 PLANTING DAY, Sat. July 14, 8 am- 1 pm was a great success. THANK YOU to all the volunteers who put in most of the plants. More workdays will be scheduled. Check here often or email Kaat for updates.
    Background In June 2012, the Wayland DPW under the direction of Don Oullette secured generous funding from the Wayland Beautification Committee for a small part of the newly renovated Hannah Williams Playground. The spot, in the sunny South-East corner of the park, was put aside for an Ecological Food Garden. This is a fantastic opportunity for our town. To integrate food into this beautiful public space is a novel, adventurous and revolutionary initiative. It has been done but not nearly as often as it should be. Kaat Vander Straeten volunteered to design it and to spearhead its actualization. Email Kaat for updates on the park: meetings, work gatherings, design decisions, etc.) In the press: Wayland Town Crier, June 18, 2012. Concept 1. All plants are edible 2. All plants are perennial: a long-lived and dynamic system 3. Permaculture design: edible yield by working with nature 4. A polyculture: diversity 5. A stable system: all niches (horizontal space / vertical space / soil horizons / nutrients) are filled 6. A balanced, non-competitive system: each plant fills a different niche, thus partitioning/sharing resources (space, water, nutrients, light) 7. A cooperative system: plants support each other in “guilds” / e.g., dynamic accumulators and nutrient miners with deep roots bring up calcium and other minerals for shallow-rooted plants 8. A resilient system: each plant fulfills multiple purposes and functions (one at least being edible) and all functions are fulfilled. When one element falls away, others take up its function. When a certain function needs more support, other elements contribute. 9. An autonomous system: self-regulating, self-maintaining, self-renewing (less maintenance), once established. 10. Less inputs: builds its own soil, conserves water, no need for fertilizer, no need for herbicides, provides its own pest control. 11. Supports invertebrate and insect wildlife. 12. Educational: a place where we can learn about food in its context: plant biology, nutrient density, soil and soil life, micro-climates, water, wildlife, ecology, entomology, etc. 13. A healthy, natural space: all “organically” grown. 14. Aesthetic, peaceful, fun, delightful. 15. A meeting place for community: tours, school groups, workshops, small community gatherings. Next steps.
(click for more detail)Plant list.
- Some history -  In February of 2011, Wayland DPW Director Don Ouellette put the wheels in motion to reconfigure and rebuild the entire Hannah Williams Park and Playground. He is helped by Cliff Colovson of the Friends of Hannah Williams Playground and other enthusiast citizens. The project includes the replacement of the old wooden play structure as well as an edible park with annuals in raised beds and berry bushes and dwarf fruit trees, adult exercise stations, a small perimeter trail/path and a better situated, larger parking lot. Direct your queries and support to Cliff (cliff@pointed.com) and Don Ouellette (douellette@wayland.ma.us). The Transition Wayland Garden Work Group has volunteered with the "edible park" part of the park. Check here often to see the plans and to discuss! 11 June 2011: Planning Board Approves Design, in Wayland Patch 8 March 2011, Wayland Patch: Options Presented in the Hannah Williams Revitalization Project
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Hannah Williams Playground |