Food forests 🌳🍎
Explore food forestA food forest is a layered growing system inspired by woodland ecosystems, combining edible trees, shrubs, perennial plants and other useful species. volunteer opportunities where volunteers can help create, plant, maintain or learn about diverse growing systems based around trees, shrubs, perennial plants and other useful species.
Food forests may be found on permaculturePermaculture is a design approach that applies ecological principles to land use, food production and human settlements, aiming to create resilient and resource-efficient systems. farms, homesteads, community projects, eco-centres and regenerative agricultureRegenerative agriculture is a broad set of farming approaches intended to restore or improve soil, ecosystems and ecological functions while producing food or other agricultural products. sites. Activities vary according to the climate, age of the planting and goals of the project.
What is a food forest? 🌳🍎
A food forest, also called a forest garden or edible forest garden, is a growing system inspired by woodland structure. It typically combines edible or otherwise useful trees with shrubs, herbs, climbing plants, groundcover and other vegetation at different heights. Designs vary considerably depending on climate, available space and the aims of the people managing the land.
Volunteering in a food forest
Tasks may include planting trees and perennial crops, pruning, mulching, composting, creating paths or growing areas, maintaining nurseries, harvesting produce and caring for established plantings. Some projects also combine food forests with agroforestryAgroforestry is a land-use approach that intentionally combines trees or shrubs with crops and/or livestock within the same farming system., permaculture, reforestation or conventional vegetable growing.
If learning about food forests is important to you, ask which areas of the project you will actually work in and whether the host provides practical guidance or opportunities to learn about the design and management of the system.
How to use this page
Check the publication date and confirm the current activities, seasonal tasks, working hours, accommodation, meals, minimum stay and any fees or other costs directly with the host. Land-based work may involve tools, physical activity, uneven terrain and different weather conditions.
Publication on Voluntouring.org does not constitute verification or endorsement of a project’s farming, permaculture or environmental claims.
Related opportunities: Permaculture · Agroforestry · Agroecology · Reforestation
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Browse food forest volunteer opportunities 🌳🍎
Browse the projects below for opportunities involving food forest creation, planting or maintenance. Some older listings may have changed their land-management activities, so confirm what volunteers currently do before applying.
Do you manage a food forest or forest garden where volunteers can take part in practical activities or learning? You can submit your opportunity to Voluntouring.org for editorial review.
