In A Pear Tree…
Robby Astrove is an environmental educator and arborist specializing in edible landscaping, native plants, and all things fruit trees. He coordinates ALFI’s Orchard Project and has planted over 60 community orchards since 2009.
***Guest blog by: Robby Astrove, arborist and ALFI Orchard Project Coordinator***
A decade ago, the Atlanta Local Food Initiative launched the ALFI Orchard Project as a way to improve fresh food access to communities by planting orchards at schools, parks, gardens, and other community sites. Since 2010, hundreds of trees, bushes and vines have been planted at 100+ orchards across the Metro region enhancing landscapes with productive plants. This year, ALFI awarded technical assistance and an orchard to Livable Buckhead at Mountain Way Common Park connecting to PATH400.
ALFI is a diverse coalition of stakeholders who are working to build a more sustainable food system for metro Atlanta. The stakeholder group includes communities, nonprofits, universities, government agencies, individuals, and corporations. ALFI envisions a transformed food system in which every metro Atlanta resident has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food produced by a thriving network of sustainable farms and gardens.
Fruit trees provide access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food, as well as provide shade, regulate urban climate, mitigate floods and erosion problems, purify air and water, build soil, and provide food and habitat for wildlife. They also inspire us with their beauty and connect us together in many ways. Fruit trees are the best, most sustainable, low maintenance, and long-term investment one can make in agriculture. It’s simple….food for decades with minimal investment. #treemath folks….
While it may take 3-5 years for fruit production, the future will be abundant and this abundance creates opportunities to connect and share. Think of neighbors meeting each other and discovering new fruits, picking and preparing meals together, sharing grandma’s preserve recipe, and enjoying the park together. It’s a beautiful vision. And if this abundance of fresh fruit becomes too much of a burden to eat, look no further than to Atlanta’s own Concrete Jungle to help collect fallen and excess fruits which will be distributed to foodbanks, shelters, and those who serve the hungry. Nothing goes to waste. Concrete Jungle also works with private homeowners to collect donated fruit and we encourage Buckhead residents with mature fruit trees to contact Concrete Jungle to expand our impact through the Tree Parent program. Concrete Jungle also leads volunteer fruit picks throughout the year and fruit tree classes and workshops.
But first, we must plant! Join us for our community planting event on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 9 am at Mountain Way Common Park (684 Mountain Drive, Atlanta, GA 30342). Bring your willingness to dig, learn, and have fun! Shovels and gloves will be provided.
