By Nicole Newell, Sustainable Landscaping Program Manager
Do you live in Vallejo? Are you interested in working with your neighbors and community to install a demonstration food forest garden or native garden in your front yard?
We are looking for a residential site in Vallejo to install a demo garden. This project will educate community members and transform a water-thirsty lawn into a lush, productive demonstration garden that provides multiple benefits for the community and environment.
The garden will
- Build healthy soil
- Capture rainwater to reduce stormwater flooding and create resilience to drought
- Utilize Laundry-to-Landscape greywater (if feasible)
- Reduce heat and sequester carbon
- Create habitat for beneficial insects, pollinators, birds and other wildlife
- Provide shade and food
The garden installation is a collaborative effort between Sustainable Solano and the homeowner and involves two to three hands-on, public educational workshops. These workshops help participants gain the skills and knowledge needed to bring these ideas back to their own gardens and neighborhoods. Homeowners often provide lunch during the workshops, recognizing the deep value of sharing food together as a way to build community. They also agree to participate in the Annual Benicia & Vallejo Demonstration Food Forest Garden Tour. This year’s tour will be on April 25.
The project aims to build wonderful connections within our community, deepen our collective appreciation for the environment, and inspire everyone to consider the positive impact we can have on the life around us.
If you live in Vallejo and are interested in creating a waterwise, edible food forest or native plant garden please fill out the Sustainable Landscape Interest Form. A team member will contact you with next steps. We get a lot of interest forms, so please be patient!
This project is made possible through the support of the North Bay Watershed Association, and we are very grateful for their contribution. Demonstration gardens are part of the Solano Sustainable Backyards Program.
