Tired of Wasting Time and Money on a
Land That Doesn't Deliver?
Municipal green space uses resources yet often fails to deliver public benefit or engagement.
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Consumes staff hours and budget without direct ROI
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Beautification efforts are often short-lived and high-cost
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Municipalities are under pressure to show measurable social impact
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Food insecurity is a rising cost and underused land doesn't help
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Parks often lack educational opportunities and tourist attraction
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Communities disengage from uninteresting land
Boost Property Values & Public Health
By Growing Food, Beauty, and Peace of Mind
In this free online workshop, you'll discover how underused municipal land can become beautiful, low-maintenance public orchards that build trust, feed communities, and support your city's goals. From native berries to nut trees, you’ll learn how to create spaces that serve residents and stretch budgets further.
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Create green spaces that support mental health and wellbeing​
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Reduce food insecurity for as little as $0.04/lb
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Encourage community engagement
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Design edible landscapes tailored to your land use goals
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Attract positive attention with minimal maintenance load
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Support local ecosystems
Is This Workshop Right for You?
✅ You manage land that isn't delivering public benefit
✅ You're looking for high-impact beautification
✅ You want a low-maintenance landscape that thrives for decades
✅ You're seeking projects that align with climate or food security goals
✅ You want to create a lasting visible impact
✅ You're looking to leverage grants to reduce financial strain
If you agree with at even one of these, this workshop is for you
Meet Your Instructor:
JD Van Allen is Eden's Refuge's Lead Designer. JD is a professional edible landscape and orchard designer, his mission is to end food insecurity in Eastern Ontario. Having designed systems for backyards, parking lots, and public spaces, he is the perfect guide for your journey. JD believes that each design should be customized to reflect the values of the people who will interact with it, and he loves designs that thrive; even when neglected!
How to Get Started
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Register for the FREE Workshop
Sign up in seconds and get access to the live event + recording
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Explore Proven Municipal Strategies
Learn how to turn underused land into public assets that reduce costs and increase community trust.
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Launch a Project That Makes an Impact
Apply what you learn to design a space that feeds people, supports municipal goals, and turns heads at concil.
What You'll Learn
✅ How to turn underused land into a community asset
✅ Design strategies that lower maintenance costs
✅ What to plant for food, beauty, and biodiversity
✅ How orchards can support your climate and food goals
✅ A step-by-step approach to launch your first project
✅ How to leverage grants and funding opportunities
FAQ
What kind of land is suitable for an orchard?
We've designed orchard for boulevards, parks, even a parking lot. If it gets sun and isn't too wet, we can usually make it work. Some land is better than others but most land can work
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How much maintenance is required?
If your orchard is designed well it will require a few visits per year plus mowing paths (which can be reduced in dedicated orchard areas). An irrigation system will reduce the load in the early years when the root systems are small.
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How much does it cost?
You can build your own orchard for under $1000. Our pre-designed packages start at $2000 installed. Custom projects and large orchards vary greatly but you can usually leverage grants to reduce the financial burden.
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What if our staff can't take on new work?
This workshop is about DIY approaches but we offer turnkey options or can guide volunteers. Designing for low maintenance will be essential if your team is already struggling to keep up with what you have.
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How do we keep it from becoming messy or neglected?
Good design is essential. We will show you how to create an ecosystem that will continue to grow even in neglect (but will do best with seasonal care). We will show you options for keeping low-maintenance spaces attractive.
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What's the ROI (return on investment)?
The orchards that we have designed produce food for as little as $0.04/lb. With the rising cost of groceries, this ROI will improve over time. There are many benefits that are less easily measured with public health and environmental improvements.
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How often will we need to spray pesticides or fertilizer?
Never. We will show you how to create a balanced ecosystem. Once established, your orchard will take care of fertilization and most pests. A well designed orchard will function better without any sprays.
Your Public Spaces Should Work For Your People
Many municipalities maintain green spaces that look tidy but offer little public benefit. With budgets tightening and public expectations rising, it's time to rethink what those spaces can do.
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In this free online workshop, you'll learn how to design low-maintenance public orchards that improve food access, boost mental health, and create attractive gathering places; all while aligning with environmental and financial goals.
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Whether you manage parks, boulevards, or underused lots, this session will show you how to turn ordinary spaces into community assets that grow value for years to come.