volunteers needed, Philadelphia Orchard Project

Posted by on April 02, 2012

Please join us once again in expanding Philadelphia’s community orchards!  See below for our ambitious spring schedule of orchard plantings. . . and keep an eye out for even more events to be announced soon!  If you don’t have time to volunteer this Spring, please consider a donation to support our efforts.

We invite you to participate in this season’s POP events, working alongside volunteers from our community partners to plant and maintain orchards all over the city. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. These events often involve digging, planting, and spreading compost and mulch, so expect to get dirty. We can’t guarantee tools for all; if you bring your own, it is advisable to write your name on them. Snacks and beverages to share are also welcome.

Orchard events can generally be expected to last between 2 and 4 hours (smaller events are designated with an *asterisk).  We recommend that you check your email the morning of an event to confirm whether it will be postponed to the raindate.

NOTE: If you intend to volunteer at an event, please RSVP via our website (http://www.phillyorchards.org). By clicking on an event description, you can see how many people have signed up and where your help is most needed!

Please contact [email protected] for more information on a particular event.

Spring 2012 Event Schedule

BARTRAM’S ORCHARD PLANTING
Saturday, April 14th @ 10am
Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, West Philadelphia

Help out with our most ambitious planting yet! Up to 60 additional new fruit and nut trees will go in the ground to expand the Bartram’s Orchard into the largest in Philadelphia. We’ll also be planting a small edible wetland garden. A partnership between POP, Bartram’s, UNI, PHS, and Parks & Rec.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
RAINDATE: Sunday, 4/15 @ 1pm.

SOUTH PHILLY TEEN ORCHARD PLANTING
Tuesday, April 17th @ 3:30pm
2015 S. 8th St, South Philadelphia
Help out in expanding our South Philly orchard neighborhood in partnership with groups from United Communities. We’ll be planting a brand new orchard in partnership with USLA, which runs an after school and summer farm program for students from local public schools. We’ll also be planting strawberries at the existing South Philly Teen Orchard with the Youth Leadership Council.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
RAINDATE: Tuesday, 4/24 @ 3:30pm.

*PEPPER ORCHARD PLANTING
Friday, April 20 @ 12:30pm
South Side of Pepper Middle School, 2901 S. 84th St, Eastwick
Work with students from Pepper Middle School in planting new fruit trees & berry bushes and mulching their orchard. Planting will be proceeded by a short Intro to Permaculture workshop.  Collaboration between POP, Pepper, and the Urban Nutrition Initiative.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

CAROUSEL ORCHARD PLANTING
Saturday, April 21 @ 10am
Carousel House, Ave of the Republic & Belmont Ave, West Fairmount Park
Lend a hand to Teens 4 Good in planting a brand new orchard at the site of their Carousel House Farm in West Fairmount Park. We’ll be spreading mulch and planting fruit trees, berry bushes, and a pollinator garden!
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

GROW IT, EAT IT, COOK IT!
Sunday, April 22 @ 12pm
Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, West Philadelphia

Ready to branch out beyond tomatoes in your home garden? Join agricultural experts and culinary students for demonstrations and activities throughout the garden. Learn how to grow – or buy – the produce that is available locally, plus tasty ways to prepare it. Also help POP and partners with plantings at the Bartram’s Orchard. Tickets required, register via: http://philasciencefestival.ticketleap.com/grow-it-cook-it-eat-it-/t/pop/

OVERBROOK ORCHARD PLANTING
Saturday, April 28 @ 10am
Overbrook Environmental Education Center, 6401 Lancaster Ave, West Philly
Join us in planting a brand new orchard and pollinator garden at the Overbrook Environmental Education Center. See what this dynamic neighborhood organization is doing with formerly vacant land and buildings! A partnership between POP, JASTECH, and the Master Gardeners.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
RAINDATE: Sunday, 4/29 @ 1pm.

EARTH’S KEEPERS ORCHARD PLANTING
Saturday, May 12 @ 10am
51st & Kingsessing Ave, West Philadelphia
Help expand the new orchard at Earth’s Keepers Farm, which operates a Youth Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Program at the Kingsessing Rec Center.  Check out this little gem of a community farm!
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
RAINDATE: Sunday, 5/13 @ 1pm.

HUNTING PARK ORCHARD PLANTING
Saturday, May 19 @ 11am
Hunting Park Community Garden, East of Hunting Park Ave & W. Bristol St, North Philly
Join in on this remarkable revitalization of North Philly’s Hunting Park! We’ll be planting berry bushes, fruiting vines, and pollinator gardens as the first phase of the proposed orchard adjoining the new Hunting Park Community Garden.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
RAINDATE: Sunday, 5/20 @ 1pm.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL at WOODFORD ORCHARD
Saturday, June 9
NW of 33rd & Dauphin, East Fairmount Park
Save the date for this fun community celebration of the spring harvest. . . details to come.
RAINDATE: Sunday, 6/10.

http://www.phillyorchards.org/volunteer/schedule