A first Community Food Forest project is growing in the Saint-Basile sector

Oct 4, 2024

On Thursday, October 3, the community food forest, located opposite 31 rue Voisine in Saint-Basile was unveiled. The unveiling of this project, resulting from the municipal participatory budget, was part of the activities of the National Tree and Forest Week, from September 22 to 28.

As part of the 2023 edition of the City of Edmundston's participatory budget, citizens were asked to submit investment projects benefiting the community. In the “infrastructure or equipment on land or properties belonging to the City of Edmundston” category, two projects were submitted, including the community food forest. A public vote gave birth to this project, presented by Manuel Lamontagne, on behalf of a committee of citizens from the Saint-Basile sector.

This urban agriculture and forestry project developed on municipal land will allow citizens to participate in maintaining this piece of land, to be able to harvest a diversity of products, from asparagus in May, to Jerusalem artichoke in October. Edible Community Forest Details.

Establishing a food forest also demonstrates that local food production is an interesting and accessible option to food insecurity, and increasing food costs. Children will also be able to benefit from this space to know the real origin while understanding the growing cycle of fruits and vegetables, in connection with the environment and the climate.

“This is an excellent laboratory for City of Edmundston students, including those from l'École Régionale, who are less than 500 m from the site. UMCE Forestry School students will also be able to apply the notions of pruning on fruit trees,” explains Manuel Lamontagne, Ph.D., instigator of the project, UMCE Forestry School professor and assistant director.

A collaboration between engaged citizens and the City of Edmundston, the community food forest is currently made up of 23 plant species and 320 edible plants, planted on vacant municipal land. There are traditional fruit trees and shrubs such as saskatoon berries, raspberries, hazelnuts and apple trees, and also chokeberrys, blackcurrants, morello cherrys, goji berrys and sea buckthorns.

“The population is invited to come visit the food forest and to take care of it, to ensure its viability. We also hope to see other small plots of land develop like this in our neighborhoods,” concluded City of Edmundston Mayor, Éric Marquis.

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CONTACT: Daniel Gautreau, Green Spaces Coordinator, Public Works Department, 506.739.2103