Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom is kicking off the 2024-25 school year with a Virtual Field Trip to the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Farm at the Arb. Join us to meet Julie Weisenhorn, a University of Minnesota Extension horticulture educator, at the Farm at the Arb in Chanhassen, MN. Julie will show us around the Foodscape, a brand new landscape designed to show people how their gardens can be beautiful AND feed people, and she'll share some ideas for how you can do the same in your garden!
About the Foodscape
The Landscape Arboretum's Foodscape is a hands-on learning space dedicated to teaching people about plants suitable for home gardens. Started just two growing seasons ago, this 0.5-acre area is filled with over 260 different plant varieties, and 95% of them are edible! Visitors can explore plants such as fruits, leaves, flowers, and nuts that they can incorporate into their backyard. By design, the Foodscape offers an educational space for learning about what you eat, providing knowledge about the plants and their culinary uses.
Many of the plants in the Foodscape are perennials, meaning they bloom in spring and summer, then go dormant during the winter, offering a sustainable option for home gardeners. Classes at the Foodscape teach visitors how to grow their own produce and how to use it in their cooking, creating a full-circle experience from garden to table.
Varieties to See
The Foodscape is also a haven for pollinators like bees and flies, which are essential for maintaining the ecosystem. Among the plants, you’ll find nasturtium, an edible flower with peppery leaves, and pimento elite peppers, which ripen to a sweet red. Some other fascinating plants to explore include mojito mint, fennel, rugosa rose, and hazelnut bushes.
To learn more about the Farm at the Arb Foodscape, check out the virtual field trip video.
