The 7 Layers of Syntropic Systems and Forests: A Basic Overview

History

Syntropic systems are an idea most recently patented by a Swiss farmer named Ernst Gotsch, but these principles were practiced by many indigenous cultures across almost every continent. The three sisters garden grouping of corn, beans, and squash is one of an unfathomable number of combinations of plants used across crops, forests, and grasslands alike. very

Introduction

1. Canopy Layer:

The canopy is the tallest layer of a syntropic system or forest; typically composed of large native, fruit & nut trees that can reach heights of over 30 feet. This layer provides shade and shelter for the layers below and includes species like walnut, oak, and chestnut to name just a few out of the hundreds of possibilities. These trees are essential for creating a microclimate that benefits the entire syntropic system.

2. Understory Layer:

Beneath the canopy, the understory layer consists of smaller trees that thrive in partial shade, such as dwarf fruit trees like apples and pears; or native trees like Spicebushes or Eastern Redbuds. This can also include larger plants such as native sunflowers.

3. Shrubs

The shrub layer includes berry bushes, native shrubs, and other mid-sized plants that are interplanted between the canopy and understory trees and plants.

4. Herbaceous Layer

The herbaceous layer consists of non-woody plants, including vegetables, herbs, and wildflowers. Think of an open meadow where you see random wildflowers and small clumps of greenery; those are your herbaceous plants in a forest or syntropic system.

5. Ground Covers

The ground cover layer features low-growing plants that hug the ground, serving as a living mulch. This layer helps retain moisture in the soil and prevents erosion. Common ground cover plants include wild strawberries and clover. Sone ground covers, such as clover, also help bring in more Nitrogen into the soil through their root systems.

6. Roots

The roots layer consists of crops and native plants that devote large portions of their energy to growing underground root systems; supporting both local wildlife and the humans that co-habitate those said areas.

7. Vining Plants

The vining layer of a syntropic system consists of native plants and crops that vertically or horizontally fill in walls, trellises, shrub & tree bodies, and even fence systems. Some common examples include cold-hardy kiwis, passionfruit, and Virginia Creeper.