By MICHELLE SHAW, Minneapolis Edible Boulevards
The big news this month in the world of Minneapolis Edible Boulevards is that applications for this season’s resources are now out and due May 15. Once approved, you’ll go through a process of doing a one-on-one meeting, completing a soil test, and discussing your needs of available resources: seeds or seedlings (depending on availability), a few bags of new soil to go on top of your current, mushroom compost, a trowel, a pair of gloves, and education on how to create a garden. Resources are free for approved applicants in our participating neighborhoods, and we’d love to have you participate!
At this time, these are the participating neighborhoods: Cedar Riverside, East Phillips, Midtown Phillips, Phillips West, Ventura Village, Longfellow, and Powderhorn Park on the Southside plus Bottineau, Hawthorne, Marshall Terrace, McKinley, Near North, St. Anthony West, Sheridan, Heritage Park, Jordan, and Webber-Camden on the Northeast/Northside. If you’re interested, and your neighborhood isn’t yet partnering with us, reach out to your neighborhood association to let them know of your interest. Given the small size of our initiative, Green Zone neighborhoods and those that are adjacent are prioritized. Applications will be on Facebook and Instagram. As always, please contact us directly for an application if you’re not on social media: minneapolisedibleboulevards@gmail.com.
Another exciting piece of news is that in March, we were alerted to the fact that in 2014, the boulevard food growing ordinance was changed. We knew it’d been in committee, but we hadn’t seen proof of passage until now. So we’ve actually been allowed to grow food on our Minneapolis boulevards this whole time, This 2014 ordinance change also eliminated height restrictions. Of course, we still want to be smart about what and how we grow food. Also, remember this doesn’t include fruit trees, which are under the Park Board’s jurisdiction.
Finally, we have a few things in the works with the South High Garden Club. Won’t you join us at the annual open house on May 18? There’ll be food trucks, community organizations, and a chance to learn about all the amazing work several South High groups are doing on campus with urban agriculture, pollinators and native plants. Come from 3:30-6:30 at the 31st Ave. gate; all are welcome! Drop by our table to say hello and pick up a few seeds if you need them. We hope to see you there!
As a Northeaster, Michelle Shaw joined the City’s Community Environmental Advisory Commission in 2017 and became a fierce advocate for the Roof Depot and for the Northside community to be included in creating Upper Harbor Terminal. After spending time with community members in both Green Zones, the area she knew she could best partner with community (and you can find her subbing at a Southside school!) was food injustice; Minneapolis Edible Boulevards was born in 2019.
