The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
The Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee has officially opened applications for local food service providers to participate in Edible Plants 2027, the third iteration of the city’s popular interdisciplinary community project. For the first time, the initiative is expanding its horizons from visual and literary arts into the culinary world, inviting up to ten local restaurants, caterers, and food creators to prototype innovative, flora-inspired menu items.
The project, part of the aptly titled “Edible Watertown,” uses artistic and scientific exploration to promote climate awareness and celebrate the wild, edible plants growing right in Watertown’s backyard. Selected food service providers will receive a $2,000 stipend to develop a new recipe or refresh an existing one featuring specific local plants, such as wild leeks (ramps), pawpaws, juneberries, and dandelions.
“Edible Watertown connects people with the environment right outside their door,” said project creator, Sally Young. “By bringing our local food into the project, we are creating a delicious, tangible way for the community to engage with our local ecosystem and explore climate stewardship through the culinary arts.”
Participating businesses will be at the center of a city-wide multi-media campaign through spring 2027:
- The Edible Plants Cookbook: Recipes will be published in a professionally designed, freely distributed cookbook featuring original artwork created by local visual artists specifically inspired by each dish.
- Menu Prototyping: Businesses will feature their unique dish on their menus from April through June 2027.
- Art Exhibits & Community Events: Partners have the optional opportunity to host a traveling exhibit of ten 18×18” original artworks or anchor an Edible Plants community event at their establishment. Historically, these two-hour community events draw between 50 to 100 enthusiastic attendees.
Recipes must prominently feature one or more plants from the 2027 list, which includes: Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Dandelion, Corn, Juneberry, Wild Leek (Ramps), Pawpaw, Pumpkin, or Squash. Chefs may also incorporate plants highlighted in previous cycles, such as bee balm, elderberry, spicebush, and wild rose. (Note: While the featured plants are historically edible, the Public Arts & Culture Committee reminds the public to always consult an expert before foraging or consuming wild plants on their own).
Key Dates:
- July 6, 2026: Application window officially opens
- September 20, 2026 (11:59 PM): Application deadline
- September 2026: Applicant notification
- October – November 2026: Recipe development period
- April – June 30, 2027: Public rollout (menu availability, cookbook distribution, and events)
Applications must be submitted online via OpenGov. Watertown-based food service providers will need to provide basic business information, a brief description of their typical cuisine, their initial plant preferences, and their availability for hosting the traveling exhibit or a community event.
For complete project details, application guidelines, or to apply, visit the official City of Watertown website.
About Edible Watertown:
Edible Watertown is a long-term initiative managed by the Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee. By combining community engagement, science, and the arts, the project aims to uplift the importance of local flora, build community connections in response to global climate change, and encourage residents to be proactive stewards of the natural environment.