Community Groves SM GuideBook
Nearly 30 people helped to plant 16 fruit and nut trees at the Faith & Grace Garden in West Des Moines, Iowa. All produce from the garden is donated to local food banks. The project was coordinated by Trees Forever with funding from Alliance for Community Trees.
TABLE oF CONTENTS Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 About Community GrovesSM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Toolkit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 • Site Selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 • Gathering Partners.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 • Long-Term Planning for Harvesting and Use. . . . . 8 • Soil Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 • Selecting and Sourcing Trees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 • Planting Trees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 • Care and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 • Media Tools.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
More Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
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Volunteers for the Boston Natural Area Network plant trees. The community garden tree planting project was funded by Alliance for Community Trees. 2 | Community GrovesSM Guidebook
Healthy trees make healthy communities. It’s a basic tenet of the urban and community forestry movement, and of Alliance for Community Trees since its founding in 1993. Our work, and that of our national Network of organizations, is dedicated to improving the health and livability of neighborhoods by planting and caring for trees. Building on the success and lessons of our Network, we’re pleased to offer the Community GrovesSM program to harness yet another benefit of urban trees: food. Community GrovesSM brings back one of the oldest uses of trees. Fruit and nut trees have supported human nutrition for thousands of years. In recent decades, as the population has urbanized, people have lost touch with their food sources—even the ones that can grow right in their front yards. Our research shows an extensive generational gap of knowledge, skill, and experience. Older generations of urban homeowners grew fruit and nut trees and understood their care and harvesting. But with changes in the food system and modern development, this knowledge has not been passed down to new generations. Community GrovesSM aims to change that by reconnecting people with their food. The pleasure of picking a ripe pear, plum, or persimmon from a tree in your yard or neighborhood garden is not just a sweet seasonal joy. It also offers fresh and nutritious food to communities that may lack ready access to quality produce. It educates people about food sources and growing cycles, and about basic tree biology and agriculture. It brings neighbors together to dig and plant and prune and harvest, and to enjoy the delicious bounty of their trees. And it engages residents to alter their landscape, turning vacant lots and derelict spaces into beneficial gardens that can help turn a neighborhood around. Community GrovesSM is a roadmap for bringing the amazing benefits of fruit and nut trees to any neighborhood. Planting and maintaining fruit and nut trees returns an age-old tradition to its rightful place as an urban practice for creating greener and healthier communities. Congratulations on your new Community Grove! Sincerely,
Carrie Gallagher, Executive Director
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ABOUT Community Groves SM
Community Groves is a program to improve the health and livability of communities by planting, maintaining, and harvesting fruit and nut trees. SM
Any local organization or group of enthusiastic residents can use the Community GrovesSM resources to help them plan, implement, and maintain a neighborhood grove of fruit and nut trees.
What We’ve Learned At a time when over 90% of the U.S. population lives in metropolitan areas, many community residents have limited access to fresh, healthy, affordable food. At the same time, much of the population is plagued by obesity and other nutrition-related health problems. It’s not surprising that city dwellers, and suburbanites as well, are increasingly turning to community agriculture to help solve these challenges. Like community gardens, fruit and nut tree groves provide healthy, accessible food while educating people and building community bonds. In 2011, ACTrees began researching the current understanding, knowledge base, and practice of planting food-producing trees. We found that communities of all sizes and demographics are eager to establish or re-establish fruit and nut tree groves for quality produce such as hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, apples, cherries, and peaches.
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Pilot Project Results
over 2,700 volunteers planted
over 2,000 trees & shrubs
In partnership with the USDA People’s Garden initiative, ACTrees launched a nationwide investigation into the connections between urban forestry and community agriculture. Thirty pilot projects across the country provided insight into the motivations, obstacles, best practices, and methodologies of planting fruit and nut trees in urban settings. This first batch of Community GrovesSM engaged over 2,700 local volunteers to plant over 2,000 trees and shrubs. Their results showed that the groundswell of interest in fruit and nut trees was even greater than expected.
Community GrovesSM Resources To address a local need and support communities nationwide, ACTrees compiled the lessons from these pilot programs to provide a guide book for growing new Community GrovesSM. The resources in this book and online will help nonprofits, community leaders, and residents bring the benefits of fruit and nut trees to their neighborhoods. Addressing issues of nutrition, land use, obesity, unequal access to food, and urban neglect, Community GrovesSM offers another step forward in the effort toward healthier, more sustainable, and more secure communities.
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TOOLKIT
Site Selection
The first step to planting your Community Grove is figuring out where it should go. Many factors can influence your choice of location. Do you want to work with certain partners, engage a specific community, or make a difference in a particular neighborhood? There are countless opportunities. You could plant at a school, at a community garden, in a park, on vacant land, at an institutional facility, or even in your backyard. Be strategic and think about where your new fruit and nut tree grove can have the greatest impact. Before you begin, make sure you have permission to plant in that location and have thought through all the important considerations. Here are some logistical points to keep in mind: • Do you have enough space? Find out the size of your trees
at maturity to be sure you have enough growing room and surrounding space. You don’t want to reach low-hanging wires overhead, dig into utility lines underground, or be too close to buildings (20-30 feet), swimming pools (20-30 feet), or concrete (8-15 feet). You’ll also want to be sure you’re planting trees an appropriate distance from each other and from other plants. • How are the soil conditions? See page 10 for more information
on testing soil and ensuring a proper growing environment. • Will the trees you want to plant work well at this site?
Is there sufficient sunlight and/or shade? See page 11 for more information on selecting tree species. • Is there access to water? Keeping trees properly watered is critical
to their survival. If there’s limited water access, you may want to reconsider your site, or turn to alternative solutions like building an irrigation berm or water collection tool. See our Success Stories at www.ACTrees.org/community-groves for examples. Remember that you can always seek help from local resources to ensure you’re selecting a good site, choosing the right tree, planting it properly, and caring for it correctly. You can get great advice from your local tree nonprofit, a certified arborist, your local Cooperative Extension Service, or the Master Gardener Program. See page 16 to find experts near you.
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TOOLKIT
GatherING Partners
Working with partners will help ensure longterm success for your new fruit and nut trees. There’s no end to the list of individuals, businesses, and organizations you can work with to plant your Community GroveSM—and who will want to work with you! The benefits of planting fruit and nut trees appeal to a wide array of partners, and may open doors to working with civic organizations or other groups you haven’t previously engaged. To help you get started, here’s a list of potential partners for your Community GrovesSM project. In every case, start by preparing an introductory message describing your proposed project and the benefits it will have. Find examples of these many partnership types at www.ACTrees.org/community-groves.
Nonprofit organizations
Civic Groups
BUSINESSES
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Many nonprofits share an interest in fruit trees. Community gardening associations, food security organizations, CSAs, faith-based organizations, food banks and pantries, farmers markets, boys or girls scouting groups, local Audubon Society chapters, YMCAs, community centers, employment and training agencies, and garden clubs are just a few examples. Be creative and think about who has strong community ties and can care for the Community GroveSM for years to come.
Civic associations have a direct interest in how land in their community is used. Think about reaching out to community development corporations, neighborhood associations, land trusts, community revitalization coalitions, urban farm coalitions, or chambers of commerce.
Finding funding can be difficult, but in our pilot projects we saw a variety of contributions from local businesses. A few examples of business partners include local branches of national grocery store chains, local natural food stores, restaurants, waste collection services, tree growers or tree care companies, residential real estate developers, composting companies, food service providers, and more.
Government agencies
There are many departments within local, county, and state government that may have an interest in partnering on a fruit and nut tree project. Consider contacting your State Department of Agriculture, State Cooperative Extension Office, Housing Authority, Parks and Recreation Department, Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Corrections, Office of Employment and Training, and more.
Community gardens
Adding fruit and nut trees provides important new opportunities for community gardens, and adds stability and permanence to a garden. While operators at some gardens may be averse to the idea because of problems of shade and falling debris, this resistance can be overcome by clearly stating the benefits of placing the right tree in the right place for windbreaks, site screening, and complimentary food production.
Schools
From elementary schools to colleges, there are multiple points of entry for working within school systems. Possible partners might include school grounds staff, science curriculum coordinators, disability programs, school district officials, or parent teacher associations. In universities and colleges, try working with departments of agriculture or geology, urban planning programs, food services offices, and student groups dedicated to sustainability. Special considerations for working with schools: • Make initial contact far in advance. Schools often plan their entire
academic year a full year or more in advance. • Assemble an extensive project team to help convince schools
that your project will not burden their already-stressed resources. Elementary, middle, and high schools can be reluctant to let organizations bring their programs into the classroom because it means more work for teachers and staff. • Establish student “tree stewards” or similar programs to engage
and train students in monitoring and caring for their trees for many years. A tree steward program may satisfy a school’s service learning requirement. • Identify a strong supporter inside the school system. Potential
candidates may include district science curriculum director, district business manager, district property manager, individual teacher with a demonstrated interest, parents with experience, or a school board member. • Select the right school to work with initially. This can help identify
and overcome objections other schools may have to planting fruit and nut trees on their campuses. • Engage college students and let them take the lead. Give them
the chance to field test what they are learning in class, provide sound advice and mentoring, and then let them fly. 8 | Community GrovesSM Guidebook
TOOLKIT
Long-Term Planning: Harvesting and Use
Once your trees mature they’ll produce fruits and nuts for years to come. Before you start planting, develop a well-considered plan for how the trees will be maintained and how the fruits and nuts will be harvested and used. There are many ways to approach these ongoing operations at your Community Grove, and your project partners can play a key role. Popular methods for harvesting and distributing food tree products include: • Instituting a free “you-pick” policy for area residents. • Arranging volunteer or paid harvesting followed by specific
distribution through famers markets or community gardens. • Establishing designated partnerships with area food banks for
both harvesting and distribution. • Harvesting and on-site use at schools, health care facilities, or
other public institutions. Education and engagement are crucial for the long-term success of your fruit and nut tree grove. Community workshops at the outset and continued training every year will help keep residents and participating partners excited and on-track with care, harvest, and distribution plans. In some communities, the population may have limited knowledge of how to add fruit and nuts to daily diets, so consider engaging nutrition experts to conduct health and nutrition workshops.
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TOOLKIT
SOIL TESTING
Soil quality can sometimes prove a challenge to planting fruit and nut trees in an urban community. It’s critical to ensure that your site’s soil conditions are adequate for safely and successfully growing food-producing trees. Among the many factors to test are: • soil texture • infiltration rate • drainage • salinity • pH • nutrients • heavy metals • organic matter
A local cooperative extension service or Master Gardeners can be very helpful in guiding you through the process of soil testing, including recommending sampling methods and respected testing labs. If you encounter low-quality soil, there are multiple options for improving the soil or avoiding the problem. For example, raised bed designs—including the extreme hugelkutur method—may be one solution for avoiding contaminated soil. Soil fertility may be improved through cover cropping, compost and amendments like peat moss, or other crop-specific enhancements. Your county cooperative extension office, area association for sustainable agriculture, or private consultants can offer recommendations for each site condition. Find experts near you with the Resources on page 16.
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TOOLKIT
Selecting & Sourcing Trees
The standard refrain for planting trees holds true for fruit and nut trees: it is critical to plant the right tree in the right place. That means you need to pick trees that are suitable for your site. Site Selection on page 6 lists important considerations that will help determine the species of fruit or nut tree you plant. Your trees also need to be appropriate for the climate of your region. Find out the USDA Hardiness Zone of your city at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov Sourcing your trees is also a major consideration that requires significant advance planning. Finding quality fruit and nut tree stock may be complicated, sometimes requiring selecting and ordering trees almost a year in advance. Get a head start by contacting nurseries, certified arborists, county extension agents, or sustainable farming agencies in advance to ask for lists of local sources for fruit and nut trees. These same experts can help you select appropriate species for your region and site. See the Resources section on page 16 to find more information on species, nurseries, and finding experts near you. You may have your mind set on planting a certain fruit or nut variety, but flexibility is essential in these types of projects. Sometimes changes need to be made to the site or species of trees based on unforeseen challenges or conditions on the ground. If you encounter obstacles, stay open-minded about alternative approaches. For example, the issue of limited space may be effectively addressed by planting dwarf or semi-dwarf tree varieties. And don’t worry if you need to switch species. There are many, many types of fruit and nut trees, and they will all create immense value for the health and livability of your community.
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TOOLKIT
Planting Trees
Believe it or not, there are lots of wrong ways to plant trees. Make sure you’re doing it the right way by following the industrystandard instructions below from the International Society of Arboriculture. Using best practices will help ensure that your fruit and nut trees survive and thrive for years to come. Whether you’re engaging neighborhood children, community residents, college students, or experienced community gardeners in your tree planting, be sure to teach them all the proper method for planting a tree before they dig in. Carefully follow the nine simple steps below to help your tree establish quickly in its new location. Note: Before you begin planting your tree, be sure you have located all underground utilities prior to digging. See the diagram on the next page for more tips. 1. Identify the trunk flare. 2. Dig a shallow, broad planting hole. 3. Remove the container or cut away the wire basket. 4. Place the tree at the proper height. 5. Straighten the tree in the hole. 6. Fill the hole gently, but firmly. 7. Stake the tree, if necessary. 8. Mulch the base of the tree. 9. Provide follow-up care. Detailed instructions on these steps are available on the International Society of Arboriculture website: http://www.treesaregood.org/ treecare/resources/New_TreePlanting.pdf
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www.isa-arbor.com
Use two opposing, flexible ties when staking is necessary. Ties should be placed on the lower half of the tree and allow trunk movement.
Keep mulch 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) back from trunk 2- to 4-inch (5- to 10-cm) layer of mulch
Remove containers, wrappings, wires and ties.
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Trunk Flare
Gently pack backfill, using water to settle soil around the root ball.
Set ball on firmly packed soil to prevent settling.
TOOLKIT
Care and Maintenance
More than other trees, food-producing trees need long-term attention to achieve maximal benefit. Seasonal watering and mulching are critical, as is occasional pruning. The International Society of Arboriculture standards (www.treesaregood.com/treecare/resources/Pruning_YoungTrees.pdf) are a good guide for pruning fruit and nut trees. Remember that it will take several years for trees to yield food, and proper pruning and training can affect lifetime yield. Contact your county cooperative extension services for specific pruning guidelines for your region. It’s also important to establish a plan for pest control. The last thing you want is for pests to invade and ruin the hard work you’ve done to establish your Community Grove. USDA Organic Standards and/ or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) should always be used as your primary pest control approach. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. You can learn more about IPM at the U.S. EPA website (www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm) and in the Resources section on page 16 of this guide. Selecting trees in accordance with your USDA Hardiness Zone and following advice from your cooperative extension service will minimize the need for active pest control. Permaculture design criteria can also provide helpful advice. If feasible, consider planting diverse pollinator gardens throughout your Grove to attract beneficial insects that will help build ecological balance and reduce pest outbreaks. Finally, make sure the harvesting and distribution plan you’ve put in place runs smoothly and effectively so that your Community Grove is providing food and benefits at optimal and efficient capacity.
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TOOLKIT
Media Tools
Your Community GrovesSM project will have an important impact on the health, livability, and landscape of your community. Work with the media to highlight the accomplishments surrounding this new neighborhood resource to draw attention to the project and your organization. Good visibility can reward your current partners, volunteers, and funders while also attracting new ones.
YOUR LOGO HERE
For Immediate Release Contact: [NAME] [PHONE] [EMAIL]
[ORGANIZATION] Plants Community Groves℠ Orchard for a Greener, Healthier [NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY]
DATE (CITY, STATE) – [ORGANIZATION] is pleased to announce its latest project to make [CITY] cleaner, greener, and healthier. On [EVENT DATE] [ORGANIZATION] teamed up with community partners to plant a new Community Groves℠ orchard of fruit trees at [LOCATION]. [DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND IMPACT ON COMMUNITY HEALTH/NUTRITION/LANDSCAPE].
[QUOTE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT BY ORGANIZATION LEADER (ex. Executive Director or Board President or Mayor)] This project brings the benefits of edible trees to [CITY] through the Community Groves℠ program, an initiative by the national nonprofit Alliance for Community Trees to improve the health and livability of neighborhoods by planting and caring for fruit and nut trees. “Healthy trees make healthy communities,” said Carrie Gallagher, Executive Director of Alliance for Community Trees. “Providing food is one of the oldest and most important uses of trees. [ORGANIZATION] is wisely taking action to grow a healthier [CITY] by adding fruit trees to the urban forest. They’re joining organizations and people nationwide who are digging in to secure local, healthy, and sustainable sources of food.” All across the country, people are looking to understand and reconnect with their sources of food, and to put the land in their cities to good use. Planting fruit and nut trees provides fresh food for communities, educates residents about nutrition and agriculture, brings neighbors together, and revitalizes vacant or derelict urban lands. About [ORGANIZATION] [BOILER PLATE] About Community Groves℠ A program of the national nonprofit Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees), Community Groves℠ offers a roadmap and resources for bringing the benefits of fruit and nut trees to any neighborhood. ACTrees is dedicated to improving the health and livability of neighborhoods. With over 200 member and partner organizations in 44 states and Canada, the ACTrees Network has planted over 15 million trees with help from over 5 million volunteers. Learn more about ACTrees and Community Groves℠ at www.ACTrees.org.
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Customize the press release template below with specific information about your Community GrovesSM project, and provide it to your local news media contacts. Supplement your outreach to local press with calls, emails, or through social media. And consider inviting political and community leaders to your tree planting event/s, as high-profile participation can help to draw coverage from news crews. Download the Microsoft Word customizable press release about your Community GrovesSM project: www.actrees.org/files/Publications/ community_groves_local_press_release.doc
MORE RESOURCES
Visit ACTrees.org for more information about Community GrovesSM and about planting and caring for trees in your community. Our webpage features Community GrovesSM Success Stories to offer inspiration and guidance for your project. You’ll also find helpful publications, webcasts, articles, guides, and online resources on topics that matter to community greening organizations, including program models, education, funding, marketing, public policy, research, and more.
Beyond what’s available on ACTrees.org, here are a variety of reference materials to help you learn more about fruit and nut trees and how to plan, select, source, grow, and care for them in your area.
EXPERTS NEAR YOU
Find your nearest ACTrees member organization: http://www.actrees.org/about-us/members/ Find your nearest Native Plant Society: http://www.nanps.org/index.php/resources/native-plant-societies Find your nearest Cooperative Extension office: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ Find your nearest Garden Club: http://gcamerica.org/clubs.cfm Find your nearest Master Gardener: http://www.ahs.org/gardening-resources/master-gardeners
WEBSITES
EdibleForestGardens http://www.edibleforestgardens.com Edible Landscaping - Finding Nurseries http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/?page=resources#fruits_berries_nuts EPA Integrated Pest Management Principles http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm Fruit Crops http://www.fruit-crops.com/ Grow Organic Apples: Holistic Orchard Network http://www.groworganicapples.com/ IPM World Textbook http://ipmworld.umn.edu/ Nursery Guide http://www.nurseryguide.com/ USDA People’s Garden Initiative http://www.usda.gov/peoplesgarden USDA Plants Database http://plants.usda.gov/java/ USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
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WEBCASTS
The Nuts and Bolts of Fruit and Nut Trees http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/the_nuts_and_bolts_of_ fruit_and_nut_trees/ Heading Towards Sustainability – Part I: Agroforestry http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/heading_towards_ sustainability-_part_i_agrofo/ Heading Towards Sustainability – Part II: Community Orchards http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/heading_towards_ sustainability-_part_ii_commu/ Species Selection – Part I: Nursery Stock http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/species_selection-_ part_i_nursery_selection/
PUBLICATIONS
Cranshaw, Whitney. Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs. (2004) Cullina, William. Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines. (2002) Ellis, Barbara and Fern Marshall Bradley. The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control. (1996) Fulbright, Dennis. A Guide to Nut Tree Culture in North America, volume 1. (2003) Gershuny, Grace. Start with the Soil. (1993) Gilman, Edward and Laura Sadowski. Selecting Quality Trees from the Nursery. (2007) Gilman, Edward. Trees for Urban and Suburban Landscapes. (1997) Harris, Richard, James Clark, and Nelda Matheny. Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines. (2003) Hightshoe, Gary. Native Trees Shrubs and Vines for Urban and Rural America: A Planting Design Manual for Environmental Designers. (1987) Jacke, Dave, and Eric Toensmeier. Edible Forest Gardens. (2005) Kourik, Robert. Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally. (2005) Phillips, Michael. The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist. (2005) Phillips, Michael. The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way. (2012) Radcliffe, Edward, William Hutchison, and Rafael Cancelado. Integrated Pest Management: Concepts, Tactics, Strategies and Case Studies. (2009)
ORGANIZATIONS
American Chestnut Foundation – http://www.acf.org/ American Community Gardening Association – http://communitygarden.org/ Ecological Agriculture Projects – http://eap.mcgill.ca/ International Fruit Tree Association – http://www.ifruittree.org/ North American Fruit Explorers – http://www.nafex.org/ Organic Tree Fruit Association – http://organictreefruit.org/
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Tell us about your Community GROVES SM
At ACTrees, we’re excited about Community GrovesSM and the impact they’re having in neighborhoods nationwide. Send us pictures and information about your project, along with your news release. We want to know about your project, so email us information at Programs@ACTrees.org.
SPECIAL Thanks ACTrees launched the Community GrovesSM program in 2013 after a successful pilot year of fruit and nut tree projects with its member organizations. Funding for those initial 30 projects was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture People’s Garden Initiative. We thank our friends at the USDA and the U.S. Forest Service for their support of our vision for a national program to connect urban forestry and community agriculture. Julia Marano managed the pilot year of the program and developed many of the findings we discovered from the results of the projects. The pilot year review panel also included Dr. Terry Schettini, County Extension Director with Penn State Extension. We extend our deep gratitude to the ACTrees Network of member and partner organizations. Many ACTrees members plant fruit and nut trees, both through our Community GrovesSM program and independently. Your local success shows what a meaningful difference trees make in communities. Our vision is for Community GrovesSM to amplify your impact by bringing fruit and nut trees to neighborhoods all across the country. Together we are creating greener, cleaner, healthier cities—tree by tree, street by street, orchard by orchard.
Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. With over 200 member and partner organizations in 44 states and Canada, ACTrees engages volunteers to take action to improve the environment where 93% of people live: in cities, towns, and metropolitan areas. Together, ACTrees member organizations have planted and cared for more than 15 million trees with help from over 5 million volunteers. Learn more about our mission at www.ACTrees.org Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianceforCommunityTrees Follow us on Twitter at @alliance4trees
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