TURNERS FALLS — Implementing free and edible landscaping downtown are part of the Great Falls Apple Corps’ plans for springtime.
Meeting on Monday night that was more January like than April, the Apple Corps’ additional plans for this year include gardening events and increasing the community’s involvement with local gardening.
Since October, the group has met once a month and now has approximately a dozen members with more to come.
The group formed last fall after some people met while picking apples and making cider in Turners Falls and the talk turned to the number of apple trees in downtown, inspiring the group to focus on encouraging edible landscaping so community members can enjoy it for free.
This downtown “food forest” would include native berry bushes, herbs, fruit trees and more. Apple Corp’s intention is to work on a “hyper-local” level and focus on downtown Turners Falls.
“There’s already food here,” said Annie Levine, group member. “We’d just be adding to it.”
The Apple Corps works with the Montague Tree Committee and the Planter Committee to put edible produce in the planters along Avenue A, but as the weather becomes more gardening-friendly, the group plans to communicate with community members and businesses downtown that may be willing to share their land to source spaces for additional gardens.
Overall, the goal is to harvest food downtown that can be given away for free, donated to the Survival Center or processed into “value-added products” that would be offered by donation to raise funds.
Right now, the group is looking for people who have fruit trees or any other crop that goes unpicked so they can come harvest the crops. Owners of the crops would be able to keep some fruit while the rest would go to Apple Corps volunteers and be donated to the Survival Center.
Also, a couple events have been planned in the coming months.
On May 20, from 1 to 5 p.m., at Unity Park, the group will host “Perennial Companion Planting” with longtime permaculture teacher Llani Davidson, also a lead gardener at Shutesbury’s Sirius Ecovillage.
This workshop is intended for experienced and amateur gardeners to learn how to successfully grow perennials, swap advice, learn new skills and connect with neighbors.
During this time, participants will plant four public beds: two nursery beds with edible plants and pollinator plants, a Children’s Garden to provide produce for kids at the skate park and playground, and a Three Sisters Garden to support native culture in the park.
Following the planter event, the group will also host a Summer Kick-Off Celebration June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Unity Park with a plant swap, music, and both adult-friendly and kid-friendly activities.
All events and workshops offered by the group will be free, with donations accepted. The group encourages all to come, regardless of gardening experience or skill.