Delaware Park & City of Buffalo Ordinances
I was lucky to spend a substantial amount of time in Delaware Park this summer. Working with Buffalo Seminary's Summer at SEM program, I accompanied middle school-age girls several times a week to learn about the edible and medicinal plant species there. We identified plenty-- from "weeds" (dandelion, burdock, self-heal, plantain, galinsoga) to natives (witch hazel, goldenrod) to cultivated plants (linden, bee balm, roses, lemon balm, horseradish). We even practiced identifying poison ivy.
Though I wasn't familiar with the park's rules on foraging, I assumed picking a leaf here and there for educational purposes would be no problem. However, it was a problem for the girls I worked with. They heard my shpiel about the importance of knowing whether a lawn or garden is treated with chemicals before we harvest. I suggested that tasting a leaf here and there wouldn't pose enough of a risk to worry-- but a few of the girls were wary (students after my own heart!).
I wish I had made the time for students to call the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to ask this question for themselves. I'm making the time to find out now-- and will be ready with the answer for next year's program.
Delaware Park: A Brief Orientation
Erie County residents know that 350 acre Delaware Park is a special place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and was named one of the top ten parks in the world by the Guardian in 2015. Buffalo's park system was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the late 1870s. The park includes walking paths, numerous gardens including the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden, Shakespeare in the Park, the Buffalo Zoo, golf course, soccer fields, and much more (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy).
Delaware Park's Hoyt Lake was created by damming Scajaquada Creek, and it was intended for public boating and skating. Some features have yet to be restored, including some walkways, and a gazebo called Spire Head House (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy).
City of Buffalo Policy on Pesticides & Herbicides
On Sept 11, 2019, I spoke with Greg Robinson, Director of Park Administration for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. I was delighted to learn that the City of Buffalo passed an ordinance that restricts pesticide and herbicide use in Buffalo Parks. According to Greg, this means that pesticides and herbicides are not used at Delaware Park and other parks managed by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
According to Greg, "I believe the policy also applies to fertilizers. We do not use fertilizers for treating the lawns except for on the golf greens on the golf course, and I believe those fertilizers are organic" (Robinson).
Here is what I found from a City of Buffalo Environmental Notice, amended in 2007:
"The Common Council... finds and declares that the potential hazards involved in the use of pest control methods must be given the highest scrutiny in light of the need to preserve the fragile ecosystem of this city. Indeed, in order to so protect the heritage of our future generations, it is the declared policy of this city to phase out the use of pesticides that are toxic to nontarget organisms by the City of Buffalo, to employ pest control strategies which are the least hazardous to human health and the environment, to adopt pest management programs and strategies which place first priority on the prevention of pest problems and to use pesticides that are toxic to non-target organisms only in emergencies as defined in § 18-58 B9" (City of Buffalo). Parties who feel they are experiencing a pest "emergency" must fill out an emergency pesticide waiver (City of Buffalo).
As of 2000, no chemicals placed in Toxicity Category I or II by the EPA, or with restricted use by the EPA or DEC, are permitted in City of Buffalo Parks except in an "emergency."
As of 2001, "no City of Buffalo board, commission, department, employee, contractor of the city or subcontractor of the city shall apply any pesticide on City of Buffalo property, except as provided in Subsection e of this section:
e. Notwithstanding any other provisions, this section shall not apply to the following:
(i) Pesticides otherwise lawfully used for the purpose of maintaining a safe drinking water supply at drinking water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, reservoirs and related collection, distribution and treatment facilities.
(ii) Antimicrobial pesticides.
(iii) Pesticides in contained baits for the purposes of rodent or insect control.
(iv) Pesticides classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as exempt materials under 40 CFR 152.25.
(v) Boric acid when used according to its label.
(vi) Pesticides prescribed by a licensed veterinarian for the control of parasites of wild, domestic or exotic animals" (City of Buffalo).
Foraging Rules & Expectations: Potential for Collaboration
Buffalo's rules about chemical use in city parks are outstanding news for foragers. But, what are the rules about harvesting?
I asked Greg which types of plants could be foraged at Delaware Park. For all types of plant harvest, Greg emphasized the importance of communicating with park staff first for approval. He said that the harvest of invasive species would be allowed ("Are all of your questions this easy to answer?"), as well as the harvest of non-native "weeds" like dandelion, plantain, and burdock. Sustainable harvest of abundant native species, like goldenrod, may be allowed depending on the circumstance. Harvesting plants cultivated in garden beds, like Delaware Park's rose garden, is prohibited.
In the City of Buffalo's Code, Part II, Section 309-8, it states:
"No person shall climb any tree or pluck any flower or fruit, wild or cultivated, or break, cut down, trample upon, remove or in any manner injure or deface, write upon, defile or ill-use any tree, shrub, flower, flower bed, turf, ornament, statue, building, fence, bridge, structure or other property within any park or park approach or within any other area under the control of the Commissioner of Parks."
This explains the importance of communicating with park staff to make foraging collaborative-- and there is great potential for collaboration between the city and wild foragers. Due to the park's abstinence from pesticide and herbicide use, Greg described a project where staff hand-weeded the grass in a Delaware Park sports field. "Most of those weeds are edible, as are many invasive species," I mused as we spoke. "If the park is ever planning a plant removal project, I would love to see a group of foragers volunteer-- which would allow them to take home food in exchange."
Greg described another case of botanical overabundance in Riverside Park. Park staff understand the benefits of milkweed for monarchs and other pollinators-- but at Riverside, the milkweed stands were getting out of control. Greg imagined a collaboration where community members helped to dig the milkweed and move it to new locations.
Getting in Touch
For those who wish to collaborate with Buffalo Olmsted Parks to forage, Greg recommended connecting with the Olmsted Naturally Committee. This staff committee meets once a month to step back from general operations and discuss how to make the parks as ecologically beneficial as possible. Projects include composting, pulling invasives from Delaware Park's meadow area, and planting native species.
Greg recommended connecting with the Community Outreach Manager for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Zach Garland: zach@bfloparks.org.
Never miss an article: Join the Sweet Flag Herbs newsletter to receive an email when a new A Nourishing Harvest article is posted.
Sources:
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. "Delaware Park." www.bfloparks.org/parks/delaware-park/
City of Buffalo. "The Charter." Article 18: Boards and Commissions. Section 18:58: Environmental Notices. Effective March 1, 2007. https://ecode360.com/13552417?highlight=pesticide,pesticides,pesticides%20pesticides&searchId=6141300429997109#13552417
Robinson, Greg. Personal Correspondence. Sept 11-12, 2019.
