February 2026 – Updates from the Forest of Seven Heavens
We returned to Altofonte (PA), Sicily, to take stock of the situation at Forest of Seven Heavens after a particularly challenging year in terms of weather. The purpose of our visit was to check on the health of the plants planted last year and continue the expansion of the Food Forest.
Managing the climate emergency
The summer of 2025 was one of the most critical for Sicily, with a severe drought that lasted almost uninterruptedly from March to November. This scenario put the young plants under severe stress, causing water stress that led to the loss of some specimens. To maintain the integrity of the project, we planned to replace the failed plants: a technical intervention necessary to reintroduce new plants where the previous ones had not taken root, thus ensuring the planned forest density.
Over 80 citizens for the new event
Despite the climatic challenges, enthusiasm was not lacking: during the last planting event, about 80 people joined us, the Rewild Sicily Collective, and Rossella from the Caseifico delle Scale to plant new trees.
At this stage, we have divided the work into two distinct areas: a perimeter strip with dense planting of shrub species to create a natural protective barrier, and a sparser central area. The latter has been designed to provide fruit trees with the space they need for optimal development of their canopy and root system.
The Food Forest continues to grow, adapting step by step to a changing climate, thanks to the constant support of those who believe in this project.
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December 2026 – Updates from Forest of Seven Heavens
We returned to Palermo for a special planting event with the Rewild Sicily Collective, where we planted around 300 new plants for our Food Forest. This unique project will create an edible ecosystem, with trees and shrubs that will produce fruits, berries, and flowers to feed local wildlife and people. The seedlings planted in March 2024 survived a dry summer thanks to constant care, and today’s rain was a real blessing to help them take root.
A special event to nourish the ecosystem
At the end of November, we went to Forest of Seven Heavens, in the municipality of Altofonte near Palermo, for a new planting event organized by WOWnature. Around 300 new plants, including forest, tree, fruit, and shrub species, were planted to create a Food Forest: an edible forest designed to nourish both people and animals, while enriching the local ecosystem and biodiversity.
Resilience in a drought context
The first seedlings, planted in March 2024, faced a considerable challenge: the Sicilian summer, characterized by extreme temperatures and prolonged drought. Despite these difficulties, the plants managed to survive thanks to the constant care of Rossella, guardian of the Forest of Seven Heavens, and the Rewild Sicily Collective, who dedicated their time and passion to ensuring their growth. The rain that fell during the planting event this November was a welcome surprise, helping the new plants to take root. This initial phase is crucial to allow the roots to develop deeply and adapt to their new environment.
A project for the future
The Forest of Seven Heavens is not just a reforestation project, but a model of environmental and social regeneration. The new plants will make this area a refuge for biodiversity, improving the local microclimate, combating soil erosion, and creating a space for connection between people and nature.
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