An Urban Food Forest For Neighbourly Foraging!
August 9th, 2012The US city of Seattle has plans for a ‘food forest’ for the city. It wants to make blueberry picking a neighbourly activity.
Permaculture And Foraging
It IS great to pick food growing in a backyard and the vision of a food forest was first developed in 2009 as a final project for a permaculture design class. Seattle plans to develop a 7 acre public plot into a food forest, right in the middle of the city.
The idea is to give members of the working-class neighborhood of Beacon Hill the chance to pick plants scattered throughout the park – now called the Beacon Food Forest. It will feature fruit-bearing perennials — apples, pears, plums, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and more.
How Did This Come About?
After some community outreach efforts, local support came pouring in for the idea.
The Friends of Beacon Food Forest community group received a $22,000 grant to hire a certified designer for the project.
Seattle Public Utilities offered the 7 acre plot, which could make it the largest urban food forest on public land in the US.
The group is currently working with $100,000 in seed money to set up the first phas, a 1.75 acre test zone to be planted by the end of the year. After a few years, if that section is deemed successful by the city, the remaining acreage will be converted to food trees.
Interesting concept
Related Posts
September 28th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
The initiative of the City of Seattle is one all cities should urgently consider. China and various Middle East Countries are buying large areas of cropping land in Africa, Brazil and in Australia to ensure food security following failed crops and related export restrictions due to food scarcities. We all need to become more food self sufficient, especially considering unpredictable harvests due to climate change and ongoing global population growth.
September 28th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
What a wonderful idea! I wish I knew someone in the city to tell. Sadly all former acquaintances have become decentralised like me. I do hope the message gets out.
October 5th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
How good would it be if Local Councils planted and tended USEFULtrees and Shrubs – Lemons, citrus, eggplant, and herbs?
Instead of uselees (though attractive) ‘amenity?’ plantings that we have currently
All plants look good if planted en masse which gives city and town panners what they want
If the plantings are useful and edible, how good wouold that be??
Citizens can pick and trim and eat as they wish .. what a good use of civic space!
Sherry Kaurila
Councillor
in the beautiful Hinchinbrook Region
North Queensland
Australia