D2_Agraria_Journal_21_OPT

installation, and we expect to plant root stock and cuttings from trees on Agraria in the area within the next year along with native trees purchased from area nurseries. We are planting a forage crop in the pasture this year, and we expect to introduce sheep next year in partnership with farmer Jason Ward. These projects will help demonstrate the benefits of agroforestry and managed-rotational to area farmers and landowners, delight kids in our nature programs, and serve as a learning experience for the many interns we host at Agraria. FOOD FOREST Another agroforestry practice will be added this year--the installation of a food forest, designed by Shi. Her design is being planted in the front yard surrounding the Agraria sign. To the trees that are already growing there, we are adding hazelnuts, plums, red mulberries, chokeberry, wild ginger, and a paw paw colony. The food forest will model “backyard” food forest style plantings, serving our educational mission, while creating a seed and scion bank for future tree nursery activities (growing from seed grafting/budding, etc.) and permaculture practices, reducing lawn maintenance, and producing fruit and nut trees that are not commonly grown in the area. PERENNIAL GARDEN Shi also repurposed the pantry garden put in last year by our land team, shifting the plantings from annuals to perennials, but with a continued focus on edibles. Several varieties of berries were planted this year along with asparagus. This will expand our own growing operation and help establish a longer lasting, low maintenance “backyard” garden. It will serve as a demonstration garden while also filling a market gap in the community since many of the crops are not commonly grown in the area. They include raspberries, strawberries, currents, gooseberries, and jostaberries. The garden also has potential to expand to a larger U-pick garden. A portion of what we raise will be donated to S.O.U.P. for sale at their neighborhood farm stands in Springfield. GIVING GARDENS The Giving Garden Challenge, a partnership between Dayton Regional Green (DRG3), Five Rivers Metroparks, and Agraria, was launched on Earth Day 2021 to encourage friendly competition between church, community, and individual gardens that will be developing regenerative practices and/or growing food for their neighbors. Practices that will be incorporated in participating gardens include incorporating native species, removing invasive species, SNAPSHOTS 42 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021 VISTA Xinyuan Shi in Agraria's perennial garden. New plant starts for the Agraria high tunnel.