Our mission is to provide healthy calories, strengthen communities and improve the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards.

The Giving Grove History

 

The Giving Grove Philosophy

We seek to partner with organizations that align with our philosophies.

  • Equitable Placemaking

  • Encouraging Food Sovereignty

  • Growing Where Invited

  • Using a Holistic, Organic Approach

  • Reestablishing Greenspace in the Urban Environment

  • Cultivating Community Leaders

  • Collaborating Among an Action-Aligned Network

  • Sharing Knowledge and Lifelong Skills

  • Engaging the Community

  • Reconnecting Children & Families with Nature

Our Approach

  • Our vision is curbside access to healthy calories

  • We will always be community-led and invited into neighborhoods to help orchard visions come to life

  • We work with a variety of sites: schools, neighborhoods, community gardens, communities of faith, food pantry/kitchen, senior housing, health or medical facilities, municipalities & parks, transitional living, youth services, etc.

  • We work with experts to recommend a list of over 70 cultivars and 20 species selected for disease-resistance and urban growth success

  • We take (and teach) a holistic/organic approach to fruit tree care

  • We provide lifelong learning opportunities on tree care, harvest, processing, community engagement, biodiversity, and soil health

Initial Program Support

  • Financial and Fundraising

    • Match up to $75,000 over 2 years in a collaborative agreement

    • Assist with orchard-specific grant applications and fundraising campaigns

    • Provide access to national funding relationships

  • Supplies and Materials

    • Access to initial supply budget and connection to national suppliers with curated recommendations on resources necessary for program success

  • Coaching and Technical Support

    • Individualized onboarding for a successful program start

    • Plant material sourcing, recommendations, and planning from national horticulturist

  • Marketing & Social Media Support

    • Collaborative media opportunities with communications assistance

    • Branding, asset, and content assistance and materials provided

  • Shared Drive and Network Site

    • Access to editable program materials and resources through shared drive and Program Manager GG Network Site

Continued Program Support

  • Quarterly network meetings & ongoing 1-1 support with national program manager and horticulturist

  • Quarterly marketing and development meetings & ongoing 1-1 support with national marketing manager and development manager

  • Keynote speaker resource share: Giving Grove Celebration in April

  • Annual National Giving Grove Network Conference for program managers

  • Ongoing metrics reporting (demographics and environmental benefits)

  • Ongoing best practice sharing and project collaborations

  • Continuing education resources and opportunities

  • Access to supply discounts through vendor relationships

Should You Join Our Network?

Do you…

  • Have a 501(c)3 status, or a collaborative partner(s) with 501(c)3 status?

  • Have a willingness to develop a program that will be a lifelong hub for community members to apply for, install, and maintain orchard spaces through ongoing education, site visits and trainings?

  • Live in an area that has a demonstrated need for food security and greenspace equity?

  • Identify community partners and stakeholders that support the addition of an orchard program?

  • Financial ability to start and maintain an orchard program over time?

  • Have the capacity to support 100 or more local orchard sites over the long term?

Steps to Join Our Network

I want to talk more about becoming a program hub!

If you think you meet our basic criteria, let’s start a conversation.

I’m not sure…

If you don’t meet our criteria or aren’t sure, don’t be discouraged! Your passion for growing fruit and fighting food insecurity in your community can move you onto our list of targeted cities. We remain opportunistic and flexible as we aim to create a successful network of LITTLE ORCHARDS making a BIG IMPACT.

If you have specific questions about a single orchard, or a horticulture-specific question, please email trees@givinggrove.org