E-Book Manual — Cocoon Food Forests & Islands of Fertility
A Practical Guide to Climate-Resilient Food Forests in Mediterranean Climates
By the Orchard of Flavours Botanical Garden – Food Tree Academy
Tired of food forest guides that don’t match your climate or soil?
This clear, science-based manual shows you how we successfully plant and manage fruit tree systems in the dry, alkaline soils of Southern Portugal.
Whether you have poor soil, no shade, or limited water, this guide gives you the exact techniques we use at our botanical garden — home to 500+ warm-climate fruit trees.
Grow fruit trees with confidence—climate-smart, water-wise, and abundant.
📘 What You’ll Learn
🌱 Design 3 types of Food Forests, including the Cocoon model for maximum fruit with minimum water
🪨 Fix poor soils with smart amendments, swales, and companion planting
🍌 Grow fragile subtropicals (like banana, papaya, ginger) even in Mediterranean zones
💧 Irrigate efficiently to survive droughts and save water
🧪 Test and improve soil pH with natural amendments
🌾 Build “Islands of Fertility” to regenerate degraded land
🌍 Who It’s For
Home growers and permaculturists
Gardeners in hot, dry, alkaline areas
Orchardists across Portugal, Spain, Italy, California, Australia, and beyond
Anyone ready to plant smarter — not just more
✅ Why It Works
✔️ Based on real success in a BGCI-accredited botanical garden
✔️ Science-backed (Miyawaki method, soil microbiology)
✔️ Downloadable PDF – mark it up and bring it outside
✔️ Includes free links to our tree database, online course & soil tools
💬 What Readers Say
“The best, most useful planting guide I’ve ever read—especially for Mediterranean climates. It gave me the confidence to start planting in my rocky land without wasting time or money.”
— João, Algarve grower
“Clear, actionable, and grounded in reality. Finally, a manual that respects the challenges of growing food in dry places.”
— Alice, climate-resilient gardener
A Practical Guide to Climate-Resilient Food Forests in Mediterranean Climates
By the Orchard of Flavours Botanical Garden – Food Tree Academy
Tired of food forest guides that don’t match your climate or soil?
This clear, science-based manual shows you how we successfully plant and manage fruit tree systems in the dry, alkaline soils of Southern Portugal.
Whether you have poor soil, no shade, or limited water, this guide gives you the exact techniques we use at our botanical garden — home to 500+ warm-climate fruit trees.
Grow fruit trees with confidence—climate-smart, water-wise, and abundant.
📘 What You’ll Learn
🌱 Design 3 types of Food Forests, including the Cocoon model for maximum fruit with minimum water
🪨 Fix poor soils with smart amendments, swales, and companion planting
🍌 Grow fragile subtropicals (like banana, papaya, ginger) even in Mediterranean zones
💧 Irrigate efficiently to survive droughts and save water
🧪 Test and improve soil pH with natural amendments
🌾 Build “Islands of Fertility” to regenerate degraded land
🌍 Who It’s For
Home growers and permaculturists
Gardeners in hot, dry, alkaline areas
Orchardists across Portugal, Spain, Italy, California, Australia, and beyond
Anyone ready to plant smarter — not just more
✅ Why It Works
✔️ Based on real success in a BGCI-accredited botanical garden
✔️ Science-backed (Miyawaki method, soil microbiology)
✔️ Downloadable PDF – mark it up and bring it outside
✔️ Includes free links to our tree database, online course & soil tools
💬 What Readers Say
“The best, most useful planting guide I’ve ever read—especially for Mediterranean climates. It gave me the confidence to start planting in my rocky land without wasting time or money.”
— João, Algarve grower
“Clear, actionable, and grounded in reality. Finally, a manual that respects the challenges of growing food in dry places.”
— Alice, climate-resilient gardener
A Practical Guide to Climate-Resilient Food Forests in Mediterranean Climates
By the Orchard of Flavours Botanical Garden – Food Tree Academy
Tired of food forest guides that don’t match your climate or soil?
This clear, science-based manual shows you how we successfully plant and manage fruit tree systems in the dry, alkaline soils of Southern Portugal.
Whether you have poor soil, no shade, or limited water, this guide gives you the exact techniques we use at our botanical garden — home to 500+ warm-climate fruit trees.
Grow fruit trees with confidence—climate-smart, water-wise, and abundant.
📘 What You’ll Learn
🌱 Design 3 types of Food Forests, including the Cocoon model for maximum fruit with minimum water
🪨 Fix poor soils with smart amendments, swales, and companion planting
🍌 Grow fragile subtropicals (like banana, papaya, ginger) even in Mediterranean zones
💧 Irrigate efficiently to survive droughts and save water
🧪 Test and improve soil pH with natural amendments
🌾 Build “Islands of Fertility” to regenerate degraded land
🌍 Who It’s For
Home growers and permaculturists
Gardeners in hot, dry, alkaline areas
Orchardists across Portugal, Spain, Italy, California, Australia, and beyond
Anyone ready to plant smarter — not just more
✅ Why It Works
✔️ Based on real success in a BGCI-accredited botanical garden
✔️ Science-backed (Miyawaki method, soil microbiology)
✔️ Downloadable PDF – mark it up and bring it outside
✔️ Includes free links to our tree database, online course & soil tools
💬 What Readers Say
“The best, most useful planting guide I’ve ever read—especially for Mediterranean climates. It gave me the confidence to start planting in my rocky land without wasting time or money.”
— João, Algarve grower
“Clear, actionable, and grounded in reality. Finally, a manual that respects the challenges of growing food in dry places.”
— Alice, climate-resilient gardener
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FOREWORD
1. Create a Food Forest
1.1. The general concept
1.2. The benefits of Food Forest
1.3. Food Forest approaches
1.4. Three types of Miyawaki Inspired food forests: from wild to very organized!
1.4.1. Wild & High Density Food Forest - Miyawaki Inspired (July 2021)
1.4.2. Organised & High Density Food Forest (July 2023)
1.4.3. Highly Organized & Medium Density - Cocoon Food Forest (July 2024)
Explore the Free Online course on our website for in depth knowledge about Cocoon Food Forests2. Create an Island of Fertility
2.1. The really challenging zone
2.1.1. Stabilize the existing soil and stop erosion!
2.1.2. Select the right species & take advantage of existing trees (ex: Carob trees, Orange trees orchard)
2.1.3. Create islands of fertility
2.2. Take advantage of your existing orchard
2.3. Create a Banana Circle3. Learn about your soil
3.1. The main soil types
3.2. What is your soil type?
3.2.1. Visual Inspection
3.2.2. Jar Test
3.2.3. Ribbon Test
3.3. Is your soil alkaline or acidic (soil pH)?
3.3.1. Measuring Soil pH
3.3.2. Interpreting soil pH
3.3.3. Can I modify the pH of my soil?
3.4. Soil Microbiology & the web of life: a very promising approach!4. What can be added to your soi?
4.1. At the time of Plantation
4.1.1. Plant Compost
4.1.2. Well composted manure
4.1.3. pH correctors
4.1.4. Material to improve drainage
4.1.5. Applying Mycorrhizal Fungi
4.2. On a regular basis to all your planted trees
4.2.1. Compost & composted manure
4.2.2. Organic liquid fertilizer & minerals
4.3. Summary and guidelines5. Plant selection and plant location
5.1 Plant Selection
5.2 Plant Location
5.3 Search info about plants
5.4 Main criteria to take into account
5.4.1. The plant Rusticity (hardiness zone)
5.4.2. Chill hours requirement
5.4.3. Soil type requirement (acidic, neutral, alkaline, all types!!)
5.4.4. Sun requirement (shade, semi-shade, dappled “disco” light, full sun)
5.4.5. Water requirements (constant moisture, occasional watering, drought resistant or tolerant)
5.4.6. Root System
5.5. List of fruit trees suppliers6. How to plant
6.1. Indispensable Tools!
6.2. How to dig a hole?
6.3. How big should the hole be?
6.4. Additions to the soil: quantity of plain compost and manure
6.5. How to remove the tree from the pot and plant it
6.6. Important details about planting your trees7. Irrigation systems
7.1. Saving water and drought emergency planning
7.2. Build a smart & efficient long lasting irrigation system
7.3 Key Tips for Efficient Irrigation8. Wind and sun protection
8.1 Tree stake
8.2. Wind and sun cover
8.2.1. Cylinder with shade felt
8.2.3. Windbreak9. Maintenance of your Food Forest and Islands of Fertility
9.1. Mulch, mulch, mulch!
9.1.1. Living mulch and ground cover plants
9.1.2. Biodegradable Mulching Felts
9.1.3. Non biodegradable Mulching Felts
9.1.4. Straw Mulch
9.1.5. Shredded Wood
9.1.6. Mineral Mulch
9.1.7. Cardboard
9.1.8. Chop and Drop
9.2. Pruning
9.3. Weeding
9.4. Pest & disease