My city may let us put a food forest on one of their lots!!! Michigan

[Coctailer]

I floated the idea of planting a food forest on one of the cities empty meadows that gets almost 0 use.
The people I talked to in planning, and the city maintenance department LOVE the idea, and are running with it.

They are asking me to put together a proposal for the city council meeting on Monday.

I have ZERO experience in designing a permaculture food forest. (they said just take a satellite picture and draw a bunch of xxxxx on it to symbolize trees, and we can work out the detailed planning after official permission is granted)

Is there anyone in the Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kzoo, Battle Creek area that would like to use the city lot as their PDC Design submission?

Or if anyone is in the area, I can show you the space and if you want to help, you are welcome to give input on the project.

[Coctailer]

Right now I have the city maintenance department willing to mow a few walking paths through the area. There is a park nearby, so they are right there anyway.

The space is by Bliss Niagra Clearing in Hastings, MI about 50 feet in from the Thornapple river.

As it stands right now, if I don't get anyone to help, I will be cramming as much info into my brain and planting a bunch of stuff and hoping it survives. (I'm hoping someone in the area wants PDC design credit)
If not, there are some landscapers that work for the city that are excited to help, and they will know placement better than I will.

[mountainmoma]

How exciting ! If you cant find help, just do what you can with the literature.

[Coctailer]

How exciting ! If you cant find help, just do what you can with the literature.

Thanks!
I was surprised that people at the city would be excited for this.
The guy in charge of "City planning and development" said he should have any problem getting this pushed through. He is sure the city council will be excited to do it also.

Lots of "artsy" types here in Hastings. Hopefully that helps.

[Coctailer]

Here is what I tossed together to drop off at the city. This probably isn't the final proposal, and if we get the go ahead, it will most likely change.

[Morning Sunshine]

I saw your walnut.  Be careful where you place that - it will kill just about everything around it, and its leaves will poison the compost it joins.

[Coctailer]

I saw your walnut.  Be careful where you place that - it will kill just about everything around it, and its leaves will poison the compost it joins.

ya, I kind of wanted it out of the way. I may see if I can smuggle a couple walnut plantings outside the main forest.

[Coctailer]

Well, the city said YES!!

I officially have permanent sis on to install a food forest on city property.

[bigbear]

I bet if you reach out to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, they would have some referrals for a permaculturalist.  And I bet one or more would be willing to do some volunteer work for some advertisement.

http://www.cedarcreekinstitute.org/

There seems to be an active and recently started permaculture site on a church lot in Kalamazoo.  Perhaps you could reach out and pick their brains a bit.
http://www.vankalpermaculture.org/large-garden-space-available-in-kalamazoo/

Maybe even better, contact Western Michigan's Gibbs House.  There may be students looking for a project. 
http://www.wmich.edu/sustainability/projects/gibbs/food-forest

[Coctailer]

I bet if you reach out to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, they would have some referrals for a permaculturalist.  And I bet one or more would be willing to do some volunteer work for some advertisement.

http://www.cedarcreekinstitute.org/

There seems to be an active and recently started permaculture site on a church lot in Kalamazoo.  Perhaps you could reach out and pick their brains a bit.
http://www.vankalpermaculture.org/large-garden-space-available-in-kalamazoo/

Maybe even better, contact Western Michigan's Gibbs House.  There may be students looking for a project. 
http://www.wmich.edu/sustainability/projects/gibbs/food-forest

Thanks!

[Coctailer]

Made a facebook page for info. It doesn't have anything yet really. Just a couple "Before" pics from my camera phone.
https://www.facebook.com/Hastings-Food-Forest-130367374193291/?fref=ts

[Coctailer]

The newspaper did an article about it already!

http://hastingsbanner.com/food-forest-would-bear-fruit-in-quiet-city-park-p10495-86.htm

[Coctailer]

Here is Jacks take on the TSP.
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/episode-2015-listener-calls-for-6-1-17

Start at 1:18:40

[Carl]

Karma..You are off to a great start.

[mountainmoma]

updates ? Facebook page shows alot of progess -- maybe you are too busy to update us here ....

[Coctailer]

updates ? Facebook page shows alot of progess -- maybe you are too busy to update us here ....

Sorry, I have been super busy. Work, Crypto mining, and family been maxing me out lately!

A couple months after the city said “Yes” a lady from the local bank t
Read the newspaper article and contacted me to see if the bank could help.

She does a lot of charity type stuff and helped me form a steering committee, got us a 501C3 status in case anyone wanted to get some tax write-offs, and arranged speaking dates in front of the local Rotary, Women’s Giving Circle, and Kiwanis. The first one is at the end of the month.

Some people in the community donated tools, and money for tools, so we have most everything g we need to have a crew plant trees.

Matt Dykstra from Pierce Cedar Creek joined the steering committee, and well as a person from the conservation district, and a member of the MSU AG extension.

We planted Black Raspberry and Jerusalem Artichokes, had a couple work parties to spread mulch over cardboard before the winter shut down the site work.

[Coctailer]

Friday I am rehearsing my presentation (PowerPoint) with another member. I’m not comfortable with public speaking, so I need a few dry runs.

The purpose of the presentation is to drum up money for the trees. I want to plant a bunch of trees ordered from Trees Of Antiquity. I’ve planted their trees before and the quality is outstanding.

Several local groups and churches have expressed that they want to be involved with the labor of planting.

The exciting part will be after the first trees go in.

There is a big river 20 yards away, so I have to figure out how to get water on the plantings.