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AUSTIN (KXAN) – A food forest in east Austin has received city council approval to expand to meet its goal of providing free food and education about permaculture to the community.
Jodi Lane, co-founder of the Beach Food Forest festival, said it started as an idea in 2012 and received council permission two years later to grow food on two-thirds of an acre. The forest is on Waller Street near Interstate 35 and the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center.
The food forest mainly serves seniors in the RBJ building, but is open to the public, with fruit and nuts to take away.
“We planted over 100 fruit and nut trees, and now it’s an edible forest, a garden that anyone can enjoy without fences,” Lane said.
The city council has now approved a second expansion phase, which will hopefully be implemented in five to seven years, according to the city’s parks and recreation department.
“The extension will look similar to what we have here now, there are a lot of fruit and nut trees, medicinal herbs and ground cover, but for the extension we want to create more space for people, less dense with trees and more food,” explained Lane.
Festival Beach is also planning an outdoor education center so that young and old can learn about nutrition. Lane expects the expansion to cost between $ 80,000 and $ 100,000, some of which would be covered by sponsorships and grants.
- Festival Beach Food Forest (KXAN Photo / Frank Martinez)
![Festival Beach Food Forest (KXAN Photo / Frank Martinez)]()
Festival Beach Food Forest (KXAN Photo / Frank Martinez)
Festival Beach Food Forest (KXAN Photo / Frank Martinez)To learn more about the Festival Beach Food Forest and how to donate to its efforts, visit its website.
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