Newforest Gardens

Since 2007, gardeners, apprentices, students and volunteers have been transforming degraded and damaged land at our site in Brooks into lush gardens and edible food forest. Under the guidance of permaculture designers Julia and Charles Yelton and Bill and Lauren Errickson, the land has undergone a miraculous transformation. Our kitchen garden, formerly a parking lot for a motorcycle shop, features polycultures of annual and perennial vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs and flowers. A hand-dug pond in the center of the garden is a favorite drinking spot for bees and other pollinators, and a home to several frogs.

Down the driveway, we are exploring the possibilities of radical land rehabilitation on a three acre clear-cut whose soil was dug up and sold. On this site we are developing an edible forest garden featuring various fruit and nut trees, berries, perennial vegetable crops, medicinal herbs, pollinator and beneficial insect attractors, soil-building shrubs and ground covers, and a much loved swimming pond. Inspired by the ecological intelligence of the forest, we are experimenting with models for a low-input, low-maintenance agriculture that maximizes biodiversity while still providing abundant food, medicine and shelter.

Other garden projects on site include a woodland mushroom garden and a movable greenhouse for year-round growing. We are hoping to further expand our gardens this year and are always looking for new ideas and volunteer help. Feel free to visit on one of our volunteer days, or come out for a workshop!

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