The DARQ Forest - Now seen from SPACE
New Google Earth pictures just dropped, and they include the new Dogwood-leaf-inspired paths in the DARQ Food Forest at ARQ!
The DARQ (David's ARQ) Forest was a dream of ARQtists Caleb Smith and Zoë Van Nostrand to intentionally plant a lobe of the wild meadow with food bearing trees and shrubs to feed future generations on the land.
A 25-year planting design was created by Amanda Carman Bower (no relation to the Carman's of Carman Road) for where to plant, based on expected growth - mature circumference, companion planting, and which were best suited for the wetlands at the tip of the field, versus the drier area above a slight rise.
Caleb & Zoë have so far planted Hazelnut, Apricot, Peach, Pear, Elderberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Black Currant, and Service Berry in the the field over the last two years. All while following the carefully laid out paths designed by Amanda, with the hope that in the future the trees and paths will dominate over the Goldenrod and Milkweed that have called this section of the field home for a few decades.
Our thanks to many local growers including Edible Acres, Znutty, and many local farmers dividing their own crops for their contributions to our first seasons of planting.
The trees and shrubs are all still small, and not yet bearing much food, but it's gratifying to see that our carefully maintained paths can now be seen from space!
Learn more about the intentional Food Systems of ARQ on our website at ARQbarn.com
DARQ Forest field, November 2025. Image from Google Earth
DARQ Forest design by Amanda Carman Bower
