The Serving: November 2021

*|MC:SUBJECT|*
View this email in your browser
Published quarterly, The Serving covers backyard orcharding, fruit tree management, helpful harvest tips, and Giving Grove updates. Thank you for helping make a big impact with little orchards!

Friends,


As 2021 begins to wind down and we tuck in our orchards for a long winter's nap, we have much to celebrate!  I am very happy to announce that new Giving Grove programs in Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle will begin planting in the spring of 2022!  Food Well Alliance (Atlanta), GROW North Texas (Dallas), and Tilth Alliance (Seattle) have joined our network of affiliate organizations. We are thrilled that Giving Grove orchards will soon be found from coast to coast!

The real impact of our work is made possible by the dedication and passion of our volunteer orchard stewards. This year's Gather+Grow short film features several of our stewards in cities that span the Midwest and their generous commitment to their neighborhoods.  Please save the date for our live premiere on November 30 from 11:30 am - 11:45 am CST so we can celebrate our stewards together!

As we end this orcharding season, I want to thank all our volunteers, supporters, and donors for living out our mission to create thousands of urban orchards across the United States.  

With gratitude, 

Robert Reiman, CEO

New Giving Grove Affiliate Partners

The Giving Grove is thrilled to introduce its three newest affiliate partners: Food Well Alliance, GROW North Texas, and Tilth Alliance.  With each new affiliate, we expand the diversity of programming, growing smarter and nimbler as a network of organizations with aligned missions. 

Food Well Alliance - Atlanta, Georgia
Food Well Alliance is a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build thriving community gardens and urban farms across metro Atlanta. Its mission is to provide resources and support to local growers to connect and build healthier communities.
“We have worked for years to increase the sustainability of community gardens and urban farms, and we believe community orchards can be a powerful mechanism to start producing food in places we haven’t yet reached," said Fred Conrad, Senior Manager of Community Gardens for Food Well Alliance. "Community orchards increase access and ownership, not just for a moment, but for years on end.” 

GROW North Texas - Dallas, Texas
GROW North Texas works to connect North Texans to food, farms, and community in order to create a sustainable, secure regional food system that enriches the land, encourages economic opportunity through food and agriculture, and provides equitable access to healthy, nutritious food for all residents.
“Being a Giving Grove affiliate allows us to provide a piece of the local food puzzle," said Geri Strong, GROW North Texas Giving Grove program manager.  "Through collaboration with community and school gardens, faith-based and not-for-profit organizations, we can contribute to alleviating food insecurity in Dallas.”

Tilth Alliance - Seattle, Washington
Tilth Alliance uses farms, gardens and kitchens as classrooms for hands-on education, teaching agriculture, nutrition and science to people of all ages. Participants learn how to grow food on large or small scales and to cook using nutritious, locally grown ingredients.
“We are excited to partner with Giving Grove to bring resources and expertise in support of the establishment of Community Orchards, which we view as a vital component to a healthy and equitable food future in Seattle," said Melissa Spear, Tilth Alliance Executive Director.  "Establishing these new orchards as a community food resource will result in fresh, culturally relevant, and accessible food for decades to come and provide increased access to public green spaces stewarded and enjoyed by local communities."
 

* SAVE THE DATE * Gather + Grow 2021 Premiere

Last year's Gather + Grow film premiere was so much fun that we had to do it again!  Mark your calendar for November 30th at 11:30-11:45 am CST for the live premiere of 2021's Gather + Grow, A Giving Short Film dedicated to our volunteer orchard stewards and the community that they are fostering through urban orcharding.  

Register to watch the LIVE premiere from the comfort of your home or office, by clicking here Not available that day?  Go ahead and register and we will send you the link to watch in your own time.
2020 Gather+Grow, A Giving Grove Short Film

Lawrence Orchard Planted in Partnership with the Caterpillar Foundation & One Tree Planted

On October 23rd, a new orchard took root in Lawrence, Kansas, as part of the Caterpillar Foundation’s “It Starts with a Tree” campaign that will include planting 100 fruit trees in Kansas in partnership with One Tree Planted, The Giving Grove and Kansas City Community Gardens.
 
Together, these 100 trees will:
  • provide 67,300 servings of free fruits, berries and nuts for the community each year; an annual value of more than $56,500
  • create 1.5 million servings of organically-grown food over their lifetime, at a value of more than $1.2 million
  • sequester an estimated 18 tons of carbon
  • absorb 3,300 gallons of water per storm, reducing flooding and preventing soil erosion. 

“Giving Grove orchards reduce food insecurity, clean the air, create new urban tree canopy and bring communities together in beautiful outdoor gathering spaces,” said Rob Reiman, Giving Grove CEO. “We are very grateful to the Caterpillar Foundation and One Tree Planted for helping us bring these important benefits to more communities in Kansas.”

To see more photos from this project, check out our Facebook or Instagram!

Giving Grove Store Now Open!

Need holiday gift inspiration? Look no further than The Giving Grove Online StoreFind lots of fantastic Giving Grove merch like t-shirts, caps, pins, stickers, and even gallery-quality art prints of Giving Grove fruit.  

You can look good while doing good because 100% of the proceeds go to planting and supporting little orchards across the nation.
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*