communal urban fruit tree planting in the bloomington community orchard- aileen driscoll

the Bloomington Community Orchard

Mission

Dream, build, and share an orchard community.

Vision

To inspire communities to cultivate thriving systems of sharing and

growing fruit.

ValuesEmpowerment

CollaborationStewardship

LearningSustainability

ImpactTrust

Flagship Site

the BeginningPartnerships with: •City of Bloomington •Local organizations with shared values to enhance existing programs:• Food Pantry• Nonprofits

Shift in Focus

•Edible Park (at the flagship site)•Bringing people to the fruit.

•Partner Plantings and Tree Giveaways•Bringing the fruit to the people.

Fruit Tree Giveaways

Initial Sponsorship:

CSX sponsored the ACT Grant, which funded the Orchard’s first tree giveaway.

Grant Funds

Used to develop areas of our program:• 75 fruit trees planted the first fall. • Hilltop Gardens and Nature center• Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard

GrowthPartnerships with:

•Neighborhood Associations•Indiana University•Local Businesses

Neighbors Who Grow Trees Together, Grow Community

Research done at IU by faculty proves that:

Planted trees do better when communities come together!

Elements of a Potential Partner or Planting Location

•Shared space•People working together

•Future commitment•Memorandum of agreement

Habitat for Humanity Planting

• First time home owners • Food sovereignty for themselves and their children.

• Neighbors selected cultivars together, with BCO guidance

Benefits: shared harvest, building of community, commitment to tree maintenance.

Partner Plantings Hilltop Gardens and Nature

Center  

Habitat for Humanity

Hoosier Hills Food Bank Evergreen Neighborhood

UU church

Clear Note Church

Bloomington Center for Global Children

Campus View Child CareEduardo IzquierdoIVY Tech

KIPP

Indiana Conservancy Group

Kim Carballo

Indiana University

Catholic Workers

La Casa

St. Thomas Lutheran Church

Avalon Gardens

Jeff Mansfield

Amy Countryman

Continued Growth

The Orchard’s Board saw the need to make the tree giveaway part of our annual operational budget and part of our annual programming.

Not contingent on receipt of grant.

Empowering Citizens

Creation of the Community Planting Team

Empowering Citizens

•Educating and reinforcing learned skills.•Work & Learn Days•Free Classes•Partner Plantings

Partner Planting Guide

•Guidance•Resources•Reference•Educational & Supplementary Literature

Our Accomplishments

Collaboration with IU• Students• Faculty/Staff• Research• Planting at Hilltop Gardens and Nature Center

Our Accomplishments

Collaboration with Institutions• Schools• Churches• Nonprofits• Neighborhood Associations• Businesses

Future Fruitful Growth

New locations being requested every year!

Send inquiries to: partnerplantings@bloomingtoncommunityorchard.org

ContactsAileen Driscoll Farid and Teresa Dunn

• partnerplantings@bloomingtoncommunityorchard.org

Amy Roche • outreach@bloomingtoncommunityorchard.

org