Edible Ecosystems
Designing landscapes to mimic wild ecosystems for maximum edible and useful benefits for human communities in conjunction with holistic environmental resilience. In other words, organized food plant systems in neighbourhoods, farms and yards for high production per square foot and low maintenance over many years. Zach Loeks designs three types of edible ecosystems: wild native ecosystem restorations, edible ecosystem landscapes with popular cultivars, and ecosystem farm or community garden plots. Zach uses a modular systems and designs from 25 square feet to 2,500 acres.
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These days Zach puts his installation energy into installing site with an educational goal and creating EPI Sites (Education, Propagation, Inspiration Sites), whose goal is to catalyze the transition of the community around them into edible biodiversity benefits.
Projects
Edible Properties
Grow your yard and eat it too! When we work along the common spaces of our properties and transition them to edible plants we find we get much more from our time and investment in our yards.
Ecosystem Market Gardens
Integrating annuals, perennials and even animals can be an holistic approach to small and large scale farming. On the market garden, efficient organization of edible biodiversity makes resilient profits.
Native Woodland Restoration
Native tree species, with a focus on edible and useful varieties, grown using ecological principles from earthworks, to planting and care. These woodlands prefer both short an long-term yields in berries, fruits, nuts, timber and mushrooms.
Community Gardens
Maximize limited urban space with designs for functional, efficient and high yield urban community gardens. Entire plots or just single spots can be designed using edible ecosystem methods.
Urban Food Oasis
Even small spaces in concrete jungles can be turned into true edible jungles full of ripe fruit, berries, herbs and more. The ecosystem benefits of edible urban areas are immense, providing shade, food, and a much needed reprieve from the fast paced urban life.
Edible Bike Lanes
Connecting our neighborhoods with edible bike lanes may very well be the best "low hanging fruit" to move our society forward to improved wellness and socio-economic and environmental resilience.
Native Tallgrass Prairie
One of the most endangered terrestrial ecosystems on the planet. We can bring back prairies in small spots or larger landscapes in homes, homesteads, public greenspaces and farms.
Living Laboratories
Living Labs bring outdoor edible education to life at schools, colleges, universities, museums and public space. Get your hands dirty with hands-on workshop during the installation phase and enjoy continued learning with custom interpretive panels and curriculum to meet your needs.
