Project

City Park Food Forest Retrofit

A retrofit design of a city-run dog park into a food forest orchard.

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Project Details

Vic West Food Security Collective City of Victoria
Victoria, BC, Canada
8
23 m
308
608 mm
Hatchet and Seed Contracting
Co-Design, Co-Host Community Design Charrette
City, Community Design Charrette, Food Forest, Park, Pets

Overview

Initiated by food-focused citizens' desires to turn a standard city dog park into a thriving community food forest, this project was based on an open-community design charrette hosted by Hatchet and Seed Contracting and All Points Land Design. The design was created in collaboration with community stakeholders including the Vic West Food Security Collective and City of Victoria.

Stakeholders sketch what they'd like to see in the park
Autumn Olive berries (Eleagnus umbellate), an unusual tasty treat from a local food forest
Local almonds grown on Salt Spring bring possibilities to the senses of the stakeholders
A participant sketches their vision of the park
Stakeholders illustrate elements they would be excited to see in the park
Design Charette Question #1 - "What do you already love about the site?"
Design Charette Question #2 - "What would add to your experience of the park?"
Design Charette Question #3 - "What perennial foods do you enjoy?"
Apple-and-Pear Guild around pre-existing park trees
Concept design for Hereward Park

Challenges

Integrating dogs and owners, and finding a use for pet waste, were primary challenges. Working with 20-30 year old established pear, apple and plum trees provided both opportunities and limitations to the design. As a public park, clear sightlines needed to be maintained for security, while still making the space inviting and increasing food forest awareness.

 

Key Elements

  • Introduced hugelkultur to City of Victoria parks, which led to the use of hugelkultur in other community gardens and orchards
  • All fruit trees were guilded with companion plants, including small fruits, vegetables and herbs
  • Innovative dog operational guild includes an anaerobic digester; ¾-season broadleaf plants to pick up dog waste was designed to replace disposable plastic bags
  • Innovative fencing design increased visibility, creating a more welcoming aesthetic to the site 

 

Update

As of January 2015 this design is pending implementation.

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