Last December, we expanded our mission to promote environmental, economic, and socially just communities by partnering with Mission Solano, a local Fairfield homeless shelter, to install a demonstration food forest garden. We are pleased to announce that Sustainable Solano has received a grant from the California ReLeaf Social Equity Tree Planting Program that will fund the planting of 54 additional trees throughout the Mission Solano campus!
The project titled “Vision Solano”, will convert this 3.5 acre campus into a resilient, mixed-canopy urban forest complete with 37 California Native drought-tolerant trees and 17 fruit trees. These trees will be fed through secondary water sources such as a laundry-to-landscape greywater system, rain barrels and roof water where possible. This urban forestry project will provide greenhouse gas reduction benefits, healthy “zero carbon footprint” produce, educational and job training opportunities for over 150 Mission Solano residents and a beautified shared space for all of Solano County to enjoy and learn from.
In fall of 2018, a series of hands-on workshops, free and open to all, will be offered where community members can help participate in the creation of this urban forest that will serve as a living lab on the campus: a teaching ground on sustainable landscaping practices and urban forestry for local communities.
Long-term benefits of this project will include soil and soul restoration, water and energy conservation and groundwater recharge. We are thrilled to create a place of peace and beauty for the most vulnerable members of our community.
If you would like to take an active role in this project, please consider applying for a Sustainable Landscaping Project Coordinator position: your key job responsibility will be to create this urban forest and another four sustainable edible gardens throughout the county. For more details, click here.
