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<P>Hi Geoff,</P>
<P>I was provided with your question about urban orchards that you posed on the
canufnet list. So here is an update on our position on this subject matter. When
I say our position I am not speaking of any official position that the City of
Edmonton has but of how we have been dealing with the interest in urban fruit
production.</P>
<P>First of all we have Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton (OFRE), an organization
that works to connect property owners with fruit trees with people interested in
the fruit. The property owner is often in dire need to have someone harvest or
clean-up the fruit. Generally the arrangement is that the volunteer picks the
fruit and the harvest is split three ways between the property owner, the
volunteer and the Food Bank or other social agency.</P>
<P>The trees available for harvesting far exceed the community interest in
fruit. This then is an indicator that planting fruit trees on public green
spaces may only create a further glut of fruit that needs to be dealt with. As
you will be aware there is a need to clean up the fruit to avoid attracting
bees, wasps and even coyotes or to just keep green space clean and tidy. When we
are approached by people interested in urban fruit production, we encourage them
to link up with OFRE to rescue and use fruit that may now be going to waste.</P>
<P>When the community is eager to plant fruit trees, we allow such to happen at
community garden sites. In such a situation the community garden must take on
the responsibility for the trees and the fruit produced. We encourage community
garden groups to choose apples on dwarf root stock. This results in earlier
fruit production, allows for easier access to the trees for maintenance and
harvesting. In Edmonton, community gardens on public green space are authorized
through a Partners in Parks agreement. Through the agreement the gardening group
is held responsible for the maintenance of the garden and any trees. The group
must commit to presenting their garden to be an asset in the community. Should a
group loose interest or capacity, they are responsible for returning the garden
to it original state. However, in such a situation the gardening group may
dissolve so that it is up to the City to deal with the site. The City may then
choose to eliminate the garden, any trees or fixtures, or may work with
Community Recreation Officers to raise interest in establishment of a new and
revitalized group to carry on the project. The point I am making is that the
City does not take responsibility for any fruit trees or other plantings and
does thus not end up with having to maintain plants they do not wish to care
for.</P>
<P>When developers or others wish to include fruit orchards, or even community
gardens, we work to establish connections with Sustainable Food Edmonton (SFE),
an organization that receives limited support from the City to help establish
and support community gardens. SFE understands the need to establish capacity in
the gardening group before the garden or community orchard is developed with the
possibility of it becoming a liability for the City.</P>
<P>Hope this is helpful. I would be happy to discuss this further by telephone
(780-496-6997) or you could send me additional questions by email.</P>
<P>John Helder,</FONT><FONT size=1> Principal of Horticulture,</P>
<P>Beautification & Naturalization</P>
<P>Forestry, Beautification and Environmental Management</P>
<P>Neighbourhoods, Parks and Community Recreation</P>
<P>Community Services, City of Edmonton</P>
<P>12304 - 107 Street,</P>
<P>Edmonton, AB T5G 2S7</P>
<P>780-496-6997</P></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> canufnet-bounces@list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces@list.web.net] <B>On Behalf Of </B>McLeod, Geoff (IS -
Parks)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 06, 2012 8:01 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
'canufnet@list.web.net'<BR><B>Subject:</B> [CANUFNET] Urban
Orchards<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal>The City of Saskatoon is currently in the process of doing
some fact finding as it pertains to the mass planting of fruit bearing trees and
shrubs. I would like to know who out there is familiar with any urban orchard
type scenarios that have been planted in cities. This could range from
small scale plantings in community gardens to larger scale plantings is green
spaces. What are the successes and challenges? What are minimum
requirements for having such a set up? What resources such as community input
and commitment, etc etc etc.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your input.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Geoff McLeod<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><I><SPAN lang=EN-US>“We are
what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
</SPAN></I><I><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></TD></TR>
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<TD
style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 216.9pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"
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<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"
align=right><B><SPAN lang=EN-US>Geoff</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-US>
<B>McLeod</B></SPAN><B><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"
align=right><SPAN lang=EN-US>BSc, BSF, MSc<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"
align=right><SPAN lang=EN-US>Superintendent<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"
align=right><SPAN lang=EN-US>Urban Forestry and Pest
Management</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></TD>
<TD
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<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN lang=EN-US>City of
Saskatoon</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Parks
Branch<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Ph:
306.975.2537 Fax: 306.975.3034<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Email: <A
href="geoff.mcleod@saskatoon.ca"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">geoff.mcleod@saskatoon.ca</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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