Food Forest Collective
Colectivo Bosque de Alimentos
Food Forest Collective takes an innovative approach to carbon offsets. Most carbon offsets involve planting trees that are either not cared for and therefore do not survive, or they are cut down in 10-20 years. By partnering with neighbors that are interested in food security, and the financial gain of selling fruit, the Food Forest Collective ensures not only that trees thrive, but that we are in collaboration with neighboring communities in reforestation.
Here’s how it works:
Shift members meet with local community leaders to learn about which fruit trees and edible agroforestry is most of interest to the community.
Community leaders in the town or region (Canton) gather anyone interested in planting fruit trees for food (ex. Lemon) medicine (ex. Tea Tree) or for processing (ex. Cacao).
Shift members and community members meet, share food and drinks, hang out and get to know one another. This meeting marks the start of this community’s Food Forest Collective! Shift makes it clear that we are a collective, we are here to share trees but we are also here to learn from this community. Shift learns about which trees each community member would be interested in planting. The community discusses which trees have grown successfully in the region and which have not. Community members give their names, how many trees they would like to plant on their lot and which trees most interest them.
Shift purchases grafted fruit trees from San Jose to reflect the Food Forest Collective inaugural meeting.
Shift permaculture team leaders Sam Kenworthy and Don Juan Valencia go through all practices that have been helpful in planting fruit trees - how to prepare soil, how to treat leaf cutter ants etc. Attendance to this community meeting is mandatory in order to plant trees. This ensures tree survival.
Trees are planted! Community members keep in touch.
1 year after planting the Food Forest Collective of that region (Shift members and community members) gather to check in on how trees are doing and re-assess needs. Any past participant can take part again, and they can also invite family and friends to join in the next year’s initiative.
Congratulations to the Las Delicias Food Forest Collective for caring for 100 trees and to the Esperanza Food Forest Collective for taking the first steps towards planting.
If you would like to take part in starting a Food Forest Collective in your region and you know 10 or more people that would like to join
