A friend sent me an e-mail, asking me to vote for a local park’s application to have a free fruit orchard planted by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. I had never heard of the organization but after looking into it, I think both its work and its mission deserve wider attention. Many of us have heard of, or are familiar with the concept of community gardens – well, these are community orchards. The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is an international non-profit charity that plants fruit trees in areas where the harvest will serve the local community for generations. It has completed projects in India, Brazil, Kenya, and many communities all across the United States. The orchards have been established on school grounds, in low-income communities, Native American communities, and in parks across the country. They have a program that plants fruit trees in sanctuaries for rescued animals – it is called, appropriately enough, “Orchards For Animals“. Another program, called “Roots of Recovery“, plants fruit trees at drug rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and health centers.

Visit the Foundations’ home page – there is a wealth of information there. Maybe your organization will apply for a community orchard!