[CANUFNET] Urban Orchards

[Jeannette Wheeler]

Hi Geoff,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

John Helder, Principal of Horticulture,

Beautification & Naturalization

Forestry, Beautification and Environmental Management

Neighbourhoods, Parks and Community Recreation

Community Services, City of Edmonton

12304 - 107 Street,

Edmonton, AB T5G 2S7

780-496-6997

________________________________
From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of McLeod, Geoff (IS - Parks)
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 8:01 AM
To: 'canufnet at list.web.net'
Subject: [CANUFNET] Urban Orchards

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.

Thank you for your input.

Geoff McLeod

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."


Geoff McLeod
BSc, BSF, MSc
Superintendent
Urban Forestry and Pest Management

City of Saskatoon
Parks Branch
Ph: 306.975.2537  Fax: 306.975.3034
Email: geoff.mcleod at saskatoon.ca




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.web.net/pipermail/canufnet/attachments/20121109/50cf8e50/attachment.htm>