The Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Areas, in conjunction with Pioneer High School, have planted edible plant demonstration garden for education and enjoyment.
Its purpose is to showcase interesting food plants that grow well in this area.
In addition to being edible, the plants we selected for this demonstration garden are also attractive and easy to grow, thus good for the home landscape.
The initial planting included types of hardy, low-maintenance trees and shrubs that have tasty fruits, berries, or nuts.
The Friends planted the following trees/shrubs, all of which are indigenous in Southeast Michigan:
American elder Sambucus canadensis
Hazelnut Corylus avellana
Paw Paw Asimina triloba
Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa
Wild plum Prunus americana
Black raspberry Rubus occidentalis
Gooseberry Ribes grossularia
As we add to the garden, we plan to introduce a mix of native and cultivated and/or non-native varieties that have improved vigor, fruit size, or other traits considered important in food plants.
Many classes, from elementary to high school, make use of the Edible Garden and the surrounding Greenview Park and Pioneer Woods areas. The areas enable classes like Biology, Earth Science, Geophysical Science Accelerated, and AP Environmental Science (APES) classes to tour, discuss and learn about habitats, succession and biodiversity. Some of the projects students have been able to work on in the park area are soil testing and a groundwater/pond comparisons study.
