Multiple Variable Calendar - /məltəpəl, verēəb(ə)l, kaləndər/ - noun

June 3, 2020

Definition: A seasonal analysis that compares the inputs and outputs farmers get from their Forest Gardens, along with the nutrition and food needs of their families. Multiple Variable Calendars are simple calendars drawn up by farmers and TREES staff to track and analyze food availability, harvests, and effort.

Multiple variable calendars help Forest Garden farmers identify:

• Months when food is scarce
• Months when fields are producing a harvest
• Seasonal changes in the price of their crops

Why use a multiple variable calendar? Multiple variable calendars can help farmers think strategically when planning their Forest Gardens. Armed with this analysis, farmers can move from monocropping methods that require intensive effort and pose a great risk of crop failure to more sustainable cropping methods that ensure consistent food access throughout the year.

Seasonal Planning Helps Farmers Secure Food: As the world continues to battle a global pandemic, food insecurity persists in communities around the world. However, Forest Garden farmers with mature fields are remaining food secure. This resilience is due to the fact that these farmers have strategically planted trees and crops that produce a harvest every month of the year. Learn more.