"Harvest High River," a new initiative brought about by the Town and High River Food Connections is making it easier for people to access free fresh produce from the town's edible trees and shrubs.

In the next few months, the Town will be creating an interactive mapping feature on their website for people to see where they can find things like crab apples, Saskatoon berries, zucchini, plums, apples, and mint.

Project Coordinator for High River Food Connections, Sarah Bruinsma, says there's no limits on who can take part.

"This is for absolutely anyone. Let's say that someone wants to make crab apple jelly but has no tree in their yard. They'll be able to find out where those trees exist and go pick what they need."

In addition, the Town will be adding fruit and edible species to their Memorial Tree Program, which runs annually, allowing residents to purchase trees in memory of a loved one or to celebrate special events, which will further add to the "Harvest High River" inventory.

Bruinsma say the Town's going to make it easier to find things to harvest for the next growing season.

"I know we're a bit late in the harvesting season this year, there might still be a few things you can harvest, but for next year, they'll have that map and everything will be much more organized."

For the 2018 harvesting season, the Town asks residents contact the Parks Division directly at parksandrec@highriver.ca or (403) 652-4042, for more information on the edible items and locations.

 

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