In Addition To Gardens, Some Schools Begin Growing ‘Edible Forests’

As more schools establish gardens in Wisconsin, there’s an effort underway to also plant fruit and nut trees and create edible forests.

Some schools in Wisconsin have been teaching students how to grow apple and walnut trees, though not nearly as many that raise tomato and pepper plants.

Sarah Gilbert is University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s coordinator for the LEAF Program, Wisconsin’s K-12 forestry education program. She said that as more schools are incorporating healthy eating and gardening into curriculum and food programs, it’s the right time to establish edible forests.

“It’s watching those science principles that we learn about in a textbook,” said Gilbert. “But it’s not the same as watching that tree grow, having the chance to experiment with it in the older grades — try pruning it and see what happens — and understanding what the pollinators are doing when the blossoms are there,” said Gilbert.

The LEAF program is using a grant from Enbridge Energy Partners to start edible forests in 19 Wisconsin counties. Those are counties where Enbridge Energy currently operates a pipeline. The company has also been seeking to expand its capacity in the Midwest.