The largest, most diverse fruit tree orchard in Atlanta Public School history is taking root at Brown Middle School on Saturday.
This Saturday is slated to be a big day in historic West End with the gift of a fruit tree orchard for Brown Middle School. Local nonprofit groups, volunteers and community members will gather to plant seeds for the city’s future – and to nurture the effort of a more green, healthy and sustainable Atlanta.
Patchwork City Farm is hosting this event in support of creating a more naturally-grown local food system. In addition to providing a CSA program for the local community, PCF supports the Atlanta Farm to School movement by providing access to fresh, healthy foods for Atlanta’s school children – and a working farm to teach with.
The constantly growing progress of the Atlanta Public School’s Farm to School initiative is something for the community to be proud of. The Georgia Farm to School Program was established in 2007 by Georgia Organics,and now there are schoolyard gardens and orchards sprouting up across the metro area - thanks to the help of folks like Georgia Organics, Patchwork City Farms, Crop Mob Atlanta and other dedicated volunteer groups within the city.
Each of these organizations agree that these kinds of projects are healthy for the community, both personally and environmentally. “Edible landscaping transforms schoolyards into vibrant gathering grounds that teach, feed, and inspire,” says Robby Astrove, local Naturalist, fruit tree expert and Farm to School representative. Astrove coordinated this event, and plays an important role in threading these like-minded organizations together to accomplish similar goals for a greener Atlanta.
The vision of the Farm to School initiative is to help schools improve student’s health by offering them more fresh food choices; to grow their minds with hands-on learning; and to enhance the livelihood of the local community by reconnecting them with where their food comes from. There have already been more than 2 million locally grown school lunches fed to Atlanta’s children due to projects like the one happening this weekend. (Enjoy the video above highlighting the Atlanta Farm to School efforts at Coan Middle School's Edible Schoolyard!)
This Saturday morning, the Patchwork crew and Crop Mob Atlanta will join forces to plant, mulch and enhance the farm and gardens. The Crop Mob brings the sweat of volunteer effort to help area farmers increase the fruits of their labor. This tireless group works side by side, and hand in glove, across the metro area to empower communities by cultivating the local food movement. They also believe that by teaching the next generation, we grow a better future for us all.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank will also be helping out on Saturday. They will be offering refreshments for the volunteers, and will also have a supply of tools to share.
Later Saturday afternoon, the combined forces will dig in to plant the largest, most diverse fruit tree orchard in Atlanta Public School history. The purpose of the orchard is to provide physical and educational nourishment for the children of the West End community for generations to come.
This project is definitely a community effort, organized and hosted by several like-minded groups - as a gift to Atlanta’s school children and the community. If you would like to be a part of this ground-breaking project, Patchwork City Farm says to “bring your gloves and your smile!” The farmwork starts at 9am and the orchard planting is taking place at 4pm. Stop by and get involved - help plant and mulch, learn about the exciting work of these organizations, and make new friends along the way.
If you have tools, bring them along. If not, the Food Bank will have a supply of tools to share. As the Crop Mob says, “This is the stuff that communities are made of.”
Details:
Who: Local nonprofit groups & community volunteers (You!)
What: A new community orchard (A fruit tree revolution!)
When: Saturday, February 11th, 2012 (Farmwork 9am - Orchard planting 4pm - 6pm)
Where: 765 Peeples St SW - Atlanta, GA 30310 (Brown Middle School)
Contact: Robby Astrove 404-583-0505
Get Connected:
Connect with this Examiner on Facebook!
Comments