Harvesting and collecting wild edibles for use in a re-greening project (zone 6a, semi-arid)

Intro

I'm currently working on a project which will require a strong collection of wild/native/naturalized starts -- all part of a natural guild.

An experiment

I'm attempting to develop a guild using a collection of native edible/medicinal plants which I've been able to acquire through local foraging. This guild will be used in re-greening civic green spaces that have been half-ass implemented (see: cleared of trees, soil disturbed, left to desertify) in our semi-arid climate in the midst of massive suburban development. This guild will be edible, easily scalable, and will serve to re-green small pockets of abused "green space", as well as provide education opportunities for students (schools in the area) and local residents. I've been working on a proposal for the city, and have a good idea of what they're looking for.

The list ( external link )

Here are the plants I've collected so far. This list is specific to zone 6a, semi-arid, clay soil, pine forest and grasslands:

   - Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana - Shrub layer, large

   - Mountain Ash - Sorbus americana - Canopy layer

   - Nootka Rose - Rosa nutkana - Shrub layer, small

   - Saskatoon berry - Amelanchier alnifolia - Shrub layer, large

   - Yarrow - Achillea millefolium - Herbaceous layer

   - Blue elderberry - Sambucus cerulea - Shrub layer, large

   - American Mountain Gooseberry - Ribes oxyacanthoides - Shrub layer, small

   - Bearberry/kinnickinnick - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Groundcover layer

   - Wild bergamot - Monarda fistulosa - Herbaceous layer


Do you attempt to naturalize wild edibles in your landscape, or forage them where you find them?

For starting the project Sepp Hozer? I forget name and lives in Swizterland.  He regreened arid areas.   One idea is to look into hugel beds.  (This can eliminate water for a few? years)  Both topics can be found at this site.