In this month’s blog, we’re sharing a glimpse into Camp Giving Grove, our annual National Affiliate Conference that brings together orchard leaders from across the country. More than just a conference, it feels like summer camp, a place where people connect, learn from each other, and get inspired. This year’s gathering took place in Seattle, where over 35 leaders came together to tour orchards, share ideas, and strengthen the work we do in communities nationwide.
Read MoreMeet a Memphis-based orchardist with The Giving Grove and The Works, Inc., whose journey from foraging mulberries in Pittsburgh to planting fruit trees in Memphis reflects the deep connection between food, community, and land. Discover how one mulberry tree inspired her lifelong commitment to urban orchards and community stewardship.
Read MoreThis month, we’re highlighting Longfellow Farm, a Giving Grove orchard supported by Kansas City Community Gardens and grassroots community garden tucked into a Kansas City neighborhood. In this conversation with founder Ami Freeberg, we explore how a once-vacant lot became a thriving space for food, family, and connection. All powered by neighbors who show up, dig in, and share what grows.
Read MoreNashville Food Project becomes a Giving Grove national affiliate.
Read MoreWhat do a rock concert, a childhood tree fort, and a major career shift have in common? This reflective piece explores the journey from a fast-paced career in entertainment to a more grounded life in urban reforestation. Through personal stories and pivotal moments, it highlights the importance of reconnecting with purpose, community, and the natural world.
Read MoreGiving Grove’s youngest orchard steward explains in his own words why planting trees is important!
Read MoreThe history of black farmers is filled with generational stories of fortitude and struggle. In honor of Black History Month, we highlight a few agricultural trailblazers and their contributions to food equity and justice.
Read MorePublished 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!
Read MoreThe langauge we use when speaking about hunger and food equality matters. In this blog, communications manager Sarah Sikich explains the shift from “food desert” to “food apartheid.”
Read MoreGabriella Sonnenschein shares her experience at the Mitzvah Garden KC Giving Grove orchard in Overland Park, Kansas. This orchard is responsible for donating 1,000’s of pounds of fresh produce every year to local food banks and pantries. It is a place for fellowship and memory with a tree dedicated to the shooting victims of the 2014 attack on the Overland Park Jewish community.
Read MoreFew metropolitan areas escaped the devastating effects of redlining. Decades later, areas deemed “hazardous” or least desirable (primarily neighborhoods with people of color) are still facing the long-term effects of redlining, such as faulty infrastructure, lack of green space, and limited access to fresh, healthy food. The Giving Grove is committed to helping address these disparities. For that reason, we recently analyzed the location of Giving Grove orchards in relation to neighborhoods impacted by redlining. In this blog, a Giving Grove intern reflects on the findings of this research.
Read MoreToday, The Giving Grove would like to introduce to a longtime steward and friend, Ami Freeberg. Ami’s personal and professional life is centered around sustainable and community-driven horticulture. Her Giving Grove orchard is located at the community farm that she established seven years ago, Longfellow Farm.
Read MoreJanett Lewis, a steward of the GROW Spanish Lake little orchard in St. Louis, MO, genuinely understands the importance of permaculture in the fight against food insecurity. As a community organizer and urban farmer, Janett spends most of her time at her farm, Rustic Roots Sanctuary, tending to her goats, chickens, a rabbit, and four beehives.
Read MoreNothing sparks as much excitement and anticipation for Kansas City gardeners as the warmer temperatures and longer days that come in April. Every year we anxiously await the thawing of soil so that we may tenderly plant, care for, and harvest our annual vegetable gardens, enjoying the fruits of our labors for many months of the year. Tomatoes, peppers, greens, and beans are sure to be on your list of veggies this year, but have you considered adding a fruit tree to the mix?
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