2607 BACKYARD FOREST
The before picture.
How long does it take to go from from green grass and a white picket fence to an edible forest? Just two summers!
Mike put his typical Chicago backyard to the test. This backyard evolved from a passive decoration in May 2006 to a living, breathing environmental machine in 2008.These two-year old trees are already creating a micro-climate change. As a forest begins to form, more water can enter the soil, and the area is cooler on hot summer days. Less water draining away also means less erosion, less pollutants picked up off the roads and draining into the lake, less burden on city sewers, better growing conditions, less energy needed for cooling…and the list goes on.
Edible forest building in progress.
Two summers later!
Today, eastern ninebark, pin oak, smooth sumac, Jerusalem artichoke, wild grape, flowering crab apple, flowering pear, and more inhabit the space where lawn was the only green. So it looks like Mike (and a few veggies) will be having to make a few less less trips to the grocery store!
Learn more about other UHC urban agriculture projects by clicking here.