Field Day: Food Forest Farming at Filbelly Forest
Hosted by the Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors (KBFA)
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Location: Filbelly Forest, 4365 Victoria Rd. Grand Forks
KBFA joined Sarah Orlowski and John Nagel at Filbelly Forest for a field day exploring the principles and practices of food forest farming.
Filbelly Forest was designed using biodiversity, organic growing methods, and permaculture principles to create a resilient “food forest” that went far beyond a conventional orchard. With a wide variety of perennial crops, including tree fruits, nuts, berries, herbal medicines, vegetables, and grape vines, the farm demonstrated how food forests can sustain themselves, increase yields as trees mature, and provide food security year after year.
The field day offered an opportunity to learn about permaculture design in practice, discover perennial crops that thrive in the Kootenays, and explore the long-term benefits of food forest farming. Participants also connected with others interested in ecological agriculture and resilient local food systems.
