Proposed Forest Garden

Bundy Athletic Field400 block of P St., N.W.

What is forest gardening?

Edible forest gardening is the art and science of putting plants together in woodland-like patterns that forge mutually beneficial relationships, creating a garden ecosystem that is more than the sum of its parts. You can grow fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, other useful plants and animals in a way that mimics natural ecosystems. You can create a beautiful, diverse, high-yield garden, even in densely built urban neighborhoods.

Forest gardens are not dark places since trees are spaced far enough apart to allow sunlight to filter down to plants at all different heights. Plants in the forest garden may include tall trees, understory trees, vines, shrubs, herbs, vines, root vegetables, and mushrooms.

What are the benefits?

● Produce healthy, fresh, local, and organic food, herbs, and other products for people

● Create an extremely productive food system requiring less maintenance than traditional seasonal gardening

● Provide shade and reduce the heat island effect, reducing energy use in adjacent buildings

● Reduce storm water run-off through improved soil quality● Teach people of all ages how to grow perennial crops● Create relationships among participants that encourage

mutual support in other ways● Increase the consumption of local food and reduce reliance

on food imported from other regions● Keep local money circulating in the local economy● Store carbon locally and reduce our carbon footprint from

imported food

What can be grown easily in DC?

Fruit:● Figs● Asian pears● Persimmons● Pawpaws● Cherries● Kiwis● Currants● Blackberries● Strawberries● Raspberries● Grapes● Several more!

Nuts/Seeds:● Pecans● Almonds● Walnuts● Hazelnuts● Filberts● Pine nuts● Hog peanut● Siberian pea shrub● Several more!

What other perennials can be grown?

Herbs:● Rosemary● Sage● Lavender● Thyme● Spearmint● Lemon balm● Anise hyssop● Many others!

Vegetables:● Asparagus● Rhubarb● Water celery● Sea kale● Welsh onion● Spinach vine● Wild leek (ramps)● Chinese yam● Horseradish● Many others!

What other plants are included?

● Flowering plants to attract bees and other pollinators to main plants (throughout the season)

● Insectory plants to attract beneficial insects and repel destructive insects

● Nitrogen fixing plants to fix nitrogen from the air and make it available as fertilizer for main plants

● Nutrient accumulator plants to draw other nutrients from the soil and carry them to roots of main plants

● Ground covers to reduce moisture loss and weeds

What do forest gardens look like?

Where could a forest garden at Bundy be planted? (see x's and next slide)

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Multiple Options, But Start Small

● The 20' x 140' strip at the P St. entrance to the grounds (indicated with x's on the prior slide) between Bundy Athletic Field (being renovated by KIPP DC) and the space behind Bundy school building would be a great place to start

● Once established, consider expanding to additional space, including the vacant lot on P St. at the northeast corner of the site

● Additional unused areas on the grounds adjacent to P St.● Sidewalk level slopes surrounding the entire property on P

St., O St. and the alley behind 5th St. are up to 10' wide and would support edible plants instead of grass

Next Steps● Present information about forest gardens to stakeholders

and garner their support (ANC, Councilmembers, CCCA, KIPP DC, Safe Shores, and others)

● Ask KIPP DC to remove concrete in proposed site during rebuilding of the athletic field

● Solicit information from community about the types of plants (fruit, nuts, herbs, veggies, etc.) and features (benches, paths, stepping stones, rain water harvesting from Bundy, community composting facility) to include

● Create a formal design proposal to the community and submit to the National Park Service for approval

● Solicit funding and volunteer support to establish and maintain the forest garden (suggestions welcome!)

● Consider establishing a formal or informal governance structure/committee to oversee the forest garden and its potential expansion

Questions?

About edible forest gardening background, go to

http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/

About this proposal, contact:

Steve Seusersteve.seuser@gmail.com(202) 487-6065www.ecolocity.org