Peterborough GreenUP and Nourish continued their planting of one of five mini-food forests throughout Peterborough communities at Jackson Creek on Tuesday.
Food forests containing 25 trees, 20 shrubs and 25 native non-woody plants have been planted at five locations throughout five neighbourhoods including Kawartha Heights, East City Curtis Creek, Downtown Jackson Creek, Talwood and Jackson Park Brookdale.
“GreenUp is presently celebrating our 30th anniversary, projects like this one are a perfect example of how it takes time and careful stewardship to bring community vision to fruition,” said Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director. “Everyone at GreenUp is exceptionally proud of our success in working to bring the interests of local residents and the City together and grateful to all the donors and supporters who have helped us to get here.”
GreenUp and Nourish have been collaborating on a number of Growing Together While Apart projects supported by the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough to create more accessible public spaces.
With support from Arbor Day Foundation and the TD Bank Green Space program, Growing Edible Infrastructure hosted five fruit planting and skill-sharing events. They have planted 25 fruit trees and certified ten people in Beginner Fruit Tree Care through the TD Green Space Grant.
“Green spaces are the foundation to creating more livable, healthier cities so it’s imperative to focus and invest in creating more equitable access to these spaces,” said Janice Farrell Jones, TD senior vice president.
Funding for the tree planting came through a $25,000 Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group and the Arbor Day Foundation. Peterborough is one of just 20 North American cities to receive the grant.
The organization is helping anyone who signed up to help care for the five mini food forests.