Coaldale Community Garden: The Edible Forest

One of the features that is unique at the Coaldale Coommunity Gardent site, is the installation of an Edible Forest. It was part of the original vision for the garden but not for several years.

Karen Barby of Green Haven Garden Centre heard about our project and before we knew it, we have a grove of apple trees and an abundance of honeyberry plants. In November of 2011, we had to make haste to dig holes before the ground froze solid.

We contacted Darcy at TLC Lawn Care and he offered up his bobcat and tree auger and presto - all 75 holes were dug and ready for trees and shrubs.

Country Blooms Garden Centre also donated a wide range of shrubs to Communities in Bloom. The Edible varieties were incorporated into our design.
They included elders, currant, nanking cherries and gooseberries. This rounded out the existing Saskatoon plants already in the park.

With momentum on the fruit gardens well ahead of schedule, the Committee submitted an application for Edible Forest Funding offered by Tree Canada and their partners. We were one of 13 communities to receive funding. With monies received through this program, the Society was able to purchase plum trees, cherries, pears and an apricot. Two varieties of grapes will climb lattice (to be installed in 2013). In addition the plant stock, plant health care supplies were purchased and supplied to the Town of Coaldale to compliment their urban forestry program.

Proud Sponsors of and Advising Arborist
to the Coaldale Edible Forest

Once again, the fabulous people from ATCO were on hand to help plant the fruit trees and several of the saplings at the Town Nursery. When big enough, they will be incorporated into the Park.

After prepping the planting holes, everyone gets a planting lesson from a local Certified Arborist, Maureen Sexsmith-West