What Is it?

All of the projects in this program are built around the idea that every community is more resilient if they have access to well maintained, healthy, vigorous fruit trees.

Why Does it Matter

Unhealthy fruit trees produce poorly or become nuisances to homeowners and communities. Healthy trees, however, produce abundance that can be shared, create habitat for pollinators and other important animals in the ecosystem, and provide shade that is crucial as we continue to see the impacts of climate change.

There are not enough trained professionals to do the work needed to care for every tree that has been planted and the city is full of neglected trees. Through our programming we seek to plant new trees in places with insufficient canopy, restore established trees to health and productivity, and build a workforce that can sustain new and established trees.

How is it Going?

At the start of 2021 we launched a fee-for-service fruit tree care program that included workshops and coaching for homeowners as well as full service fruit tree/vine/shrub care for an hourly fee. We have seen great success with this project and quickly saw that we were going to hit our staff capacity! Through initial planning funding through Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), a city funding opportunity created by business taxes, we have spent the time since April 1st researching and planning for a workforce development program that will encourage young People of Color interested in outdoor careers to learn fruit tree care, as well as a track for experienced landscapers looking to expand their skillsets. We are seeking multiyear funding to make thi s dream a reality, since we have established the need, started curriculum development, and built important relationships to make it a success. Wish us luck!

Thanks to project volunteer, Kathy Sharp who has helped keep us on track and to Liliana Morgan who has been the fruit tree brains behind every step. We are excited to share that Liliana will be taking the educational component of this program on and we’ll soon have a Fruit Tree Care Coordinator hired to do the fee-for-service work.