Campus & Community
restoring our humanity while we restore the land
connection
quality of life
education
Principia Permaculture orchard, Educational garden
Working closely with the high school science teachers, Custom Foodscaping helped turn this grassy hillside into an explosion of edible plants and native flowers. To manage water on this sloping landscape, contour berms and swales were use to slow water and sink it into the ground. A food forest was planted on the berms with a tremendous diversity of native flowers, herbs and fruit trees, all of which produce in the spring and fall while students are in school. Students K-12 can now utilize the permaculture orchard to make herbal tea, study native pollinators, hold class under the pergola, and harvest loads of fruit.
oasis urban farm, A Community Farm and Orchard
In collaboration with Jubilee Community Church, Good Life Growing and The Nature Conservancy, CF designed and installed linear food forests to support this community farm. To kickstart this site’s development, an MSD grant allowed Jubilee to install 150,000 gallon rainwater catchment tank. All the rainwater that falls on the church roof is stored underground and used to irrigate the farm. CF worked with Jubilee and community members to select dozens of fruit trees like pawpaws, jujubes, cherries, serviceberries, and figs. All trees are supported by a myriad of native nitrogen fixing perennials. These natives will aid in attracting pollinators and also employ their deep taproots to break up compaction and supply a perennial source of fertility to the soil.
Kirkwood Early Childhood Center
The KECC garden was designed to encourage movement, engage the senses and create fun foodscape moments for kids. An abundance of berry bushes allow students to take their pick of raspberries, goji berries, bush cherries and more. Hexagon raised beds provide room for kids to stand around the beds and observe as the KECC chef harvests produce for school meals. One of our favorite elements of this design is the “encouragemint” path which features five types of mint the kids can sample. The garden’s sensory-stimulating paths encourage children to walk barefoot on various stones, wood tree cookies, river rock and pine needles as a way to build strength, coordination and confidence.
COMMUNITY CHRISTIaN CHURCH
In this community led project, Community Christian Church worked with CF to design and install their church garden. CF guided the process of killing off invasive weeds organically, constructing a secure deer fence, and locating a water line. Once infrastructure was up, CF led community work days to amend the soils and create well defined garden beds.
Jacob Thorne, Senior Minister had this to say: “Matt was able to guide us in the development of our community garden from start to finish (although we know it’s never really complete). With a blank slate, and high hopes, we went from a patch of dirt to a bountiful garden—all for the purpose of growing and sharing with one another. We are grateful for Custom Foodscaping and look forward to a continued relationship.”
On Olive
On Olive is a 3+ acre residential development in Grand Center that will include 27 homes and 16 condominiums - and a market-garden style edible landscape as a central community amenity. Custom Foodscaping was recruited by philanthropist Emily Rauh Pulitzer and Steve Trampe of Owen Development to create a food forest as the centerpiece of On Olive. Residents harvest an abundance of medicinal herbs and berries, organic vegetables, greens, and fruit right outside their doors!
Wildwood YMCA
In 2020 the Wildwood YMCA hired Custom Foodscaping to help them design and install an edible sensory garden to nurture the mental health of their community members. Today, Y members can stroll the gardens, harvest fresh fruit and vegetables, and take a moment of respite to recharge. This YMCA is living out its mission to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all through this foodscape.
