gardeningwithpina

My mentor: I wanna do a wall garden, because it doesnt take up too much space

Me, already vibrating from the dopamine and adrenaline: Let's talk about espaliers

gardeningwithpina

okay, so espaliers are beyond sexy, they are so unbelievably productive

The basics are just... pruning growing trees so they are more 2 dimensional, usually placed against walls. It takes a few years to form/ raise, but they are much easier to maintain than free growing trees in the long run.

(source)

Not only is it more accessible, easier to harvest fruit, but the design has a double purpose; the walls hold and release heat that can keep warm-weathered plants alive during Northen winters!

Fruit Walls: Urban Farming in the 1600s We are being told to eat local and seasonal food, either because other crops have been tranported over long distances, or because they are g LOW-TECH MAGAZINE

There are people who use this method to grow avocado, fig, etc trees outdoors without electricity in -20C weather.

A similar technique to espalier can be used to grow furniture without killing the tree!