An Edible Food Forest Takes Root
One of the first projects in a new partnership with Friends of Bolin Creek will transform the site of the HOA’s former hardscaped playground, which was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Chantal and subsequently removed, into an edible food forest.
With grant support from Orange County Community Climate Action and the Burt’s Bees Foundation, USS founder Mike Dupree will lead approximately 40 high-school student apprentices this November in planting more than 300 native trees, shrubs and other plants.
Food forests mimic the layers of a natural woodland while incorporating edible and wildlife-friendly plants. The Bolin Creek planting will include native species such as persimmon, pawpaw, spicebush and blueberries, along with perennials and groundcovers.
By restoring native vegetation and helping the floodplain naturally absorb stormwater, the project will stabilize soils, create valuable wildlife habitat, and help build a healthier, more resilient riparian area along Bolin Creek!
Friends of Bolin Creek is joining the Bolin Forest Phase II Homeowners Association and nonprofit Urban Sustainability Solutions (USS) in an exciting effort to restore nearly six acres of floodplain bordering Bolin and Dry Gulch Creeks.
The partnership reflects Friends of Bolin Creek’s commitment to protecting and restoring the Bolin Creek riparian corridor through nature-based solutions.
The floodplain, owned by the Bolin Forest Phase II HOA, lies at a low point in the surrounding watershed, where stormwater from higher elevations collects. Increasingly, upstream development and intense rainfall and have contributed to flooding, streambank erosion and sediment buildup along the two creeks.