandoned lots, and agricultural fields.

The method draws inspiration from nature itself to create complex, self-sustaining mini-ecosystems on otherwise depleted land. The benefits of this high-density, adaptable planting method are still being studied, but in the short-term, some restorative outcomes include soil stabilization and remediation, greater water filtration, pollution capture, cooler microclimates, and refuge habitat for all members of the food web. The Horn Farm Center is home to some of the first deciduous Miyawaki experimentation plots in the United States, offering fertile ground for spreading the seed of mini-forest inspiration. Join us to learn this versatile, time-tested, and deeply satisfying approach to helping nature thrive!

In this class, we’ll tour the Horn Farm’s Miyawaki plots to showcase different stages of development and see rapid restoration in action. Discussing the ecological underpinnings of the method, we’ll cover foundational concepts including site prep, soil, succession, plant selection and placement, and upkeep. We’ll also engage in hands-on learning by planting a plot of our own, walking through the steps for sowing a mini forest from start to finish.

**Online pre-registration is required to attend.  Visit this link to register https://hornfarmcenter.org/civimessages/event/info/?reset=1&id=1163