London's Carolinian Food Forest

About London's Carolinian Food Forest

London's Carolinian Food Forest is an experimental one-acre forest garden located in the Thames River valley on public park land in the Hamilton Road area. It serves as a community project and educational resource for people interested in how food, gardens, and community intersect. The project aims to inform the public about the food forest model while providing inspiration for individuals to build their own food forests within their own communities. The food forest is designed to mimic the structure of a natural, self-sustaining ecosystem but uses deliberately selected plants to provide food, medicine, and other resources. It features seven layers to achieve higher food production than monocultural fields, incorporating species that provide nitrogen, nutrients, and natural pest control. The project specifically utilizes only native Carolinian species, such as the Tulip Tree and Kentucky Coffee Tree, to reflect the unique ecosystem that originally covered southwestern Ontario. The project is managed by an Actualization Committee and a Stewardship Committee, which include representatives from the City of London, the Crouch Neighbourhood Association, and various local organizations like Wild Craft Permaculture, ReForest London, and Enriched Roots Naturopathy. It is supported by several local entities, including the Hamilton Road Neighbourhood Association, Thames Secondary School, and Friends of the Coves. Community members are invited to participate in various activities, including guided walks, labeling plants, harvesting apples, and attending work bees for weeding, mulching, and tree collaring.