Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A
Clean the air, beautify your neighbourhood, and bring fresh fruits or nuts to your community all at the same time with our Edible Trees program. Your community gardening group, arboretum, school, housing project, or other organization can apply to have a project funded. Tree Canada will consider projects that meet the following criteria:
Increases equitable access to healthy food
Strengthens communities by empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of city-grown food resources
Benefits the local community by providing access to the trees and their fruit by the public ( i.e. food banks, volunteers, community kitchens)
Meets the needs of the community and includes creative plans for the produce grown
Takes place within a geographic area suitable for growing fruit and nut trees
Protects and preserves the Canadian environment
Assists residents in understanding and participating in environmental activities in local communities.
Source: http://treecanada.ca/en/programs/edible-trees/
The Coaldale Community Garden Society was a past winner. The project received great support from Green Haven Garden Centre, Country Blooms, Alberta Nurseries, Grant’s Plants and the Town of Coaldale. There were many people involved in the planning and preparation from the Community Garden Society as well.
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These vital community partnerships were part of the winning entry. The site boasts apple, pear, plum, cherry and apricot trees. There is also a wide range of shrubs include saskatoon, currants, honeyberries, grapes, raspberries and strawberries.
This program is open to community gardens, schools, food banks, housing projects and more in Canada. Be sure to visit the link.
Coaldale Community Edible Forest depicted below.
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