Win Fast Forest

Grow Local for the Planet is partnering with the Winchester Conservation Commission and Wright Locke Farm to plant a “fast” forest at the farm. Our goal is to restore agricultural wetlands by Locke’s Pond to a mature forest. We will be using the “Miyawaki” method of forestation, which speeds up tree growth to one-third or less of the usual time. Creating ideal conditions for tree growth, and then planting at high densities, means a forest in about 30 years instead of the expected 150.

A Miyawaki Forest is 51 percent forest, 49 percent community. That is, most of the work is done by volunteers. Everyone is welcome at any step: removing invasive plants, donating plants from helpers’ gardens, planting baby trees, weeding and mulching the starting forest, then watching and measuring it as it grows.