Community Food Forests
A community food forest is a public space where perennial food-producing plants are grown using techniques that mimic a natural forest.
By layering trees, shrubs, and herbs together, food forests create resilient ecosystems that produce fruits, nuts, herbs, and vegetables year after year. Community food forests can help neighbors learn more about growing perennial foods while supporting local food security.
Charter School Food Forest
IGI worked with Roxanne Kapitan from Garden Wisdom, with funding support from the Cedar Tree Foundation, to establish a food forest at the Public Charter School. We continue to utilize this space as a teaching garden for students and community members. Learn more about the Charter School Food Forest here.
Vineyard Community Food Forest Toolkit
One of the food security goals in the island's Climate Action Plan is to “secure and establish perennial food production areas in public spaces in every town.” IGI Regenerative Landscape Manager Mary Sage Napolitan worked under the MV Commission, with support from the MA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, to create a toolkit for how to meet this goal, including plant recommendations.
Read the toolkit here, and learn more about the Climate Action Plan food security goals here.