Urban food forestry brings together elements of urban forestry, urban agriculture, edible landscaping, and agroforestry. It is an emerging form of urban food production that can be seen in the form of community urban orchards, urban food forests, edible parks, and other edible landscape features. (For a list of initiatives, see here).
The main distinguishing features of urban food forestry from predominant forms of urban agriculture (such as allotment gardens) is a focus on utilizing public space and planting perennial crops. This results in more equitable access to fresh produce, particularly with the help of urban gleaning and fruit mapping projects. The design inspiration for urban orchards and food forests often draws from permaculture literature, agroecology research, and agroforestry practices.
The purpose of this site is to bring together knowledge and research on the topic of urban food forestry to assist municipalities, community leaders, and backyard enthusiasts.