Britain used to be a forested island, so a lot of the energy we expend in farming is just to stop it reverting back.

The farmland I am used to seeing is clumps of trees surrounded by fields. But a permaculture smallholding I visited in Snowdonia was just the opposite – a collection of small clearings in a mass of woodland.

Forest gardens are inspired by nature. The reason natural woodland is so productive is because it grows on many layers, rather like having half a dozen fields stacked on top of each other.

A forest garden imitates each woodland layer, but uses more edible species. The garden floor is covered with fruit and vegetables, and above them, the shrub layer is equally abundant.

A bit higher up are the fruit trees, such as apples, pears, medlars (a fruit rather like the crab apple) and quinces.

And then there is the canopy where those trees that aren’t producing food are serving other essential functions such as recycling nutrients through their root system and leaf litter.

Some plants are selected primarily because they attract beneficial insects – hover flies, for example, which eat aphids – so no pesticides are needed.

Surely this requires endless attention and work?

‘Over a whole year, an average of one day a week,’ said Martin. ‘A lot of that is harvesting. In terms of maintenance, it’s about ten days a year.’ Compared to running a conventional farm, that is virtually nothing.

But how much food does it produce? ‘One designed for maximum yield could probably feed about ten people an acre,’ said Martin. That’s roughly double the number we can currently feed from an average acre of conventional arable farmland.

The thinking is that a host of vegetable plots, allotments and smallholdings that require a minimum of maintenance because they follow nature’s own design principles could make up for the loss of industrial-scale farms.

article in the Daily Mail

I wonder what I can do about  permaculture in sweden

We are going to post free information here so people can volunteer for free.

Please leave comments to advertise your farm for free. Also, all farmers that register at pay sites, consider using a NAME for your farm that is special, and have a little page on the internet with contact info, or even post on a forum, that way people can search for your farm name and find your contact information. It is a good idea to have a name people can identify you by.

Volunteer at an environmental program in Sweden

Ecological volunteering – work with the environment and have a vacation at the same time .

1) Vaxhuset

http://www.vaxhuset.se/

In the summer welcomes volunteers to come and enjoy work and life  at Ekocentrum. Please contact them by email for more information. The address is info@vaxhuset.se

Welcome to come for a visit or to join a course or a camp here at Ekocentrum! Address: Mobodarne 857 S-826 93 Söderhamn Sweden
Telephone: 0046 270 42 70 50

2)Earthway Experience

What we can offer this year is the opportunity to experience the beginning of something special in the making. Lots of good work, good learning and a life experience never to forget! A bit like the summer before Dick Proenneke started filming “Alone in the Wilderness”

There is no cost to the Internship – although you will be expected to provide your own your own tent, sleeping bag, etc.

We will provide food for the time you are here. Expect lots of local favorites including moose, reindeer and fish. The Intern/Volunteers will be responsible for cooking themselves – but don’t worry it will be fun and a new Experience for some of you!

Positions start in May but it is possible to come in June if need be.

http://www.earthwayexperience.com/internship.html

kevin@earthwayexperience.com

46 70 299 2884

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Other links I’m going to look into:

http://www.norramon.se/

End of free information

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http://www.ial.se/www/en/volunteer_in_sweden

These charge $250 registration I think.

the above is free, but  below they charge fees:

WWOOF is an exchange program. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.
They charge a 15 euro fee to register at the website,  which is ridiculous.

http://www.wwoof.se/

here is another pay site

http://www.helpx.net/search_now_paging.asp?host_region=313&network=3

I think Im going to set up a free classifieds system for work exchange programs in Sweden. In the meantime, feel free to leave comments.