View source for Plants for a Future

{{Short description|Online plant database}}
'''Plants For A Future''' ('''PFAF''') is an online [[not for profit]] resource for those interested in edible and useful plants, with a focus on [[temperate region]]s. Named after the phrase "plans for a future" as wordplay, the organization's emphasis is on perennial plants.

PFAF is a [[Charitable organization|registered educational charity]] with the following objectives:<ref>{{EW charity|1057719}}</ref>

{{Quote|The Charity’s objectives are to advance the education of the public by the promotion of all aspects of ecologically sustainable [[vegan organic gardening|vegan-organic horticulture]] and agriculture with an emphasis on tree, shrub and other perennial species; and the undertaking of research into such horticulture and agriculture, and dissemination of the results of such research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/cmspage.aspx?pageid=25|title=Media Information 2010}}</ref>}}

The website contains an online [[database]] of over 8000 plants: 7000 that can be grown in temperate regions including in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], and 1000 plants for tropical situations.

The database was originally set up by Ken Fern to include 1,500 plants which he had grown on his 28 acre research site in the [[South West England|South West]] of [[England]].

Since 2008, the database  has been maintained by the database administrator employed by the Plants For A Future Charity.

The organization participates in public discussion by publishing books. Members have participated in various conferences<ref>[https://www.ipcuk.events/presentation/Plants-For-A-Permaculture-Future Präsentation auf der International Permaculture London 2015]</ref> and are also participants in the International Permaculture Research Project.<ref>[http://pfaf.org/user/cmspage.aspx?pageid=266 Analysis of the First International Permaculture Research Survey]</ref><ref>[http://www.permaculture.org.uk/ Permaculture Association]</ref>

==Publications==
*Fern, Ken. ''Plants for a Future: Edible and Useful Plants for a Healthier World''. Hampshire: Permanent Publications, 1997. {{ISBN|1-85623-011-2}}.
*''Edible Plants: An inspirational guide to choosing and growing unusual edible plants.'' 2012 {{ISBN|9781481170017}}
*''Woodland Gardening: Designing a low-maintenance, sustainable edible woodland garden. ''2013. {{ISBN|9781484069165}}
*''Edible Trees: A practical and inspirational guide from Plants For A Future on how to grow and harvest trees with edible and other useful produce.'' 2013. {{ISBN|9781493736102}}
*''Plantes Comestibles: Le guide pour vous inspirer à choisir et cultiver des plantes comestibles hors du commun. ''2014. {{ISBN|9781495914690}}
*''Edible Perennials: 50 Top perennial plants from Plants For A Future. ''2015.
*''Edible Shrubs: 70+ Top Shrubs from Plants For A Future.'' 2019. {{ISBN|9781791954949}}
*''Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.''  2021. {{ISBN|9798520865087}}

==See also==
* [[Agroforestry]]
* [[Postcode Plants Database]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|url=http://www.pfaf.org/book.php|title=Plants for a Future: Edible and Useful Plants for a Healthier World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527030604/http://www.pfaf.org/book.php|archive-date=2014-05-27|first=Ken|last=Fern|publisher=Permanent Publications|isbn=1-85623-011-2}}

==External links==
{{Wikidata property|P4301}}
* {{Official website|http://pfaf.org/}}

{{Permaculture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Online botany databases]]
[[Category:Charities based in Devon]]
[[Category:Vegan organic gardening]]
[[Category:Permaculture organizations]]
[[Category:Databases in England]]
[[Category:Horticultural organisations based in the United Kingdom]]