Correy starts with ...
I believe that local councils should be planting fruit trees rather then flowers, shade trees etc. If you know of a council where:
1) Town Planning Incorporates Public Fruit Trees.
2) You or friends have lobbied councils to plant fruit trees.
3) You planted fruit trees in public places yourself assuming it would be ok.
4) You tried to get a council to plant fruit trees but was rejected.
I would love to hear your experience below.
Video: Motivation from River Cottage Autumn on the topic.
* You can watch the full episode on abc iview here:
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/455675
Urban Tree Change
I believe that local councils should be planting fruit trees rather then flowers, shade trees etc. If you know of a council where:
1) Town Planning Incorporates Public Fruit Trees.
2) You or friends have lobbied councils to plant fruit trees.
3) You planted fruit trees in public places yourself assuming it would be ok.
4) You tried to get a council to plant fruit trees but was rejected.
I would love to hear your experience below.
Video: Motivation from River Cottage Autumn on the topic.
* You can watch the full episode on abc iview here:
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/455675
Urban Tree Change
Correy
Brisbane
30th October 2009 1:14am
#UserID: 2959
Ellen
Smithfield
30th October 2009 4:31am
#UserID: 1339
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Polly says...
Maybe I'm being negative but when I drive along the roads of NSW and see untended fruit trees such as apples I wonder if this is just a reservoir for fruit fly. I agree with your proposition BUT only if they will not be a pest reservoir. It's hard enough now managing pests with the untended garden fruiting trees that remain in suburban backyards.
Maybe I'm being negative but when I drive along the roads of NSW and see untended fruit trees such as apples I wonder if this is just a reservoir for fruit fly. I agree with your proposition BUT only if they will not be a pest reservoir. It's hard enough now managing pests with the untended garden fruiting trees that remain in suburban backyards.
Polly
Newcastle
30th October 2009 9:05am
#UserID: 1702
HappyEarth says...
Urban food production is essential for a sustainable future.
Hey Correy, just saw this clip on abc news regarding urban food growing in Chippendale, Sydney:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/10/29/2727866.htm
Down here in Wollongong we hoping to implement a fruit street tree planting with Wollongong city council. Ill let you know how it all goes :)
Rich
www.happyearth.com.au
Urban food production is essential for a sustainable future.
Hey Correy, just saw this clip on abc news regarding urban food growing in Chippendale, Sydney:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/10/29/2727866.htm
Down here in Wollongong we hoping to implement a fruit street tree planting with Wollongong city council. Ill let you know how it all goes :)
Rich
www.happyearth.com.au
HappyEarth
Wollongong
30th October 2009 11:00am
#UserID: 2553
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Kath says...
Ellen,
I love my fruit trees but please don't under value the importance of our native species. Gum trees provide hollows for homes and are rich in nectar also providing food for entire ecosystems of native species not to mention our iconic koala. What we need is a balanced approach so we have food for all, ourselves and our native birds and animals.
Ellen,
I love my fruit trees but please don't under value the importance of our native species. Gum trees provide hollows for homes and are rich in nectar also providing food for entire ecosystems of native species not to mention our iconic koala. What we need is a balanced approach so we have food for all, ourselves and our native birds and animals.
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Kath
Cawongla
30th October 2009 11:38am
#UserID: 2
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Ellen says...
don't get me wrong Kath, I do understand the balance and the importance of it, but there is no need for the front of my house to have 4 of them, and I am in the middle of a highway, yet 50 yards away is a little park.
Do you know what it's like with all those branches broken off when big winds come?, last time when we have one of those mini storm one got uprooted and fell on top of my car, my insurance refuse to cover for it, even though it was an act of nature.
We were not allow to trim off dead branches, and it it had overgrown into our overhead electrical wirings supplying into our house. Every time it is windy, it dangling wavy with the winds, our electricals appliances in the house flickering on and off as it goes with it. we'd call the council, and it would take 9months to a year before those folks would come down and trim some off.
I use to enjoy those morning sunlight rays piercing through my windows in the morning it warm up the house, now I don't get that any more b/c those overgrown gum trees on the foot path planted by the council had blocked it off completely .
After each rainy session we have, my front yard are covered with dead small branches, I cannot see the grass any more.
don't get me wrong Kath, I do understand the balance and the importance of it, but there is no need for the front of my house to have 4 of them, and I am in the middle of a highway, yet 50 yards away is a little park.
Do you know what it's like with all those branches broken off when big winds come?, last time when we have one of those mini storm one got uprooted and fell on top of my car, my insurance refuse to cover for it, even though it was an act of nature.
We were not allow to trim off dead branches, and it it had overgrown into our overhead electrical wirings supplying into our house. Every time it is windy, it dangling wavy with the winds, our electricals appliances in the house flickering on and off as it goes with it. we'd call the council, and it would take 9months to a year before those folks would come down and trim some off.
I use to enjoy those morning sunlight rays piercing through my windows in the morning it warm up the house, now I don't get that any more b/c those overgrown gum trees on the foot path planted by the council had blocked it off completely .
After each rainy session we have, my front yard are covered with dead small branches, I cannot see the grass any more.
Ellen
Smithfield
30th October 2009 12:06pm
#UserID: 1339
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Correy says...
Happy Earth:
Fantastic I added it to our newsletter
Which should get emailed out soon.
Happy Earth:
Fantastic I added it to our newsletter
Which should get emailed out soon.
Correy
Brisbane
30th October 2009 12:30pm
#UserID: 2959
CJ says...
Hi Kath, I completely agree with you. Unfortunately our native species are quite undervalued by developers. There are a lot of trees that aren't suitable for urban areas (such as Ellen's pesky gums!) but there are many more choices that are.
The public fruit trees is an interesting concept but I would worry about maintenance. Councils (in WA at least) like as little maintenance as possible.
Hi Kath, I completely agree with you. Unfortunately our native species are quite undervalued by developers. There are a lot of trees that aren't suitable for urban areas (such as Ellen's pesky gums!) but there are many more choices that are.
The public fruit trees is an interesting concept but I would worry about maintenance. Councils (in WA at least) like as little maintenance as possible.
CJ
Mandurah WA
30th October 2009 12:54pm
#UserID: 2533
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Itdepends says...
Maintenance = money. How many ratepayers don't want there rates to be as little as possible?
My concerns would be the fallen fruit, diseases etc- and you'd have to be careful what you did plant. A lot of them wouldn't fruit well without irrigation during the summer (at least over here they wouldn't).
Maintenance = money. How many ratepayers don't want there rates to be as little as possible?
My concerns would be the fallen fruit, diseases etc- and you'd have to be careful what you did plant. A lot of them wouldn't fruit well without irrigation during the summer (at least over here they wouldn't).
Itdepends
30th October 2009 3:29pm
#UserID: 0
J R
30th October 2009 3:36pm
#UserID: 0
Diana says...
I have seen mulberries, edible lillypillies, and rosemary planted in public spaces (uni campus and local school). There are macadamias as street trees at Mt Glorious. I have heard of wine palms, date palms, and ice cream bean as park and street trees. None of those need much maintenance or water when established, or get pests. I think arrowroot, lemongrass, bay tree, and other tough, large herbs would be OK.
Diana.
I have seen mulberries, edible lillypillies, and rosemary planted in public spaces (uni campus and local school). There are macadamias as street trees at Mt Glorious. I have heard of wine palms, date palms, and ice cream bean as park and street trees. None of those need much maintenance or water when established, or get pests. I think arrowroot, lemongrass, bay tree, and other tough, large herbs would be OK.
Diana.
Diana
Brisbane
30th October 2009 10:36pm
#UserID: 0
Gus
Bendigo
30th October 2009 10:43pm
#UserID: 2918
paula says...
I think it is a great idea - maintenence, pests, litigation notwithstanding. :)
Byron Shire council is doing something along these lines, and so is manchester.
http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/food-production
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172446/The-city-thats-turning-giant-allotment-free-produce-all.html
I think it is a great idea - maintenence, pests, litigation notwithstanding. :)
Byron Shire council is doing something along these lines, and so is manchester.
http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/food-production
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172446/The-city-thats-turning-giant-allotment-free-produce-all.html
paula
Australia
31st October 2009 8:19am
#UserID: 2962
Manda
Perth, WA
31st October 2009 5:27pm
#UserID: 0
amanda says...
I try to have a balance in my garden - I have food plants for the birds, bees, lizards etc and food plants for us.
This is possible everywhere and I feel the biodiversity of my garden results in very few serious pest problems.
EG: I have quite a lot of bob-tails (blue tongues/stumpy tails) in my garden and they clean up most of the fallen fruit. OK - a mulberry is not native - but me and my bob-tails don't mind! :)
Nature seems to adapt and find it's own way of filling every niche, man made or not.
I would like to see more "habitats" for our fauna - which is losing precious ground every day. This can co-exist with the needs of people surely?
I try to have a balance in my garden - I have food plants for the birds, bees, lizards etc and food plants for us.
This is possible everywhere and I feel the biodiversity of my garden results in very few serious pest problems.
EG: I have quite a lot of bob-tails (blue tongues/stumpy tails) in my garden and they clean up most of the fallen fruit. OK - a mulberry is not native - but me and my bob-tails don't mind! :)
Nature seems to adapt and find it's own way of filling every niche, man made or not.
I would like to see more "habitats" for our fauna - which is losing precious ground every day. This can co-exist with the needs of people surely?
amanda
Geraldton. WA
1st November 2009 10:40am
#UserID: 2309
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Elf says...
Great idea, I'm a strong supporter of that concept.
Straggly bottlebrush street trees look super unsightly and humungous gums street trees can be dangerous. I know native trees are important and all, but koalas don't dwell in street trees, though Magpies and I'm sure other things do.
I like the idea of fruit fly resistant fruit trees, no need to make that problem worse - it's such a shame for pomes and stonefruit :(
Bushtucker trees get my vote too. I think we are tragically undereducated about our native foods. I know next to nothing.
Love the Byron plan. I stumbled on a blog from Norfolk Island recently and they are pretty much self sufficient food wise because they have very strict quarantine laws. It would be great if you could buy most of your fruit and veg from mostly local sources and learn to live with seasonal foods. It's more normal, isn't it?
I went to the local farmer's market for the first time on the weekend hoping for wads of local fruit and veg, but apart from $6 a kg apples and pears and very expensive strawberries there was hardly any f & v :( I will keep going, it might change over the seasons.
blah blah :)
Great idea, I'm a strong supporter of that concept.
Straggly bottlebrush street trees look super unsightly and humungous gums street trees can be dangerous. I know native trees are important and all, but koalas don't dwell in street trees, though Magpies and I'm sure other things do.
I like the idea of fruit fly resistant fruit trees, no need to make that problem worse - it's such a shame for pomes and stonefruit :(
Bushtucker trees get my vote too. I think we are tragically undereducated about our native foods. I know next to nothing.
Love the Byron plan. I stumbled on a blog from Norfolk Island recently and they are pretty much self sufficient food wise because they have very strict quarantine laws. It would be great if you could buy most of your fruit and veg from mostly local sources and learn to live with seasonal foods. It's more normal, isn't it?
I went to the local farmer's market for the first time on the weekend hoping for wads of local fruit and veg, but apart from $6 a kg apples and pears and very expensive strawberries there was hardly any f & v :( I will keep going, it might change over the seasons.
blah blah :)
Elf
Albury
1st November 2009 5:36pm
#UserID: 2913
Wayne
Mackay QLD
1st November 2009 7:00pm
#UserID: 338
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anonymous
Mackay
1st November 2009 8:17pm
#UserID: 0
Julie says...
My concern is that people start off really keen, water them, feed them etc.
Then they move, or get too old, or die, and the next person isn't interested.
I see this often where I live - not in street trees, but backyards. Someone plants fruit trees, later sells the house, and the next person can't be bothered, or knows nothing about gardening. Fruit fly-infested fruit lies on the ground - you can imagine what the local orchardists think of that!
So while I think it's a lovely idea, I don't think it's practical. As it is on council land, who does the fruit belong to?
My concern is that people start off really keen, water them, feed them etc.
Then they move, or get too old, or die, and the next person isn't interested.
I see this often where I live - not in street trees, but backyards. Someone plants fruit trees, later sells the house, and the next person can't be bothered, or knows nothing about gardening. Fruit fly-infested fruit lies on the ground - you can imagine what the local orchardists think of that!
So while I think it's a lovely idea, I don't think it's practical. As it is on council land, who does the fruit belong to?
Julie
Roleystone WA
1st November 2009 10:08pm
#UserID: 0
Albert Einstein says...
FRUIT CITY: a living growing map of the fruit trees in public spaces in London
http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/
http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/map/
http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/species/
FRUIT CITY: a living growing map of the fruit trees in public spaces in London
http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/
http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/map/
http://www.fruitcity.co.uk/species/
Albert Einstein
Fruit Forest Lane,Fruitville
1st November 2009 10:45pm
#UserID: 0
Simon
Fountaindale
2nd November 2009 9:00am
#UserID: 2970
Wayne
Mackay QLD
2nd November 2009 11:26am
#UserID: 338
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Kath
Cawongla
2nd November 2009 3:17pm
#UserID: 2
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Jimmy
Perth
2nd November 2009 4:05pm
#UserID: 2548
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
2nd November 2009 4:08pm
#UserID: 338
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Jane says...
Macadamias need to be planted along the edges of bush parks so the nuts don't drop on the footpaths, and yet people can se them and access them if they wish. All street trees need to be planted so they are not dropping fruit, seeds, nuts, leaves onto cars or houses or making footpaths slippery: if sensible consideration for situational differences is the norm then practical solutions for everybody, could be negotiable. Forums such as this provide valuable conversations for establishing guidelines for consideration when putting forth proposals or simply planting yourself. well done folks.
Macadamias need to be planted along the edges of bush parks so the nuts don't drop on the footpaths, and yet people can se them and access them if they wish. All street trees need to be planted so they are not dropping fruit, seeds, nuts, leaves onto cars or houses or making footpaths slippery: if sensible consideration for situational differences is the norm then practical solutions for everybody, could be negotiable. Forums such as this provide valuable conversations for establishing guidelines for consideration when putting forth proposals or simply planting yourself. well done folks.
Jane
Brisbane
2nd November 2009 9:47pm
#UserID: 0
Itdepends
3rd November 2009 3:05pm
#UserID: 0
Jessica says...
I have always suggested this to my husband & we tried to think as to why the councils were NOT doing this, our reasoning was potential poisoning if passerby's ate sprayed fruit & a loss of income for growers if the street scaping became large scale. I would like to see the the 'ideal' of people picking free fruit as the walked the streets, but there are potential drawbacks.
I have always suggested this to my husband & we tried to think as to why the councils were NOT doing this, our reasoning was potential poisoning if passerby's ate sprayed fruit & a loss of income for growers if the street scaping became large scale. I would like to see the the 'ideal' of people picking free fruit as the walked the streets, but there are potential drawbacks.
Jessica
5th November 2009 10:22am
#UserID: 0
M Nash says...
I'm sorry (also) to be a negative voice.
But you are living in la la land.
Growing fruit trees is not going to "Save the future" Nor is it going to feed the community. Nor are the "Community Gardens"
Fruit trees need methodical care, If they are in in public domain they will become wild or infested. I dont want my rates to be hyked up to make the local dooms sayers and greenies feel all googy inside.
What we need is productive farmers IN AUSTRALIA growing our fruit and a community (Government) backing them up.
I don't have a problem for growing your own fruit trees in your own backyard, However, This comes with responsibility to ensure your lemons don't infect My lemons. Get my drift.
It is feral thinking and the cost of it should not be thrust upon the wider community to satisfy a Minority.
End rant, All good
I'm sorry (also) to be a negative voice.
But you are living in la la land.
Growing fruit trees is not going to "Save the future" Nor is it going to feed the community. Nor are the "Community Gardens"
Fruit trees need methodical care, If they are in in public domain they will become wild or infested. I dont want my rates to be hyked up to make the local dooms sayers and greenies feel all googy inside.
What we need is productive farmers IN AUSTRALIA growing our fruit and a community (Government) backing them up.
I don't have a problem for growing your own fruit trees in your own backyard, However, This comes with responsibility to ensure your lemons don't infect My lemons. Get my drift.
It is feral thinking and the cost of it should not be thrust upon the wider community to satisfy a Minority.
End rant, All good
M Nash
Terranora
5th November 2009 11:02pm
#UserID: 2892
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Tropicdude says...
I have to agree with Nash, no one loves fruits and fruit trees as much as me, but its not practical to have fruit trees planted all over the city and or the "burbs", city planners usually select trees for low maintenance, and for other attributes, like how the roots grow, can they handle drought, even whether they drop leaves all at once or over a long period of time, do they tolerate pollution etc. fruit trees need pruning, fertilizers and cleaning up after.
Now on community gardens, I do like these, I do not think they will save the planet but, these gardens will only attract those that like gardening anyway, it brings people together, they can make "eye sore" areas into beautiful places. and of course the added benefit of fresh veggies and greens. I also like the idea of Urban farms ( hydroponics Aeroponics etc.) I know that not everything can be grown in the city but many things can, when you think of all the fuel used to transport veggies into the cities, it makes sense to grow these on roof tops of buildings. of course these would be commercial and profitable projects.
Who knows maybe someday we will have vertical city farms like this one:
I have to agree with Nash, no one loves fruits and fruit trees as much as me, but its not practical to have fruit trees planted all over the city and or the "burbs", city planners usually select trees for low maintenance, and for other attributes, like how the roots grow, can they handle drought, even whether they drop leaves all at once or over a long period of time, do they tolerate pollution etc. fruit trees need pruning, fertilizers and cleaning up after.
Now on community gardens, I do like these, I do not think they will save the planet but, these gardens will only attract those that like gardening anyway, it brings people together, they can make "eye sore" areas into beautiful places. and of course the added benefit of fresh veggies and greens. I also like the idea of Urban farms ( hydroponics Aeroponics etc.) I know that not everything can be grown in the city but many things can, when you think of all the fuel used to transport veggies into the cities, it makes sense to grow these on roof tops of buildings. of course these would be commercial and profitable projects.
Who knows maybe someday we will have vertical city farms like this one:
Tropicdude
6th November 2009 6:13am
#UserID: 2856
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Vicki says...
I like the idea in theory, but dont think it will work in the long run. It is 40 degrees C here today, and I have been flat out this week keeping my own trees and veg alive. Our government is allowing thousands of mature street trees to die due to water restrictions, so I cant see local councils putting in the money and effort to properly look after fruit trees, when they dont even look after the natives very well. The long lead time between planting and harvesting will also discourage authorities from investing in fruit trees. Of course citizens could make an effort to look after them, but people move, or dont want to use their water on public trees, or vandals (and possums) strip the trees before the fruit is ripe. Its a shame, but I dont think it's a realistic idea in this climate.
I like the idea in theory, but dont think it will work in the long run. It is 40 degrees C here today, and I have been flat out this week keeping my own trees and veg alive. Our government is allowing thousands of mature street trees to die due to water restrictions, so I cant see local councils putting in the money and effort to properly look after fruit trees, when they dont even look after the natives very well. The long lead time between planting and harvesting will also discourage authorities from investing in fruit trees. Of course citizens could make an effort to look after them, but people move, or dont want to use their water on public trees, or vandals (and possums) strip the trees before the fruit is ripe. Its a shame, but I dont think it's a realistic idea in this climate.
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 Picture: 1 | ||
Vicki
Adelaide
15th November 2009 10:59am
#UserID: 3008