Food Forest to be built in Swan Creek Park September 13, 2013 Tacoma, WA— Picture a network of parks throughout Tacoma and Pierce County where trees, shrubs and perennials produce healthy, nutritious, low-maintenance food for the community. Local gardeners and farmers have examined how forest science can affect how we grow food. Now a coalition of local agencies and citizens is working to create its own "food forest" on one acre in Swan Creek Park that will provide free food to anyone who visits. A successful outcome will lead to more edible food forests with low-maintenance, easily accessible, healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetable. This plan will change our community’s culture around food, much in the way that Community Gardens have transformed our local landscapes. The Food Forest will be located near the existing Community Garden off Roosevelt Rd at E. 42nd St. Participants at the meeting are invited to share ideas with the planning team of what they would like to see in this edible forest garden. Volunteers have multiple options for involvement— helping to plan the project, designing the space, clearing brush to prepare the space, planting trees and plants, participating in the stewardship of the site, or simply just picking fruits and vegetables to eat. The first community-wide planning meeting will be held at Lister Elementary School (2106 E 44th Street, Tacoma WA), on September 24 at 6:30pm. Light refreshments will be provided, and the event planners hope to have present translators in multiple languages. Work on this project is sponsored by the Pierce Conservation District, and includes partners from Metro Parks Tacoma, The Greater Metro Parks Foundation, The Pierce County Gleaning Project, Emergency Food Network, St. Leo Food Connection, members of Tacoma’s City Council, Northwest Leadership Foundation, Catholic Community Services, and multiple permaculture experts. Participation from the entire community is welcome. Contact information: Micaela Cooley micaelac@piercecountycd.org<mailto:micaelac@piercecountycd.org> 253-306-3457 And visit https://www.facebook.com/friendsofswancreekfoodforest [https://remote.piercecountycd.org/owa/attachment.ashx?id=RgAAAACOhhhn64qCRpgNbdDhZAqpBwDlZ3NGN1VERK7Z6I5kQS7qAAAALgLWAADlZ3NGN1VERK7Z6I5kQS7qAAAALgMgAAAJ&attcnt=1&attid0=BAAAAAAA&attcid0=image001.jpg%4001CD8A83.60865E60] Micaela Cooley, Community Garden Program Associate Pierce Conservation District PO Box 1057 | 501 S. I St. | Tacoma, WA 98405 Phone: 253.306.3457 | Fax: 253.845.4569 Website: www.PierceCD.org<http://www.piercecd.org/> Promoting the conservation of renewable natural resources in Pierce County since 1949. Follow us on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/PierceConservationDistrict?ref=stream>