A message from the Director: |
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Hello everyone! After reflecting on the hot and difficult July and August timeframe, I find myself in a unique and treasured position. I try to visit every tree we have helped plant at least once a year or every other year, and it's such a joy to get a sudden snapshot of what 2 years of growth looks like between visits. It seems like I turn my head and the 500+ trees we have helped plant are already getting to maturity! |
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What an incredible year this has been so far, and we are looking forward to the cooling weather. Though it has been dry, we’ve seen more fruit than ever thanks to dodging the late frost this year. We’ve seen over 2,000 pounds of peaches, apples, pears, and even plums make their way into the hands of neighbors at just a few of the older orchards, and we can’t wait for 7 of the 2021 plantings to become mature enough to yield fruit in their communities next year. |
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| Find the shade, Chris Smyth Common Orchard Project Director |
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Coming Soon! Signage For Our Orchards |
When fruit trees suddenly emerge in a patch of grass, and when the flowers and medicinal plants start showing off the following year, we want to make sure that neighbors have an idea of what is going on. This has been a long time coming, but we are finally starting to get signage out to all orchards past and future. We will ensure every orchard has an orchard name sign, info sign, individual plant labels for all herb and flower species as well as ripeness dates for all fruit crops, as well detailed maps of each orchard so we never lose track of a tree variety. We will be installing these signs throughout the next year as we make it out to each site.
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Featured Orchard: Kennedy Heights - Gateway Grove |
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The Kennedy Heights Community Council reached out a few years back, wanting to find the best location for a community orchard. After lots of searching, we were able to connect with Jess Weiman and her husband, Eli, who now steward an orchard on a major road through the Cincinnati neighborhood of Kennedy Heights. Jess works at a local greenhouse and has a real green thumb, which is helpful when taking care of 22 fruit trees and other gardens on this vacant lot just down the road from their home. This summer a neighbor was willing to let them tap into water so we rigged up a water meter and ran drip irrigation through the orchard. We are expecting great things from this planting – it’s only the first year, but so far the trees and herbs are thriving!
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Support Common Orchard and Celebrate our Region’s Food Champions at Cultivate + Connect |
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Join us on Thursday, September 19th from 5:00-8:00 pm at Urban Artifact’s The Reliquary for an evening of connection, storytelling, and celebration of our region’s food system champions. Green Umbrella is excited to host this new fundraising event in support of the Common Orchard Project and the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council. The evening's featured storytellers will include Cincinnati councilmember Anna Albi, Becky Richey, Anna Haas, Fran Knox Kazimierczuk, Polly Campbell, and Levi Grimm. Registration includes two drink tickets and we've partnered with Findlay Kitchen, Incubator Kitchen Collective, and Edible Ohio Valley to curate a delicious menu featuring 18 local businesses. Save your seat today!
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More Upcoming Events & Trainings |
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Fall Orchard Installations - sign up to volunteer today
- Orchard Steward Training Sessions - more coming in January 2025
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Fruit Tree Grafting, Field Grafting, and Pruning Workshop - open to the public, coming February 2025
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Fruit is mostly water, hence why watering is so critical. In our area, the fruit trees typically will not die from 5 weeks or less of drought, but the fruit will suffer. Aim for about a 5-gallon bucket worth of water per tree, for every week of drought. It is the cheapest nutrient you can buy! |
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Green Umbrella leads cross-sector collaboration to accelerate climate action across Greater Cincinnati. |
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