Our initial idea is to divide the property into 4 sectors in the property: Wood Forest, Forest Garden, Farm Animals and Personal Space. For the moment we have defined where Wood Forest and the Forest Garden will go. The house and its surroundings will be our personal space. Is vital to point out that the Forest Garden area is on a slope that is facing south, with good sun.
We imagine the Forest Garden laid down in several square chambers of 40 m x 40 m or 151 ft. x 151 ft, each square bordered by windbreaker plants. The grid layout enable us to deal with the wind without making the windbreakers too tall, which would block light from the production trees. The wind breakers in this configuration should have 5 mt. or 17 ft of height. This is more less the same height as the tallest production trees.
We imagine a 7 chamber design, with a central block without trees. Each chamber will be a sector that will have different varieties of trees species. More or less there will be about 32 trees in each chamber. When the forest is 8 years old this will give us around 6.000 kilos or 12.000 pounds of food yearly. Part of it will be storage and the rest which will be a lot; would be sold in our local farmers market or by internet. The central chamber would be a very pleasant spot to have on the property. This could be used to host some yoga or meditation sessions or even a small wedding ceremony.
Each Chamber have around 2000 m2 or 21528 ft2.. This give us a total for the Forest Garden of 1,4 hectares or 3,5 acres.
Also the idea is that the Forest Garden will be a beautiful place to walk around. So we plan to make some nice walking paths inside it, even a little maze. The forest garden have only two entrances, one coming from the house located in the solitary chamber in the front. And a second one coming from the Wood Forest located in the left side of the garden. From there you can access to the center Chamber a wander around the garden. We imagine this place being a really nice highlight for visitors to the farm.
Well these are our first ideas for Amherst. I hope that you enjoy them. Please write any comment you could have. We will happily answer it!
Será posible combinarlo con un espacio para jardín de flores, azaleas, rododendros, u otros algo exóticos. Las flores atraen mucho público además de ser muy bonitas. Michael recuerda la isla Mainau.
Just an idea !
De todas maneras Papa, me parece una idea muy interesante. De hecho me gustaria tener varias flores de la pluma, rosales, y muchos más. Gracias por tu comentario 😉
Tambien me gustaría que patos caminaran libremente por el bosque Jardin!
What an exciting and inspirational conceptual design!! I concur with azaleas, rhododendrons and other blooming shrubs/trees/plants. I also look forward to hearing more details like what foods the garden will produce, layout of the A-framed guest sleeping pods, etc. Is Oakshire the name?
Hi Sarah, thanks a lot for your comment 😉 . Yes Oakshire is the name of our project and the Franklin Creek Property will become the Oakshire farm! a place for Wild life, for gardens and food production in its initial state.
I promise i will plant Azaleas, rhododendrons , roses and beautiful flowers for everybody to enjoy them. About the food that would be produce there will be my next post.
About the Huts, we are thinking to place them in the Wood Forest, around the wild life. We even are thinking in creating a little town inside the forest. I will be Chestnut Town. It will also have a shop were we can sell our products and a Pizza place ;).
Greeting Michael & Gwen
Agree with Michael on including flowering things Like rhododendrons and azaleas That love shady areas. Redbud trees beautiful too. Where are the guest A frame sleeping pods? Any plan for a small treehouse?