Focus on my food forest

This training is taught in French. An intensive week to start or move forward on your food forest project. Between the “wow” moment after reading a book or watching an inspiring video, and the first abundant harvests, there are a few steps that can feel like an obstacle course.

Semisto designs projects through its design studio, but working with a full team of designers starts at €5,000. We wanted to explore another path and support project owners who want to take a full, hands-on part in creating and planting their food forest. Drawing on its collective of varied expertise and network, Semisto guides you through 5 days of training on your project’s purpose, constraints, goals and functions. Experts in design, permaculture and ecology share the keys to building a project aligned with your vision, with a realistic phasing plan and plenty of practical advice for a successful planting.

You’ll discover the many functions of a food forest, deepen your knowledge of biodiversity, practise design hands-on, and leave with more confidence to bring your project to life. Throughout the residential week, you’ll move between individual work time, coaching sessions with Semisto designers, and group discussions with the other project owners.

All-inclusive, so you can focus on your creativity

All you have to think about is your design — we take care of everything else.

• Accommodation at the Les 4 Sources guesthouse, right next to the room where the design days take place
• Good home-cooked meals, with tea, coffee, herbal tea and hot chocolate available throughout
• Time for yourself if you want it: walk in the surrounding forests, relax, or spend a moment with the herd of donkeys

A week to design your future food forest, move your project forward, build systemic skills, share convivial moments with the group, and enjoy a peaceful stay in nature.

Prerequisites

This week is for people who have a place to plant a new food forest, or who already have one whose planting has started.

What the training covers

• 5 days of theoretical and hands-on workshops with trainers and designers
• Individual, pair and group work time
• Inspiring exchanges with the other project owners, trainers and assistants

On the program

• Real-world case studies
• Understanding forest ecosystems and ecology
• Functional analysis, purpose and guiding thread
• Landscape observation and analysis
• Keys to selecting plants for each layer
• Presenting your own project

The team

• Laurence Delahaye — passionate about forest ecosystems and ecology, she focuses on the resilience and long-term health of forest ecosystems. She teaches and shares her knowledge through Epiphytia.
• Michael Hulet — passionate about food forests, Michael is at the origin of Semisto and is part of the Les 4 Sources collective, a shared living place where he puts a whole-site permaculture design into practice.
• Eric Luyckx — a permaculture course facilitator passionate about human permaculture, he has also raised Mangalitza pigs within the Graines de Vie cooperative.

Accommodation

For group cohesion, and to allow bonus evening activities, everyone stays on site. The La Chevêche guesthouse, at Les 4 Sources, is available for the whole week.

Meals

Meals are included in the training fee. We offer healthy, varied dishes, with breakfasts of sourdough bread baked in the Les 4 Sources wood-fired oven and fresh eggs from the hens. A form lets you flag any intolerances so meals can be adapted.

Price and registration

The training fee mainly covers:

• trainers’ fees and travel expense reimbursement;
• 4 nights in shared rooms;
• breakfast, lunch and dinner;
• rental of a multipurpose room.

Registration costs €980 incl. VAT (21% VAT included), i.e. €196 per day, accommodation and meals included. There is a single rate — no separate professional rate.

Payment terms

Payments are made by bank transfer to the Semisto ASBL account only. Registration goes through a form, with a €100 deposit paid via Bancontact.

Accessibility

If you have a disability, get in touch with Semisto to let us know your situation — we’ll look at possible adjustments together.

Cancellation and refunds

This training is limited to 8 project owners to guarantee the quality of exchanges and support. If you need to cancel, contact the organisers, who will do their best to have a project owner from the waiting list take your place — allowing a full refund of your registration fee.

In summary

This session runs from Monday 15 to Friday 19 March 2027.

• 5 days and 4 nights
• At Les 4 Sources (Fonds d’Ahinvaux 1, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium), a shared living place where 5 inspiring families live in a 15-hectare clearing
• Days run from 8:30am to 6pm, except Friday until 5pm

Registration fee: €980 incl. VAT (21% VAT included), single rate.

What to bring

• Something to take notes and sketch with (basic materials only — design materials are provided by Semisto)
• A laptop with WiFi (if you have one)
• Slippers, indoor shoes, warm socks, or tame woodchucks turned into living moccasins
• A towel and toiletries (biodegradable soap for the reed-bed filtration system)
• Boots or sturdy ankle boots in good condition
• Clothes suited to the week’s weather
• Anything you’d like to share with the group (a good bottle, a small treat, a homemade preserve to share, etc.)
• Your usual enthusiasm and curiosity

Still have questions?

Semisto would be happy to answer them: send your questions by email or call +32 (0)490/46.76.69.

Registration

The registration form will be available from 15 July 2026.

Fill in the registration form and pay a €100 deposit online. Semisto will get back to you to confirm your registration, then you’ll receive a request for payment of the balance.