The Molson-Coors plant should remove the failed landscaping and work with a local group under the guidance of an expert, or multiple experts, in dwarf fruit tree growers, choosing a variety of trees to produce a long harvest season.
Molson could fund it. The expert fruit growers could choose the trees to ensure they work with the local soil and climate (keeping in mind the trend of warmer drier weather) and train and supervise a local group of volunteers. The fruit could be donated to local organizations who feed the poor.
Prune them to limit their height to six feet so no ladders would be needed for harvesting. Many commercial farmers are switching over to pruning their trees to keep them dwarfed. They can be planted closer together and produce better overall yields than orchards planted with larger trees. It would first feed a lot of bees, then it would feed a lot of people, and it would be a place for the entire population to be proud of.
Additionally, remove the grass and plant things like microclover and other flowering ground covers. For instance, microclover can be mowed like grass but needs mowing less often and stays green longer in drought. And of course it flowers, supporting even more insect life.
If Molson has any genuine interest in playing a part in the betterment of our community, this would be a huge step in the right direction.
Eddie Peterson
Chilliwack
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