FOREST HEIGHTS AND VICTORIA PARK ON BOARD
Interest in food forests is growing in Kitchener
Interest in food forests is growing in Kitchener
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by Helen HallKitchener Citizen
May 14, 2015
Community gardening is now being taken one step farther in Kitchener.
On the June 13 Neighbours’ Day, three food forest guilds will be planted behind the Forest Heights Community Centre.
And, the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association (VPNA) has changed its plans from building a community garden to planting food forest guilds in Victoria Park.
A food forest guild is a group of perennials that produce food that is available to everyone. Each guild is started with a fruit tree in the middle, and it is surrounded by berry bushes and smaller plants such as herbs. The guilds have a theme, and the smaller plants fit into that theme.
Each guild takes up about 30 square feet of space and many guilds can be planted in the same field, creating a ‘food forest’.
Nicola Thomas suggested the idea a few months ago to the Forest Heights Community Centre facilitator Bonnie Snyder, and it became part of the community centre’s Neighbours’ Day celebration.
“It’s quite exciting,” Snyder said.
Three guilds will be planted behind the community centre. One will have a ‘kitchen’ theme, and will include cooking herbs. Another will have herbs like lemon balm and mint that that can be dried and made into tea. The third will have plants that attract bees and butterflies that help with pollination. Each guild also includes other plants that assist the garden to care for itself, such as those that provide nitrogen.
Thomas said food forests are like community gardens, but more inclusive. You don’t have to be a member or volunteer in maintaining them. Once established, a food forest is watered by rain, and the perennial plants return every year. Anyone walking by can help themselves to the fruit, berries or herbs.
“They require the least amount of effort for the most amount of gain,” Thomas said.
Thomas said she recently did a presentation on food forest guilds to the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association, which led its members to rethink their idea of building a community garden and go with guilds instead.
“We are currently working with the city to utilize the green space across from the park on Jubilee Drive, between Heinz Avenue and Theresa Street, and intend to start with three fruit tree guilds this year,” said Wayne Covey of the VPNA.
“We hope to develop a naturally sustainable perennial food garden that would involve fewer resources to maintain the garden, while at the same time trying to get the most from our space to allow more people access to local organic food.”
“I’m really excited the City of Kitchener is on board,” Thomas said. She said her long-term goal is to see more guilds in Kitchener, perhaps replacing some of the costly annual gardens that are planted and maintained by the city each year.
“Food forests are very inclusive. They are open to everyone,” she said.
“It makes gardening and growing food more accessible. Food is something we all have in common.”
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To learn more, there will be a Food Forestry Intro Workshop at the Forest Heights Community Centre on Thursday, June 5, from 7 to 8pm. Planting day will be during the Neighbours’ Day event at the Forest Heights Community Centre on Saturday, June 13.
An official opening of the Forest Heights Food Forest will be held Saturday, June 20 between 2pm and 6pm, during the annual Fun Day held by the Forest Heights Community Association.