What to Buy for a Food Forest Planting Day

A food forest planting day needs more than trees and a spade. Use this shopping list to prepare plants, compost, mulch, labels, watering supplies, shared tools, seating and basic safety equipment for the group. Buy or arrange materials early enough to match the confirmed delivery date and site conditions. The quantities depend on your planting plan and participant count, but the checks below help prevent last-minute shortages.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 50
Beer tablesqty 4
Tableclothsqty 8

Gardening equipment

Fruit treesqty 20
Berry bushesqty 35
Herb plantsqty 60
Ground cover plantsqty 80
Compost bagsqty 20
Wood chip bagsqty 25
Tree stakesqty 20
Tree strapsqty 20
Plant labelsqty 150
Tie wireqty 4
Work glovesqty 55
Scoopsqty 20
Shovelsqty 12
Rakesqty 8
Hoesqty 8
Wheelbarrowsqty 6
Pitchersqty 10
Water hosesqty 2
Bucketsqty 12
Measuring tapesqty 4
Wooden pegsqty 40
Barrier tapeqty 4
Garden shearsqty 6

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Safety gogglesqty 10
Reflective vestsqty 8

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee machinesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Portable lightingqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 100
Reusable platesqty 70
Reusable cutleryqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 60
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 6
Pansqty 4
Food warmersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 6
Water jugsqty 6
Ice packsqty 16

Registration

Name badgesqty 60
Markersqty 12
Clipboardsqty 4
Route signsqty 8
Work team cardsqty 12

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Info postersqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Washing-up tubsqty 4
Spongesqty 8
Dish brushesqty 4
Hand soap dispensersqty 4
Towel rollsqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Coffee milk - 2 bottles
- Water - 40 liter
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Orange juice - 8 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 bottles
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Lemonade syrup - 2 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 80 pieces
- Whole grain buns - 80 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Aged cheese - 2 kilo
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Cucumber - 10 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Arugula - 1 kilo
- Bell peppers - 3 kilos
- Carrots - 4 kilos
- Celery - 2 heads
- Onions - 3 kilos
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Sweet potatoes - 8 kilos
- Chickpeas - 12 cans
- Lentils - 3 kilos
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Coconut milk - 8 cans
- Vegetable stock - 2 boxes
- Rice - 6 kilos
- Couscous - 4 kilo
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 1 liter
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Black pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Cumin - 2 jars
- Curry powder - 2 jars
- Chili powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Apples - 8 kilos
- Bananas - 6 kilos
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Nut mix - 2 kilo
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Rice cakes - 6 packs
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Vegan cookies - 4 packs
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Cleaning wipes - 4 packs
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Baking paper - 2 rolls

Tips

Order fruit trees, berry bushes and other plants only after the planting plan is mapped out. Keep a short buffer for replacements, and confirm the delivery at least one week before planting day.
Allow roughly 20–30 litres of compost per planting hole, then add mulch after planting. Buy extra bags if the soil is poor or the site has no nearby compost supply.
Plan shared tools around the number of people working at once: one shovel or hoe for every two to three participants is a practical minimum. Arrange borrowed tools at least three days ahead.
Prepare one pair of work gloves per participant, plus several spare pairs in common sizes. Keep safety goggles available for jobs involving stakes, wire, brush or flying soil.
Set aside water for both plants and people. Give newly planted trees a thorough first watering, and have hoses or buckets ready before the first plants arrive; do not rely on a last-minute water source check.

Frequently asked questions

How much compost do I need for a food forest planting day?: Use about 20–30 litres of compost per planting hole as a planning estimate. Multiply that figure by the number of trees, bushes and larger plants, then add extra for poor or compacted soil.
How many tools do I need for a group planting day?: For shared work, plan one shovel or hoe for every two to three participants, with at least one rake and wheelbarrow for each active planting area. Confirm borrowed tools three days before the event.
How much mulch is needed after planting trees and bushes?: Allow approximately 5–10 litres of wood chip per square metre around planted areas, keeping mulch away from the trunk or main stems. Measure the beds before shopping so you can convert the area into the number of bags required.
When should I buy plants for a food forest planting event?: Confirm availability and delivery at least one week before the planting day, and collect plants as close to the event as possible. If planting is delayed, arrange temporary watering and shade so roots do not dry out.

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