Look closely at a leaf.

It may seem ordinary, yet every green leaf is performing one of the most remarkable processes on Earth.

Using sunlight as its source of energy, the leaf combines water drawn from the soil with carbon dioxide from the air to create sugars that become roots, stems, flowers, fruits and seeds. At the same time, oxygen is released into the atmosphere, supporting the breathing of animals, fungi and people.

This extraordinary process, known as photosynthesis, provides the biological foundation for almost every food web on our planet.

The roots and soil organisms explored in the previous station depend on the energy first captured by leaves. In return, fungi, bacteria and other organisms help plants absorb water and nutrients, creating a continuous exchange between the soil below and the sky above.

Every tree, vegetable, herb and grass in the edible forest garden is a living bridge between the Earth and the Sun.

As you walk through Ediblescapes, remember that the forest is quietly harvesting sunlight every moment of the day, transforming light into life.

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