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[Chrys Gardener <cab69 AT cornell.edu>]

Free Edible Landscape Design Session I - March 27, 6:30-8:30pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension

Come participate in a new project to plant an edible landscape in Conley Park, which is located between the Sciencenter and Neighborhood Pride grocery store. Edible plants such as fruit and nut trees and unusual shrub fruits will be planted this spring and summer.

The edible landscape plantings will also demonstrate how climate change has expanded the range of unusual and exotic fruits that can be grown in downtown Ithaca, which is now considered to be in hardiness zone 6.  Some of the unusual fruits that will be trialed in Conley Park include hardy banana, jujubee, yellowthorn,  akebia,  pawpaw, persimmon, bush cherries and hardy kiwi. Traditional fruits such as apples, blueberries, raspberries and currants will be included, as well as wild native fruits like serviceberry. Native nut trees for edible landscaping include chinquapin, hazelnut and blight-resistant American chestnut hybrids.

This will be the first of two design sessions for people who want to get involved in this project. We’ll take a look at the current planting areas in the park, discuss the needs and uses by neighboring families and organizations, come up with a general plan for locations of new plantings, and learn about the lesser-known edible trees, shrubs and perennials that can be grown in downtown Ithaca’s balmy climate.

 

Design Session 2 will be held in April and will go continue with information on permaculture principles, planting in ‘guilds’ and finally getting down to the nitty-gritty of designing the individual edible gardens within the park. Planting sessions will take place in May and June.

For more information contact Josh Dolan, sapsquatch7 AT gmail.com or Chrys Gardener, cab69 AT cornell.edu