Charlotte forest garden
Upcoming events:
Invasive Species in Eaton County Workshop
and Spring Tree Planting
April 18, 2026, 9-11 am
The Charlotte Forest Garden is a community-driven project focused on building a multiple acre park that educates the public on conservation-minded farming, creates wildlife habitat, and provides free and healthy food for the community.
The Charlotte Forest Garden is located within CARC Park at 1502 Combsdale Dr, Charlotte, MI 48813.
What is a forest garden
A forest garden is a diverse planting of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, and edible plants that mimics a natural forest. Forest gardens promote biodiversity by creating a habitat for animals and insects. They are a sustainable and low-maintenance way to produce food. The layers of a forest garden include:
CANOPY: large fruit and nut trees (oak, black cherry)
UNDERSTORY: smaller fruit and nut trees (apple, hazelnut)
SHRUB: mid-sized plants (currant, blackberry, ninebark)
HERBACEOUS: low-growing plants; herbs, flowers, grasses, & vegetables (oregano, rhubarb, aster, switchgrass)
GROUND COVER: plants that spread to cover the soil (violet, strawberry, creeping phlox, clover)
VINE: climbing plants (grapes, kiwi)
RHIZOSPERE: root crops (carrots, groundnut)
History
In 2023 GFWC-Charlotte Environment Committee created the initial design for the Charlotte Forest Garden.
In February of 2024, Charlotte Area Recreation Cooperative (CARC) approved use of two acres of farmland in CARC Park to plant the garden.
On May 16, 2024, the first trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and edible perennials (over 140 plants) were planted in a demonstration plot.
Pathways were created using cardboard and wood chips.
Water storage tanks and drip irrigation hoses were installed.
Two recycled plastic benches were obtained through Green Tree Plastics by sorting 440 pounds of plastic lids. A third bench was donated.
In October 2024, over 40 trees and shrubs were planted to form five additional fruit and nut tree guilds.
In December 2024, the project was awarded a DNR Community Forestry Grant, which will fund the planting of 89 trees, five community workshops, creation of a Youth Tree Stewardship Program, and installation of 12 educational signs!
On April 17, 2025, volunteers helped to plant over 40 trees and shrubs.
Additional plantings are planned for fall 2025 and spring 2026.
community partners
General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)- Charlotte
Charlotte Area RecreationCooperative (CARC)
Trees N’ Scapes, Inc.
Charlotte High School Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Charlotte Fire Department
Justin Brummette, Owner of Big Kid Tree Worx, LLC
Randy Kenyon, Owner of Kenyon and Sons, LLC
Streetheart
This project is made possible by funding provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
