Exciting Plans Unfold for a New Food Forest in Elora: Discover What’s in Store!

Imagine visiting the Elora Centre for the Arts and enjoying an art show. On your way out, you might grab a handful of fresh raspberries or a juicy plum. That’s the vision for Elora’s upcoming food forest.

“We’ll kick off next spring,” says Asa Boxer, who leads the project. “We’re hoping to get the landscaping done this fall.”

If you’re curious about what a food forest looks like, you can visit the one in Fergus, created a few years back by the Food Forest Centre Wellington. It’s just beside the tennis courts and community garden.

Local volunteers are actively planning Elora’s version by the arts centre. A food forest combines various plants in one area, allowing for higher yields through dense planting, according to Boxer. It’s not just for us; it supports insects and wildlife too.

The forest will focus on perennials, meaning that while the initial planting phase will take a bit of work, it will need less attention over time. “Once it’s established, maintenance will be minimal,” Boxer explains. It’s also a way to bring the community together.

Word has spread, and many local gardeners have joined in on workshops and planning meetings. Once the food forest flourishes, people will be welcome to enjoy its bounty, with some surplus also going to the food bank. “This shows what can be achieved in a small space,” Boxer adds.

He describes the food forest as a “seven-storey system,” featuring layers of canopy trees, smaller trees, shrubs, herbs, ground cover, vines, and roots. While the exact fruits are still being decided, possibilities include apples, a unique “fruit salad tree” with multiple apple types, hazelnuts, plums, apricots, gooseberries, raspberries, haskaps, and even blueberries. “When harvest season arrives, we won’t know what to do with it all!” Boxer laughs.

Currently, volunteers are in the design stage. The forest will sit behind the arts centre’s new wing, alongside a fresh sculpture garden. “We want to add an artistic touch to the design,” Boxer, who has a background in landscape design, shares. “It’s about more than just planting.”

Once completed, the hope is that this project will inspire others to start similar gardens, raising awareness about edible plants. “Many people don’t know what they can eat,” Boxer notes. The garden will serve as a beautiful path for walking, a place to learn, and a source of fresh food for the community.

According to recent studies, community gardens like this can significantly boost local food security. They encourage healthy eating and can even enhance mental well-being by connecting people to nature and each other. With trends leaning toward sustainability, Elora’s food forest could be a model for green initiatives across the country.

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