A food forest takes root in Dehra

Time of India

18-05-2025

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An avant-garde movement in the 'art of farming' is shaping up the subtropical rolling hills of Dehra in new shades. Emerging from a blend of imagination and commitment of a group of passionate nature lovers is a unique
food forest
— a living canvas that has opened up a new way of life for the local people.
Thrown open to the public this month, the food forest in Muhal village of Dehra in the foothills of the might Dhauladhar mountains in
Himachal Pradesh
, is based on the principles of
permaculture
— a regenerative design philosophy that works with nature's patterns. Spread across four acres, the project currently nurtures around 2,000 trees and over 350 native plant and tree species, helping conserve local biodiversity while supporting the villagers' daily farming needs.
Named Attune, the project is the brainchild of Ankush Rana, a former IT consultant who pivoted to natural farming as an act of responsibility rather than a career move after a 15-year corporate stint. Inspired by a chance reading of The One-Straw Revolution by Japanese agri-scientist Masanobu Fukuoka, and driven by a deep sense of ecological guilt, Ankush decided to transform his ancestral farm into a botanical garden-cum-food forest.
The project began in Nov 2023 and is being developed in stages.
"I noticed local tree species disappearing as villages turned to monoculture farming, leading to a loss of natural forest cover. We wanted to build an ecosystem that would preserve Himalayan plant species. The idea was to demonstrate a self-sustaining agro-ecological model designed with regenerative principles, encouraging local farmers to adopt ecological practices over chemical-based farming," Ankush explained.
Attune has now become a meeting point for locals and field experts to connect, interact and disseminate knowledge.
Gaurav G, a regenerative design practitioner associated with the project, emphasised the ecological impact of the project: "Attune is aiming to become a seed bank for diverse native flora. Planting low-maintenance food forests fulfils human needs while nurturing nature."
Other collaborators in the project include plant genetics expert Dr.
Mohammad Zul Ma'arif and architect Swati Khambhayata. "The whole project has been designed in a way that nothing from the farm goes to waste. The idea is to learn from the forestry and pass on the knowledge," said Swati. Beyond conservation, the project aims to engage the local community. Ankush plans to form a self-help group (SHG) of local women to set up a fruit processing unit.
The SHG would gather and process surplus citrus fruits from 20 neighbouring villages, which otherwise would go to waste.
In his effort to revive natural forest cover on his farm, Ankush takes inspiration from mycelium, the network of thin fungal strands found in nature. "Just like fungi thrives on these intelligent interconnected networks, we need to understand the interconnectedness of biodiversity while creating a thriving food forest," he reasoned.
To nurture the forest cover, the team has focused on soil and water conservation.
Mulching and composting, earthworks like swales, percolation ponds, and planted ground covers are improving soil fertility and groundwater recharge in the forest farm. A variety of wildlife including butterflies, birds, and reptiles, are already finding shelter at the site.
"Sourcing native plant species and dealing with the threat of forest fires in summer season were major early hurdles," said Ankush. Yet, with patience, observation, and deep respect for natural processes, the 'art of farming' is not just restoring land — it's also inspiring a community and reimagining a way of living that is rooted in harmony with nature.
Tree species at the park
Among the endemic species planted are Bischof javanica (bishop wood), Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense), Citriodora (lemon-scented tree), Commiphora wightii (guggul), Adansonia digitita (kalpavriksha), Butea monosperma (yellow palash), Holarrhena pubescens (bitter inderjau), Neolamarckia cadamba (Krishna kadam) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (mulethi). Visitors get to see or taste a wide range of fruits such as plums, peaches, blueberries, papayas, apricots, kiwis and dragon fruits.
Saplings and seeds are also available at the in-house nursery.
What is a food forest?
A food forest or a forest garden is a designed agricultural system that mimics a natural forest ecosystem but prioritises edible plants. It integrates trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants, mostly perennials, to create a self-sustaining, low-maintenance garden that produces fruits, nuts, herbs, and other edible or useful products.
They generally incorporate a layered structure including canopy trees (e.g.
, fruit or nut trees), understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, ground covers, root crops, and climbers to maximise space and sunlight. Diverse species are grown together to enhance resilience, reduce pests, and improve soil health. It emphasises natural processes like nutrient cycling, mulching, and companion planting to minimise external inputs like fertilisers or pesticides.