On Sunday afternoon, forty-five members of the community, young and old, came out to help plant eighty native plants in Brunswick’s first Food Forest. The food forest boasts a huge variety of native plants including American Persimmon, American Hazelnut, American Plum, Blueberry, Serviceberry, Chokeberry, Elderberry, Redbud, Sassafras, a variety of Oaks, Pawpaw, and Southern Hackberry. Once the food forest matures a bit, it will provide food for wildlife and people alike, shade to help cool the area, and shelter for wildlife. Fragrant Sumac is planted along the very steep hill adjacent to the food bank to help with soil stabilization, to stop the required mowing on the steep terrain, and to provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, fireflies, moths, and butterflies. etc. The berries are also edible for humans as Edible Wild Food tells us in their article on Rhus aromatica. The Fragrant Sumac is located on the map as the two yellow areas near the parking lot.
Come and visit the Food Forest and help us keep our new plants healthy. Feel free to weed around the plants or make sure the wire cages stay up to protect the young trees and shrubs from the deer. Here is a map of the plants and their identifications. Head on over and take a look at them and email the mayor and council to let them know how much you appreciate the forest! We are looking forward to future Food Forest plantings!
