Edible Forest to Feed Neighbors

A group of Bellaire-Puritas neighbors and parishioners at Blessed Trinity Church are planting an edible forest with a grant they received from Neighborhood Connections last year.

The forest has young fruit trees growing peaches, cherries, walnuts, apples and more. There is also a garden with tomatoes, peppers, melons and peas.

“The idea is to always have something blooming,” said Father Doug Kassel with Blessed Trinity Church.

It will  take two more years for the fruit trees to bloom and then “then anybody can use it,” Father Kassel added.

The forest and garden will be for the whole neighborhood and the food will supplement the food pantry at Blessed Trinity, 14040 Puritas Avenue, which is open three days a week.

Neighbors are continuing to plant flowers and vegetables. One neighbor with experience as a beekeeper built a bee hive and is extracting honey. There is even talk about getting chickens.  

“The grant was just essential,” Father Kassel said. “We couldn’t have done this without it.”