Plant of the Month: Sochan

It's delicious, nutritious, and may already be growing in your yard! by Gabe Popkin A few years ago I got a clump of a plant called cutleaf coneflower from a neighbor. I planted it and it took off. Once it started spreading, I dug up clumps from my own yard and started new patches elsewhere.... Continue Reading →

Plant of the Month: Pussytoes

By Kathy Shollenberger. Photos by Kelly Lawhorn, Chesapeake Natives There are many varieties of pussytoes; the one in the Food Forest is Parlin’s pussytoes. It’s in the Food Forest because it provides nectar for pollinators and serves as a host plant for the American Lady and Painted Lady butterflies. It shelters the butterfly’s eggs and... Continue Reading →

Reflections on a year of food foresting

Design by Torie Partridge By Gabe Popkin Photos by Food Forest Collective members I can't remember how it started, the idea of turning a small, underutilized park into a food forest full of edible plants that would be free to the public. I do know where I got the inspiration: from Lincoln Smith, a landscape... Continue Reading →

Make a pumpkin bird feeder

Fall migration is underway, and birds need lots of food to sustain them on their journey.  If you don't have a bird feeder in your yard, the National Audubon Society suggests that you make a temporary one out of a small pumpkin.  See the link below for instructions: https://www.audubon.org/news/pumpkin-bird-feeder-makes-happy-harvest-birds

Celebrating Success!

On Sunday, September 20, 2020 many of those who have volunteered to water, haul mulch, weed, dig, and plant gathered to celebrate our lovely park.  Enjoy these photos, from Mimi McKindley-Ward, Barry Stahl, and Kathy Shollenberger. Our new bamboo bower, constructed by Shivali Shah: Socially distanced picnickers: Musical accompaniment:    Admiring the park, enjoying the... Continue Reading →

Monarch Caterpillar on the Milkweed!

You have to look closely.  It's almost hidden, but there's a future monarch chomping away on the common milkweed at the Food Forest.  If a monarch caterpillar has lots of different types of milkweed to choose from, common milkweed is not its favorite, but luckily, this specimen's not picky.

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