Bountiful Branches fosters self-reliance through edible plants

The kickoff of the Brown County Seed Library earlier this month isn’t the only way New Leaf Foods is helping to increase the community’s access to edible plants as the Bountiful Branches Sale is accepting orders now through May 10, offering the opportunity to purchase a wide range of fruit-bearing, nut-bearing, and other edible trees and bushes.

“Planting fruit and nut trees, or perennial edible plants, in yards and neighborhoods is empowering a self-sufficient community that grows local healthy food.We are cultivating hope and food sovereignty with urban orchard neighborhoods,” New Leaf Foods Vice President Kim Diaz said.

“It’s a sale where community members of Northeast Wisconsin can buy fruitbearing and nutbearing plants from us and we keep it really affordable because we want it to be as accessible as possible,” said Lauren Knisbeck, communications coordinator for New Leaf Foods. “The Bountiful Branches sale is another way of promoting that health aspect in Green Bay and fostering self-reliance because people can grow fruits and nuts in their own yards. It’s giving people the ability to grow on their own.”

For those who have already purchased or plan to purchase plants through the Bountiful Branches program or who are just looking for more information on growing and maintaining edible plants, an information session will be held this Thursday, April 3, at the Central Branch of the Brown County Library covering topics such as plant selection, plant spacing, fertilizer, plant maintenance, harvesting, weed control and more.

“A lot of people who might be buying plants may not be super familiar with what goes into maintaining them so that they’re successful for years and years down the road,” she said. “So we teach a class in April for anyone who is purchasing plants or if you’re just a curious person who wants to learn about growing… NWTC Sustainable Bounty Garden Manager Dillon Weist is going to come in and teach a whole class on the basics of planting — fertilization, harvesting, all the basics — so that people can hopefully have some sort of idea what they’re doing before they go to plant.”

Learn more about the Bountiful Branches program, how to order plants and sign up for the upcoming class at newleaffoods.org/bountiful-branches