Pocket forests, otherwise known as microforests or miniforests, are areas of densely packed, highly biodiverse vegetation. These forests are unique because they grow very quickly and require relatively little maintenance, making them great for beginner gardeners. As a forestry method, microforests aim to address both local ecological problems and broader climate issues by using native plants to combat biodiversity deserts and improve carbon sequestration. CLC Fellow Paloma Calvin researched and compiled information on urban forestry methodology and created an interactive web-based guide with resources and tools for do-it-yourself forestry. The website promotes community-driven reforestation efforts by providing users, including residents and municipalities across Southeast Michigan, with accessible forestry in a modern digital format. Though the project is tailored for the City of Sterling Heights, the website, including the guide and the plant calculator, can be used across Southeast Michigan. Additionally, the codebase and related development guide are available for users interested in adapting the website for their own community.

• Location: Sterling Heights, MI
• Project Team: Paloma Calvin (Fellow, University of Michigan), Alexis Weinberg & Ryan Fox (Mentors, City of Sterling Heights), Matt Sharp (Technical Advisor, City of Sterling Heights), William Francois (Technical Advisor, Logicalis Software Engineer)
• Project Presentation: Slides (PDF), Video (YouTube)
• Project Deliverables:
  • Pocket Forests of Sterling Heights - shpocketforest.com (Sterling Heights Website)
  • Pocket Forest Native Species Database (Excel Spreadsheet)
  • Codebase - Code repository to develop your own website (GitHub website)
  • Code Guide that walks users through code and provides resources on basic web development (Google Doc)