Our Role as Stewards of the Urban Orchard
Individually you and I have some fruit trees, but together? Together, we are part of an Urban Orchard that has the opportunity to shade our neighbors, provide habitat for wildlife, and be an abundant source of joy and food.
There are thousands of fruit trees, vines, and shrubs in our city - in yards, community orchards, community gardens, schools - even the occasional illicit right of way fruit tree. With all of the potential, the individual trees, shrubs, and vines in our shared Urban Orchard also have some challenges. They get too large to harvest, fall prey to pest and disease issues, and produce more fruit than can be used with an owner's current resources.
At Portland Fruit Tree Project, we offer some solutions to the concerns of the Urban Orchard AND we have a vision for some ways we, and our orchard, can thrive together.
What does our vision include?
Continue to harvest trees with abundant fruit, with a more sustainable model.
Grow fruit tree care services and workforce development to meet the need that our Urban Orchard has, and build in sliding scale and free care for people that can't afford it.
Deepen the data in the Fruit Tree Index, so we can forecast harvests, get more efficient, and give YOU a visual of the Urban Orchard as a whole.
Ensure the Sabin and Parkrose Community Orchards are showcases of what an orchard can be, and training people to take those skills home.
Host educational opportunities around tree care, but also fruit! Let's do some preservation, some baking, and some communal eating!
Our vision is strong, but it can't happen if we don't have your help. We are an incredibly resourceful team, and we make do with tools, supplies, and vehicles that other reasonable organizations would consider well past end of life, but we are bursting at our capacity's seams.
Thank you so much for being a part of the Urban Orchard whether you grow trees, sit under them, or just snack off of them. It is going to take a big community lift and we are grateful to everyone helping bring it to fruition.
Donate between April 20th and June 30th, 2024 today and you will get:
A Freeya Pro membership (valued at $60)
Your gift will be doubled by the generosity of the Delaski Foundation - that means if you donate $25, we get $50!
Make it a monthly gift and we'll deliver a cute goodie basket to you if you're local!
Here’s a taste of what we’ve been up to!
