Seasonal Calendar in the Forest Garden:

Seasonal calendars are an effective planning tool farmers can use when deciding what crops to grow and when. Farmers use seasonal calendars in two ways: 

1) To identify what products are available for harvest throughout the year. When farmers identify harvest times, they can see where there may be gaps in production and think about crops they can harvest during those months to add to their Forest Garden. Good planning will ensure they have something to harvest for food or income each month of the year. 

2) To assess market prices of different crops throughout the year to aid in market planning. Understanding when market prices are at their highest can help farmers determine when they should plant their crops. High prices are usually obtained at the fringes of the growing season when markets are less crowded with other farmers’ crops, as well as during holidays. Rainfall and temperatures can dictate planting times, but extending the growing season can be possible with irrigation or with good soil management and water conservation practices.