by Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
“Small is beautiful,” economist E.F. Schumacher argued in his notable 1973 collection of essays. That idea often holds true for green spaces in our more compact communities, where small places can make a big difference.
Consider the mighty microforest!
Forty years ago, botany professor Dr. Akira Miyawaki was researching methods of reforesting degraded land when he discovered that, with proper soil preparation and an optimal mix of native plants, accelerated growth is possible. A patch of land planted using the “Miyawaki method” can grow over three feet per year and begin to resemble a forest in as little as three years, as opposed to decades for seedlings planted in an existing forest. This “pop-up” effect means tiny forests have a big impact, especially in communities devoid of tree canopy and disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change.
A handful of these tiny forests are growing rapidly in Summit as well as in Elizabeth, where Groundwork Elizabeth — a New Jersey nonprofit dedicated to improving urban neighborhoods — has wholeheartedly embraced the concept as a way to grow the green in one of our state’s great historic cities.
Planted four years ago, the first microforest in Elizabeth is thriving – and the effort has multiplied. “Everybody in the community loves them,” says John Evangelista, executive director of Groundwork Elizabeth, about the five microforests now scattered throughout the city. “I have people come to me and say, ‘never in my life would I have thought there would be a forest in the middle of the city.'”
Microforests do so much more than provide beauty. They sequester carbon, soak up storm water, provide habitat for wildlife, and shade in summer. They also help muffle city noise.
The space they occupy is small but the benefits are outsized. “Groundwork Elizabeth and Kean University have been studying what is happening to make sure the microforests are actually doing what we say they are doing,” says Evangelista. “They really do check every box.”
How to build a microforest in your community?
1: Identify A Place – Finding land with decent soil is arguably the hardest part. Success really depends on the quality of the soil. The healthier it is, the less it will cost to remediate and prepare the site. Sunlight and access to water are also important factors.
2: Find Out Who Owns What – These forests are long-term investments. Groundwork Elizabeth chose places – including the grounds of a cemetery and library – that would not be developed for other uses for many decades. Site planning and development rules vary from town to town so check with your local Planning and Zoning Department – they can help explain the rules and process you need to follow.
3: Build A Pocket of Natural Charm – Once you get clearance from the owner of the site and your local government, the fun begins!
The key to success is establishing shade after the first year to encourage competition for sunlight, and then allowing the plants to race to the sky.
Prepare the ground by turning the soil and adding elements like wood chips and charcoal. Soil needs to remain loose and un-compacted up to one foot deep. Do not use petroleum-based fertilizers, manure, or lime (what can be good for lawns and vegetable gardens is bad for forests).
Consult a native plant nursery or expert to choose trees and shrubs that grow naturally in your region and will attract a wider array of birds and pollinators. Plant seedlings about 20 inches apart and put in just as many forest shrubs as tree seedlings, if not more. For the first two years, water during dry periods and remove any aggressive perennial weeds such as mugwort and vines. No need to worry about annual “weeds” like dandelions.
Add a thin mulch layer of shredded native tree leaves or cedar bark on top of the soil to keep moisture from evaporating. Last, but particularly important, build an 8-foot fence to protect your hard work from hungry deer.
4: Stand Back and Watch it Grow – In three-to-five years, your tiny forest will be mostly self-sustaining, sequestering as much carbon and producing as much oxygen as a forest 50 years or older of the same size! Expect some level of die-off of certain plants – that is natural and built into the design of the “Miyawaki method.”
For Evangelista, building microforests has been a truly rewarding experience. “It’s a huge success all around,” he reflects. “We put a microforest in at a senior center and a little sitting area near it so the seniors and staff can watch the forest grow.” They were also approached by a school interested in creating a microforest on its grounds.
We face big environmental challenges, and individual microforests cannot solve climate change or end pollution wholesale. But as the practice gains momentum, the collective impact can contribute to a more sustainable future. In this state we’re in, microforests are already enriching communities in meaningful ways. That is something beautiful!
To support and learn more about Groundwork Elizabeth, visit https://groundworkusa.org/network/groundwork-elizabeth. And for guidance on starting your own microforest, contact John Evangelista at john@groundworkelizabeth.org.
And to learn about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.
