The NJ Tree Foundation is pleased to announce that, with support from the Campbell Soup Foundation, we have started a Fruit Tree Farmer project that not only plants amazing fruit-bearing trees but also trains farmers to grow fruit naturally, locally!
2013-2014 Fruit Trees!
In the fall of 2013 and the spring of 2014, we planted 39 fruit trees through our Urban Airshed Reforestation Program (UARP). Planting locations included the community garden at Bridge of Peace Community Church, Habitat for Humanity, St. Anthony’s of Padua, and the Center for Environmental Transformation. Let us tell you more!
In September of 2013, the NJ Tree Foundation partnered with Bridge of Peace Community Church
in the Fairview neighborhood of Camden to plant serviceberries, apples, peaches, figs, nectarines, and pears in their new back-yard orchard. The church estimates that 100 families will be impacted by the fruit these trees provide. Steve Tuttle, a Fairview resident and church member, organized this event. He explains, “This orchard is a fantastic addition to our community garden space. We are so thankful to the Campbell Soup Foundation for making this work possible.”
All fruit tree recipients are Camden City Garden Club members. Thank you to Mike Devlin and Valerie Frick for partnering with us to make fruit trees available to your exceptional community gardeners in Camden.
2014-2015 Fruit Tree Farmers!
Not only are we planting even more fruit trees in Camden (the need is tremendous, and the applications keep pouring in!), but we have started an education component called Fruit Tree Farmers. These classroom and hands-on sessions, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Foundation, provide farmers with the knowledge, hands-on training, and tools needed to grow their fruit trees holistically in their own backyards and community gardens. Our June 2014 session taught farmers about fruit tree pruning, thinning, and harvesting as well as disease/pest prevention and cooking/canning with fruit! “I learned to thin and prune my tree thanks to the workshop, and my trees are doing great! I wouldn’t have known to do that on my own,” explained Joseph Travis of the Lakeshore Drive Community Garden.
Our November 2014 session was a Fall Harvest Fest, featuring presentations from farmers in six community gardens across Camden. “Our apricot trees produced 3 beautiful fruits this year,” explained youth employed as Eco Interns at the Center for Environmental Transformation, “It was so fun to see them grow and pick them from the tree!” Marion Roberts from the Cooper Sprouts Garden added, “Our pear trees produced over 80 fruits, and they were really yummy.” Gardeners swapped stories, sought advice where needed, and shared successes from their own communities. “It was great to see everyone coming together, sharing stories from their gardens over fresh and healthy food,” added Jessica Franzini of the NJ Tree Foundation. “The Fruit Tree Farmer trainings have been more successful than I ever anticipated, with double – sometimes triple – the participation expected. Thank you to the Campbell Soup Foundation for making this work possible!”
Tools and garden gifts received during the
2014 Fruit Tree Farmer sessions include:
“Put ‘Em Up” — a Guide to Cooking and Canning with Fruit
Tree Maintenance Binder
Hand Pruners
50’ Hoses
Food Scales
Tree Tone – fruit tree food
Fruit Tree Spray (natural, preventative)
$25 gift cards to Home Depot (raffled)