Report: Online Lecture “Forest Garden: A Dance of Plants and Flavors”
On 17 February 2026, Društvo Sončni Grič organised an online lecture within the SusTech Erasmus+ partnership, in collaboration with partners from the Global Ecovillage Network Europe and organisations from Spain and Hungary. The webinar, led by Aljaž Plankl, long-time forest garden practitioner and co-founder of Naj Raste, focused on forest gardens as a practical low-tech approach to regenerative food production.
Around 10 participants attended the live session, while 48 people registered, expanding our Community of Practice contact base. The audience included permaculture practitioners, small-scale farmers, gardeners, biologists, landscape professionals, students, and members of ecovillages. Participants joined from different regions of Slovenia, including Goričko and the Primorska coast, reflecting interest across diverse climatic conditions.
The lecture introduced forest gardens as multi-layered ecosystems inspired by natural forest structures. A central highlight was the “planting cell” method: circular units of approximately 120 cm in diameter, combining a long-term tree with support species to enhance photosynthesis, soil health, and system resilience. Topics included plant layering, functional relationships, living mulch instead of synthetic materials, and the role of pioneer species in improving soil conditions. Practical examples addressed both the potential and the limitations of implementation, including maintenance demands and climate adaptation challenges.
Although there was no live Q&A session, participants shared positive feedback afterwards, appreciating the practical orientation and field-based experience. One participant highlighted how the lecture translated ecological design principles into concrete, step-by-step applications.
The webinar strengthened the emerging Community of Practice by connecting practitioners and sustainability initiatives across regions. As a follow-up, we are preparing the next CoP online lecture focusing on natural building practices.
If you’d like to watch the online lecture, click here
