![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
gardeningThese are pictures from the Charleston Food Forest. (Continue with Part 2: Left Side, Coles County Food Forest.)
This is the entry of the Charleston Food Forest with its welcome sign.
This is a view of the left front side.
This is a view of the right front side.
On the left is the pollinator sign and a couple of milkweeds, which are now classified as desirable wildflowers instead of weeds so as to support dwindling monarch butterflies. This is likely common milkweed.
Also on the left is this patch of bachelor's buttons, a good pollinator flower.
On the right front is a patch of black-eyed Susans, a native wildflower that attracts pollinators.
This is the welcome sign.
This new sign lists several weeds to pull, along with a warning not to pull up the groundnut vines. I'm amused that the creeping thyme, which was everywhere last year, has been banished to the weed bin. It is actually edible, as all thymes are. The "non-culinary" ones just have stronger flavors, often more resinous. Consider them for mesclun salad or dark-flavored meats such as duck or lamb / mutton.
Under the sign are several nasturtium plants. From the variegated leaves, I think these are the same 'Alaska Mix' that I planted. Both the leaves and flowers are edible with a strong peppery flavor. If you love spicy mesclun, definitely try these. Also the flowers are big enough to stuff with cream cheese or whatever.
lso under the welcome sign is this unknown plant, but it's protected by chicken wire so I expect it's deliberate.
This is a bad view of the back side of the welcome sign. In just a few months -- remember I was here in November and it was clear then -- a peach tree has completely overgrown the path.
This particular peach tree is full of hard green peaches. I really want to catch it when they ripen.
Heading to the right of the food forest, these marigolds attract pollinators and discourage pests. They are not as tall as last year but include both orange and white. I picked three ripe seedheads from the white one.
This tree has ripe peaches, out of reach, the lower ones already picked off.
A lone zinnia blooms. Last year they were everywhere. These also attract pollinators.
A vast patch of black-eyed Susans blooms inside the food forest.
Here is a closeup of the black-eyed Susans.
Purple echinacea is blooming. This is a healing herb.
This pawpaw seedling doesn't have fruit yet. It is still quite young and small, only about hip height. I wait impatiently, as I really want to try this native fruit.
This sign marks the arbor holding hardy kiwis. Sadly I didn't see any fruit, but the vines look quite robust.
The kiwi vines climb this sturdy wooden structure.
This milkweed has green seedpods. I hope I can get back to harvest some.
One asparagus plant had a few red berries. Last year there were many more.
The grapevines grow over an arbor along the front right side of the food forest. These are likely cultivated grapes although I didn't see a sign saying what kind(s). You can also grow wild grapevines in many areas. Mine are volunteers courtesy of Gaia. :D I haven't seen any grapes yet ... huh, I should check for them.
The vines produce tiny white grapes that are quite sweet. These are about pea-size.
This is the entry of the Charleston Food Forest with its welcome sign.
This is a view of the left front side.
This is a view of the right front side.
On the left is the pollinator sign and a couple of milkweeds, which are now classified as desirable wildflowers instead of weeds so as to support dwindling monarch butterflies. This is likely common milkweed.
Also on the left is this patch of bachelor's buttons, a good pollinator flower.
On the right front is a patch of black-eyed Susans, a native wildflower that attracts pollinators.
This is the welcome sign.
This new sign lists several weeds to pull, along with a warning not to pull up the groundnut vines. I'm amused that the creeping thyme, which was everywhere last year, has been banished to the weed bin. It is actually edible, as all thymes are. The "non-culinary" ones just have stronger flavors, often more resinous. Consider them for mesclun salad or dark-flavored meats such as duck or lamb / mutton.
Under the sign are several nasturtium plants. From the variegated leaves, I think these are the same 'Alaska Mix' that I planted. Both the leaves and flowers are edible with a strong peppery flavor. If you love spicy mesclun, definitely try these. Also the flowers are big enough to stuff with cream cheese or whatever.
lso under the welcome sign is this unknown plant, but it's protected by chicken wire so I expect it's deliberate.
This is a bad view of the back side of the welcome sign. In just a few months -- remember I was here in November and it was clear then -- a peach tree has completely overgrown the path.
This particular peach tree is full of hard green peaches. I really want to catch it when they ripen.
Heading to the right of the food forest, these marigolds attract pollinators and discourage pests. They are not as tall as last year but include both orange and white. I picked three ripe seedheads from the white one.
This tree has ripe peaches, out of reach, the lower ones already picked off.
A lone zinnia blooms. Last year they were everywhere. These also attract pollinators.
A vast patch of black-eyed Susans blooms inside the food forest.
Here is a closeup of the black-eyed Susans.
Purple echinacea is blooming. This is a healing herb.
This pawpaw seedling doesn't have fruit yet. It is still quite young and small, only about hip height. I wait impatiently, as I really want to try this native fruit.
This sign marks the arbor holding hardy kiwis. Sadly I didn't see any fruit, but the vines look quite robust.
The kiwi vines climb this sturdy wooden structure.
This milkweed has green seedpods. I hope I can get back to harvest some.
One asparagus plant had a few red berries. Last year there were many more.
The grapevines grow over an arbor along the front right side of the food forest. These are likely cultivated grapes although I didn't see a sign saying what kind(s). You can also grow wild grapevines in many areas. Mine are volunteers courtesy of Gaia. :D I haven't seen any grapes yet ... huh, I should check for them.
The vines produce tiny white grapes that are quite sweet. These are about pea-size.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-08-03 11:25 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 12:39 am (UTC)I think every community should have a food forest showcasing what kinds of things you can grow there in a permaculture style setup, and a community garden that would both establish landraces of popular crops and test commercial cultivars. Move into town and they offer you a free selection of seeds that will grow there.
We aren't there yet, but I can go to the food forest and gather seeds to plant at home. Some of the zinnias I gathered last year are blooming, so hopefully they'll set seeds this year and I'll be able to keep planting those.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 09:19 pm (UTC)My local area had a Crop Swap on Sunday - a gathering where people come and bring their excess goods and seeds and seedlings to swap (or just freely give) to people. It kind of works as as 'landrace' I guess, with people bringing what works for them (both produce and seeds) and chatting to each other quite freely.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-05 03:31 am (UTC)A landrace is a type of plant or animal cultivated in a particular locale, and adapted to withstand the challenges there, based on having enough genetic diversity and the ability to reproduce itself that some members will survive whatever gets thrown at them. With crops, they are typically open-pollinated or promiscuously pollinated.
https://lofthouse.com/adaptivar-landrace.phtml
>> but a permaculture/community setup which provides local growing and tending advice for newcomers moving into the area is definitely something that we need! <<
I wish for more of this.
>> I love chatting with local gardeners about what works in their gardens and what doesn't <<
Yeah, me too. There aren't a lot of opportunities for that locally though. I've never actually seen another person in the food forest, although I've seen signs of them; the activities are all early in the morning. :/
>> and while we have an overall climate across our city, there's small microclimates that can make such a difference in which fruits and vegies you can successfully grow.<<
Yeah, most towns have variations in slope, places closer or farther from water, etc.
>> My local area had a Crop Swap on Sunday - a gathering where people come and bring their excess goods and seeds and seedlings to swap (or just freely give) to people.<<
That is so awesome! There used to be a plant swap at an Earth Day event but it's kind of dwindled.
>> It kind of works as as 'landrace' I guess, with people bringing what works for them (both produce and seeds) and chatting to each other quite freely. <<
If what they bring is from saved seeds, yes, that can be a landrace.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-08-04 03:55 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 04:11 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 07:15 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 07:26 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 07:32 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 07:50 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2025-08-04 01:56 pm (UTC)