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Seattles Free Food Experiment
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of National Geographic
Posted: June 4th, 2013
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/29/seattles-...
Can food be free, fresh and easily accessible? Thats the bold question that the city of Seattle is hoping to answer with a new experimental farm not far from the citys downtown that will have fruits and vegetables for anyone to harvest this fall. On Beacon Hill, just south of central Seattle, landscape developers and a few affordable-food advocates are building an edible food forest. Everything grown in the area, from the tree canopies to the roots, will be edible. And itll be open around the clock to anyone who wants to come and pick some fresh blueberries or pears. In its first phase, the farm will be 1.5 acres. But if its successful, the public land itll sit oncurrently owned by Seattle Public Utilitieswill be able to accommodate 5.5 more acres of growth. One thing thats striking about the idea (other than the idea in itself to have essentially a public farm that anyone can useor abuse) is how the [crop] selection came together. Many are expected: apples, berries, row vegetables like lettuce or tomatoes. But others are pretty far out. A large Asian community in the area suggested things like Asian pears and honeyberries. A European influence led to the planting of medlar trees. The concept is modeled on permaculture, a design system and school of thought aimed at returning some land to its own devices. Offering people free, fresh food is one motivation, but making the land useful and ecologically enriched is the larger goal.
Note: For an awesome, free online permaculture course, click here. For a treasure trove of great news articles which will inspire you to make a difference, click here.
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