Fall/Winter Digital Newsleaf 2024

In this issue, we'll discover the true science behind nature's medicine, tips to create change through civic engagement, and read "ground-breaking" details about the future of Long Branch Farm & Trails. There are also lots of engaging and exciting seasonal programs you won't want to miss this season!

Polyculture

If you’ve seen a large field of corn

on the side of the highway, that’s

monoculture (mono means one), an

example of growing one crop at a

time. We’re growing several (poly

means many) mixed species together.

Growing multiple species together is

ecologically better for wildlife—the

more kinds of plants, the more insects

and animals are fed. This diversity

makes our operation more resilient

in the face of a changing climate,

ensuring there’s always something to

harvest even if some crops do poorly

in a given year. In polyculture, we plant

mimicking the forest, maximizing

space using layers—canopy,

understory, shrub, and herbaceous

layers are planted and maintained to

ofer many edible and useful plants.

Is it “foraged” anymore if we

are growing and tending it?

To grow for volume and time

efciency, we are “agriculturalizing”

native species. That is, we’re

cultivating wild crops agriculturally.

Also known as indigenous plant

agriculture, growing en masse allows

us to space, train, and prune trees and

shrubs for more intensive production,

while also assuring there’s no risk of

overharvest of wild populations.

We’re also wild tending several

species. In wild tending, invasive

plants are removed, and self-

perpetuating native plant populations

are encouraged, modeling nature’s

cues. When done well, these

populations look like they’re wild. For

example, we’re wild tending pawpaw,

wild blackberries, and wild black

raspberries. By the way, this year’s

crop of black raspberries is destined

to become scrumptious syrup used in

signature cocktails at Forager's Fest

this September!

What are the future plans for the

foraged and farmed operation?

• We’re growing a future basketry

program—one of our staf even

attended a “basket camp” to

learn the craft.

• We’re expanding cultivation of

medicinal herbs for some of

our classes.

• We’re planning an American hazelnut

(Corylus americana) grove.

• We’ll be creating more foraged

and farmed dyes and pigments

for crafting.

Well, that’s what’s growing on… and

there’s lots more to grow!

How can you get involved?

Join us for our upcoming program:

Forager's Workshop—Autumn Bounty!

Sunday, October 27, 2–6 pm

Learn more on page 17.

Kelly Volz

Fall/Winter 2024 | CincyNature.org 5

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