Existence Community Forest

Existence Community forest is the beginning of the Mahakali park, connecting the city centre to the green belt. Our planned work with this community is to address concepts such as Food Forests, also known as Agroforestry. Having forested land within the city centre allows a new interaction between forest communities and the administrative offices, along the various other realities present in the area, around food production.

With Jeremy of Existence Community, we decided to start experimenting with Agroforestry on a smaller area, and if the first phase turns out to be successful, than it would be possible for more areas to adopt the system, and eventually promote it into the Green Belt.

We started working in a patch of semi-forested area behind “La Maison des Jeunes”, an area with many Neem trees that acts as a buffer zone between Citadine residential area and Existence forest. This is also where our Nursery will be located.
Our first step into the forest was to add Banana trees in the more open areas, as they require lots of sun, and Papayas in semi-shaded areas.

Than we installed a drip-irrigation system, connecting all these fruit trees, so that no effort would be needed to water them. Finally, as the plants are still very young, we added a layer of mulch at their feet, in order to preserve the moisture and avoid Neem leaves to fall directly onto the soil, as they have sterilizing properties.

Once the soil gains more life and biodiversity, it will be possible to add species that tolerate a lack of sunlight, like Malabar spinaches and other creepers. We are in the process of seeking assistance from people with experience with food forests, as the lack of light and the abundance of Neem leaves do not help a spontaneous growth.