Drive through Jackson County and you’ll see it: perfectly manicured public land lined with thirsty ornamental trees and sterile shrubs — greenery that serves no purpose beyond decoration. Now ask yourself: why aren’t these spaces bursting with fruit and nut trees? In a county where food insecurity is rampant, why do we reject the most obvious, natural solution — food growing freely from the soil we already own?

Imagine Medford parks, Ashland medians, and Central Point sidewalks lined with apples, hazelnuts, figs, pears, and plums. Picture children picking ripe fruit on their way home from school or a single mom harvesting walnuts for her child’s lunch. The land could feed us — but it doesn’t. Instead, millions go to landscaping that offers no nourishment, while families line up at food banks. This isn’t about oversight. It’s about control.

Ornamental trees don’t disrupt the status quo. Food trees do. They empower communities. They foster independence. And that makes them a threat to systems that benefit from scarcity and dependence.

Some raise valid concerns — what about allergies? That’s manageable. Like any public infrastructure, thoughtful planning and signage matter. High-allergen trees like walnuts can be reserved for designated “food forest” zones near community centers or food banks. Lower-allergen options like figs, mulberries, and apples can be prioritized in high-traffic areas. The solution is smart design — not avoidance.

We also need to stop treating the public like passive consumers. Instead of mowing youth potential into golf-course turf, let’s teach horticulture in schools. Students should graduate with skills in soil health, pruning, and food preservation — skills that fight hunger and build pride in stewardship. Involving youth, retirees, and volunteers in tree maintenance builds both knowledge and community.

Policy proposals for immediate action:

• Public Food Forest Ordinance: Require that 30% of new trees on public land be food-bearing, with allergy-aware planning and signage.
• Edible Infrastructure Task Force: A community-led body to identify planting sites, monitor allergy issues, and engage public participation.
• Redirect Landscaping Budgets: Shift funds from decorative planting to edible landscaping and community harvesting tools.
• Food Tree Incentives: Offer tax breaks to schools, churches, and homeowners who plant and maintain food-bearing trees.
• School-Based Horticulture Curriculum: Partner with schools to teach soil care, propagation, and harvesting, connecting students with food forest care.
• Food Forest Zoning: Designate areas near shelters, schools, or food banks for high-density, edible plantings with educational signage.

This isn’t radical — it’s common sense. We already fund landscaping. Why not plant trees that feed us? We already teach our kids. Why not give them tools that build resilience and nourish their communities?

The truth is, the land wants to feed us. But Jackson County’s empty branches tell a story of misplaced priorities. If we plant for profit, we get scarcity. If we plant for people, we get abundance.

It’s time to wake up and ask: are we really landscaping … or just laundering our own hunger?

Josh Black is a Jackson County resident, small business owner, and advocate for food justice, civic reform, and local resilience. He runs AARDVARKAI, a consulting firm focused on empowering small businesses with cutting-edge technology and strategic planning. He has utilized his partner and local mom, Christine Larcome, in preparation of this article.