Deep roots, low maintenance, high biodiversity. Join the mini forest revolution!
A mini forest is a small version of the indigenous forests that grows naturally in the area. We often think of forests as covering large areas. But in fact, mini forests can been extremely beneficial to the environment and communities. We use native plant species with mulch and soil amendments custom for our region. Our forests are built with the Miyawaki technique to create fast growing, diverse ecosystems that are self sustaining after 3 years. There’s a reason these forests are so trendy!
Akira Miyawaki was a Japanese botanist who developed what is now known as the ‘Miyawaki’ technique for forest restoration. He discovered that rapid forest growth could be obtained in small areas (and large!) following a few core principals. His method includes: preparing the sites soil with nutrient rich amendments and deep aeration, selecting appropriate native climax forest plant species, planting densely and applying thick mulch.
Mini forests restore the land to its natural state. Once established (about 3 years), these landscapes are extremely low maintenance. In public spaces, mini forests become community landmarks that showcase the regions natural flora and fauna, and offer natural play and gathering areas. On private properties, mini forests beautify our everyday environment, while creating privacy and noise reduction.
The environmental benefits are substantial: increased habitat for birds, pollinators and wildlife, increased native species biodiversity, carbon sequestration, storm water retention and groundwater recharge, reduced urban heat effect, and many more.
The cost of a mini forest varies from property to property. Factors affecting the price are: size of the forest, existing soil/site conditions, and access to the area to be planted. Don’t hesitate to reach out to get an estimate for your specific project.
Mini forests can be built on as little as 5 sq. meters. Even at this size, they grow into thriving PNW forest ecosystems. However, the ideal size is about 200 – 400 sq. meters. This is when we start to see shaded and protected forest interiors, with a range of microclimates, wildlife habitat and maximum plant species diversity.
We would be happy to meet with you to discuss if you property is a good fit. Some key factors that make an area NOT a good fit for a mini forest are:
