A few weeks ago Rachel and I finally visited the Edible Plant Project in Gainesville. I’d been meaning to go since I first heard about them and just never had the time… or I’d forget… or I’d be washing my hair or something.

Anyhow, we finally made it – and enjoyed the experience immensely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Edible Plant Project is a non-profit organization that exists to grow food-bearing plants that can be sold inexpensively or given away to the needy. They’ve gathered together an impressive variety of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals for our region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since they’re all volunteer-run, their prices are really impressive. Most of the trees and shrubs are only $4 each. And if you volunteer – they’ll let you earn ’em by your own labor, no money required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They’re as nerdy as I am about plants; if you go, don’t expect to get a glorious vision of their lofty goals presented to you. Instead, you’ll likely get a chance to try some exotic fruits… pot up some cuttings… and learn the Latin names of a few species you’ve only seen in international cookbooks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s their website if you’d like more info:

http://www.edibleplantproject.com/

By the way – thanks for the pictures goes to Brian, one of the volunteers, who let me borrow his iPad and take a few shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for a place to begin a food forest… an edible landscaping project… or a journey into the wild world of local food, start with the EPP. They’re doing good work.

Incidentally… I just planted one of their “6th Street Mulberries” (which came from a cutting off a highly productive tree on 6th street in Gainesville) and one of their Cattley guavas down in The Great South Florida Food Forest Project. More on that soon.