Violet Town Community Forest goes in
Felix Arnold, with David Arnold jumps into action when planting trees in the Community Forest. Click image.
Planting was completed on Sunday 17 September for the first stage of the new Violet Town Community Forest.
Planted on unused public land at the edge of the town, the forest will give wood products for local use. It will also be excellent for recreational, aesthetic, and wildlife values.
"With Peak Oil causing the increasing cost of fuel, and the climate changing effects of our huge fossil fuel use, it is now urgent that we take steps to provide for our own needs where we live. I think this project is an exciting beginning to that process for our town," said David Arnold, the permaculture designer who has steered the project.
"Using wood for fuel is a way of harnessing solar energy. Provided we keep the transport distance down, using firewood is basically greenhouse neutral."
The idea for the forest was initially suggested as a future firewood supply for the town. Firewood will be a major product of the forest, from thinnings. Straight well-formed trees will be retained for higher value products such as posts, poles and sawlogs. Existing habitat trees on the site will be retained.
The forest will never be clear-felled, just selectively harvested and always with the long-term continual improvement of the forest in mind.
Sixteen varieties of Australian native trees and shrubs have been planted this year.
"In designing the initial planting of the forest I have included a range of mid-storey and under-storey species so that as the forest evolves it can develop the structure and functions of natural forest," said Mr Arnold.
Development of the Community Forest to this stage has already been a broad community effort. All the planning and practical work is being done with volunteer effort.
The money to pay for the basic material costs such as seedlings, treeguards, and ground preparation has come from a fairly standard Department of Primary Industry tree planting grant, and a local Landcare group has contributed some funds.
The Violet Town Action Group is administering the project, and is prepared to carry any shortfall in funding using money raised by the Violet Town market.
The idea for this new forest was first put forward at a community meeting about five years ago. At that meeting a wish list was put together of things people would like to see happen around the town. When that list was reviewed this year, it turned out that about 2/3 of the ideas on the list have now been achieved.
For further information contact: Howard Myers (03) 5798 1381, Chairperson Violet Town Action Group or David Arnold (03) 5798 1679
For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858