A public food forest and productive perennials riparian buffer demonstration site were installed in Luverne this spring, making way for educational opportunities, food, and community building. Drawing on elements of agroforestry, including permaculture, the projects focus primarily on perennial plants In its first season, however, a variety of vegetables were also planted for volunteers and the community to enjoy. The harvest has been abundant! Made possible by the generous support of volunteers, area businesses and several grant awards, the projects were completed in partnership with Sioux Falls, S.D.-based nonprofit Project Food Forest and the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. In addition, 4 acres of the property surrounding the food forest and buffer are undergoing prairie restoration and oxbow excavation with the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which will provide wildlife habitat and improve water quality in the area.

An open house will be from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at the site, being named Prairie Ally Outdoor Center, at 308 N. Blue Mound Ave in Luverne. Hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension, the open house will showcase and celebrate the work completed thus far and gain further community insight to continue to create a vision for the future. Refreshments will be provided along with a large variety of produce and flower seeds free being offered free to visitors.

Updates and volunteer and educational opportunities can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/prairieally and on Instagram@prairieallymn.

For more information, contact Kim Rockman, kimberlyelizabeth@live.com or Gary Wyatt, wyatt@umn.edu.

To learn more about other landowner programs and how to manage your woodland or forest, look at My Minnesota Woods, www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu and www.extension.umn.edu/agroforestry