Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Down To Earth

Food Forests are Coming to Your Neighborhood


Good news from Philip Small at Spokane Permaculture: It’s no longer a question of if, but when, a community food forest will be established in Spokane. The Inland Northwest Food Forest Council is working with the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department to locate favorable park sites and similar City-owned sites to install food forest.

The Education Subcommittee of the Urban Forestry Citizen Advisory Committee reviewed four candidate sites last week: Community Gardens at Grant Park and Peaceful Valley, as well as more native portions of Polly Judd Park, and the Hazel Creek low impact development (LID) site.

Similar to the storied Beacon Hill Food Forest being established in Seattle and the 6th Ward Park Food Forest coming to Helena, Mont., the vision in Spokane is to install public food forests in conjunction with community gardens.

Beyond that, the hope is that public food forest examples throughout the City will inspire private land owners and landlords to establish food forests for their use and their tenants use. Food forests bring neighbors together, fight against hunger and decrease food deserts.

Locals who are interested in getting involved are in luck! There are three upcoming events that will discuss food forests and permaculture.

 

Food Forest Workshop

9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, September 13 – best selling permaculture author, Toby Hemenway, Gaia’s Garden - presents Food Forest Workshop at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. The day-long class will give participants both the theory behind food forests and a wealth of practical information, including which plants to use, where to start, and what to expect as a food forest grows. Hemenway will also address ways to aid policy-makers in establishing public food forests. Pre-registration at sccd.org; cost is $75.

Permaculture Convergence

September 13-15 – The Inland Northwest Permaculture Convergence will be held at Mivoden Retreat Center in Hayden, Idaho. Toby Hemenway is the keynote speaker. There will also be a lightning keynote period, roundtable discussions, children’s activities and networking. Register at inlandnorthwestpermaculture.com; cost is $80.

Food Forest Implementation

Discussion 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., September 16 - Jacqueline Cramer, Seattle Beacon Hill Food Forest, will freely share her food forest implementation experience and insights. Join us at the Woman’s Club of Spokane, corner of 9th and Walnut in Spokane, WA. There is no registration, no fee to attend.



Down To Earth

The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.