Food forests mimic a natural woodland so we can grow food in a way that allows nature to do most of the work. A food forest combines the same layers found in a natural forest - root crops, ground covers, herbs, perennials, shrubs, vines, small trees, mid-size trees, and canopy trees - to create a rich, thriving ecosystem that provides nutritious food for humans and wildlife. Over  time, the food forest maintains its own fertility, requiring relatively little energy to look after.