Gondellyn
Gondellyn is a 1.5 acre aspirational food forest on the northside of Pittsburgh. Translating to Stone Grove in Sindarin Elvish (yeah, we’re nerds), and inspired by the landscape, we hope to restore Gondellyn by removing the trash from the woods and turning it into a thriving, native, productive, ecosystem.
If you are one of our neighbors, we invite you to join our journey and support our project!
First, please stop dumping trash and yard waste into our yard. Second, if you have yard excess that you would like to contribute, let us know! Biomass is an amazing contribution to what we are trying to do but it’s frustrating to have it tossed over your back fence all in one place.
We are using permaculture techniques, and Kristen is working towards her Permaculture Design Certificate, using Gondellyn as her qualifying project. She is inspired by the way nature recycles everything, and the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and what it means for our food systems.
Progress
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2022
Removed several strips of grass, planted tomatoes and herbs to experiment with the sun and soil.
Began removing trash from the woods.
Began addressing drainage issues on the land.
Planted a musclewood and a sycamore.
Began knotweed mitigation.
Planted a blackberry that we moved with us from Chicago.
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2023
Trialed a Hügelkultur bed with mixed results: squash, corn, kale, kohlrabi, beans, sugar snap peas, watermelon.
Trialed two terraced beds with excellent results: hops, zinnias, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, parsley, dill, oregano, thyme, and marigolds.
Installed a fishing line fence to attempt to prevent deer grazing, also mixed results.
Planted persimmon, mulberry, cedar, serviceberry, nannyberry, elderberry, and redbud.
Got a second dog! Hopefully he’ll help keep pests away also!
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2024
Continued terracing the front hill.
Started Permaculture Design Certification.
