#Burnsville #Minnesota to pilot ‘#FoodForest’ at #CivicCenterPark

By Christine Schuster, February 7, 2025

"An old hockey rink in Burnsville will soon be transformed into an educational #garden under a new citywide initiative to implement #sustainable land practices and build long-term solutions to health inequities.

"The #MarketGarden, where student interns will help grow produce for local nonprofit, is one of several new programs being launched this summer under the 'Grow Burnsville' initiative.

"The City of Burnsville’s sustainability pitch won first place at this year’s Childhood Obesity Prevention and #EnvironmentalSustainability Awards held by the United States Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America.

"The $125,000 prize money set 'Grow Burnsville' into motion.

"'It’s just thrilling,' said Sue Bast, the city’s environmental specialist and sustainability coordinator.

"A 'food forest' planted at Civic Center Park this spring is one of Grow Burnsville’s pilot projects, Bast said.

"Once it’s matured, the food forest will be an open food resource to anyone looking for free access to fruits and other edible plants. Using the principals of #permaculture, no chemical #pesticides or #fertilizers will be used in maintaining the forest, according to Bast.

"David Woods, the conservation program director with Urban Roots, said Burnsville’s food forest is designed to be low-maintenance.

"The city enlisted #UrbanRoots, a St. Paul-based nonprofit, to help with the design and implementation of #GrowBurnsville initiatives.

"The food forest will take 3-5 years to fully develop, according to Woods. The forest includes around 40 different plantings, such as apple, pear and plum trees, herbs and a variety of native shrubs with edible berries or nuts.

"'I’m hoping the successes that’ll come from the Burnsville project will help promote it elsewhere,' Woods said.

"'We’re going to see how this works,' Bast said. 'It could possibly be a direction we want to go with some public land that is underused.'"

Learn more / listen:
https://www.twincities.com/2021/06/24/burnsville-to-pilot-food-forest-at-civic-center-park-2/
#SolarPunkSunday #foodsovereignty #FoodForest #FoodSecurity