What Is a Food Forest Labyrinth? A Living Space for Nourishment and Reflection
Over the past five years, I’ve had the chance to design and build labyrinths, these are spaces traditionally used for ritual, meditation, and contemplative walking. From ancient geometric patterns to sculptural forms with layered meanings, each project has taught me something new about how people move through and with landscapes. But it was a recent commission—a food forest labyrinth—that brought many of these threads together.
A food forest labyrinth blends two ancient practices: growing food in harmony with natural ecosystems, and walking a labyrinth as a meditative or symbolic journey. What emerges is a living landscape that nourishes in multiple ways.
Like any labyrinth, walking a food forest labyrinth becomes a practice in presence. As one navigates the curves and dead ends, there's an invitation to slow down, observe, and listen: to the plants, the place, and the body. The act of harvesting a berry or smelling fragrant herbs becomes part of a ritual of connection. These spaces offer an alternative to extraction: they model care, reciprocity, and cohabitation.
What makes a food forest labyrinth especially powerful is its multi-layered role. It’s a functional ecosystem that supports biodiversity and climate resilience. It’s a sculptural form rooted in symbolism and cultural history. And it’s a participatory space that welcomes others into seasonal maintenance, shared harvest, and collective care.
If you're curious about how to create something similar, here are a few ideas to consider:
Start with intention. What meaning do you want your space to hold? Consider the symbolic role of spirals, circles, and pathways in your culture.
Design for your local ecology. Choose perennial, native, and edible plants that support pollinators and thrive in your climate.
Plan for participation. Labyrinths are most alive when they are walked, tended, and harvested. Co-design them, or design them for access and inclusion.
Embrace imperfection. A living labyrinth changes constantly with seasons, with weather, and with time. Its shifting form teaches me to be more adaptable and patient.
For me, food forest labyrinths are spaces of hope and beauty. They remind me we can live differently, in deeper alignment with the land and each other. I’ve been privileged to co-create them in a variety of settings, and I believe they can take root in many forms—from backyard gardens to public parks.
Whether you’re an artist, grower, educator, or someone seeking a space of stillness, consider what a labyrinth might offer in your life or your community.
Here is my abridged planting guide for a Food Forest Labyrinth
Permaculture layers: Mimic a forest ecosystem with plants at multiple heights and functions.
Perennial-first: Use mostly perennial plants for low maintenance and long-term yields.
Seasonal interest: Include plants that offer food, scent, or blooms in different seasons.
Pollinator support: Integrate flowers to attract beneficial insects and increase biodiversity.
1. Canopy Layer (Small Trees) Provides shade, structure, and fruit
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) – Edible berries, early spring blooms
Dwarf Apple (Malus domestica) – Choose disease-resistant varieties
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) – Large tropical-tasting fruit, native understory tree
2. Sub-Canopy / Shrub Layer Offers berries, habitat, and mid-level texture
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) – Medicinal flowers + berries
Red or Black Currant (Ribes spp.) – Tart and productive
Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) – Acid-loving, great in clumps along curves
3. Herbaceous Layer Easy to harvest and walk by, fragrant and functional
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – Calming, fragrant
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) – Edible flowers and greens
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) – Pollinator favorite, medicinal
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Attracts predatory insects, supports other plants
4. Groundcover Layer Softens the path edges
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – Fragrant and walkable
Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) – Edible groundcover
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) – Shade-tolerant and aromatic
5. Vines / Climbers (optional trellises or arches) Can offer shade, fruit, or vertical interest at entry points
Grapevine (Vitis spp.) – Use native or table grape varieties
Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus) – Edible pods and vibrant flowers
Hops (Humulus lupulus) – Fast-growing and good for shade/arbor framing
Tips for Layout:
Path edges: Use soft herbs (thyme, oregano) that release scent when brushed.
Center or pause points: Plant taller, attention-catching species (like echinacea or elderberry).
Seasonal rhythm: Include early bloomers (serviceberry), mid-summer fruiters (currants, blueberry), and fall interest (pawpaw, yarrow).