COMMUNITY ORCHARD

Who: Steward should have a passion for Green Projects and Sustainability. Experience with Gardening or community gardens a plus. Be willing to work as a laision to the Green Team and Town Council.

What: A community orchard is a collection of fruit trees in a public space (like a park, churchyard, or schoolyard), planted with the goal of providing the community with fresh, locally-grown organic fruit.

When: Multi-seasonal

Where: Borough owned passive park behind CVS at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Center Street

Why:

• To encourage local residents to live more sustainably and to grow their own food

• To educate the community about how fruit grows

• To bring fresh fruit to low-income communities

• To grow food for food banks

• To build community within a neighborhood

• To animate green spaces by providing activities for children and adults

• To create employment training opportunities for young people who want to work in urban agriculture.

How: This publication introduces community orchards and discusses the history of the community orchard movement and the motivations behind producing fruit in a community orchard. It offers a step-by-step guide to starting a community orchard and advice on choosing fruit trees and plants most likely to provide successful harvests, including apples, pears, grapes, brambles, and other, unusual fruits. A profile of a community orchard program and a list of further resources are also included.