Permaculture orchard, Educational garden

Working closely with the high school science teachers, I helped turn this grassy hillside into an explosion of edible plants and native flowers. To manage water on this sloping landscape, contour berms and swales were use to slow water and sink it into the ground. A food forest was planted on the berms with a tremendous diversity of native flowers, herbs and fruit trees, all of which produce in the spring and fall while students are in school. Students K-12 can now utilize the permaculture orchard to make herbal tea, study native pollinators, hold class under the pergola, and harvest loads of fruit.

COMMUNITY CHURCH

In this community led project, I worked with a church to design and install their church garden.  We guided the process of killing off invasive weeds organically, constructing a secure deer fence, and locating a water line.  Once infrastructure was up, we led community work days to amend the soils and create well defined garden beds. 

Jacob, the Senior Minister had this to say: “Matt was able to guide us in the development of our community garden from start to finish (although we know it’s never really complete). With a blank slate, and high hopes, we went from a patch of dirt to a bountiful garden—all for the purpose of growing and sharing with one another. We are grateful for Custom Foodscapes and look forward to a continued relationship.”

A Neighborhood Food Forest

This residential development includes 27 homes and 16 condominiums - and a neighborhood food forest is the central community amenity. I was brought in to create an edible garden as the centerpiece of the development. Residents harvest an abundance of medicinal herbs and berries, organic vegetables, greens, and fruit right outside their doors!

YMCA Sensory Garden

In 2020 local YMCA hired Matt to help them design and install an edible sensory garden to nurture the mental health of their community members. Today, Y members can stroll the gardens, harvest fresh fruit and vegetables, and take a moment of respite to recharge. This YMCA is living out its mission to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all through this foodscape.

Early Childhood Center

This eaerly childhood center garden was designed to encourage movement, engage the senses and create fun foodscape moments for kids. An abundance of berry bushes allow students to take their pick of raspberries, goji berries, bush cherries and more. Hexagon raised beds provide room for kids to stand around the beds and observe as the school chef harvests produce for school meals. One of our favorite elements of this design is the “encouragemint” path which features five types of mint the kids can sample. The garden’s sensory-stimulating paths encourage children to walk barefoot on various stones, wood tree cookies, river rock and pine needles as a way to build strength, coordination and confidence.