The Giving Grove orchards are only as strong as the community that surrounds them! Read these inspiring and educational blogs to find out more!
Featured
The Giving Grove orchards are only as strong as the community that surrounds them! Read these inspiring and educational blogs to find out more!
Food forests are gaining momentum as a resilient, community-centered way to grow food while restoring ecosystems—but for many growers, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. That’s why Katherine Favor of The Giving Grove National Orchard Advisory Committee, in partnership with leading agroforestry organizations, has developed new resources to help communities plan, design, and manage thriving forest gardens tailored to their unique sites and needs.
What 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.
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.
Meet 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.
This 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.
As the growing season winds down, winter orchard care is key to ensuring your trees wake up healthy and productive in the spring. Proper winter prep reduces pests and disease, protects roots and bark, and sets the stage for strong growth next year.
Read on for a comprehensive checklist to get your orchard ready!
When Rebecca Koop saw an abandoned lot beside her pottery studio in Kansas City’s Northeast neighborhood, she imagined more than rubble and weeds. She envisioned a place where neighbors could grow food, plant trees, and gather together. Today that vision has blossomed into the St. John Community Garden and orchard, a testament to Rebecca’s lifelong commitment to art, gardening, and community.
Nashville Food Project becomes a Giving Grove national affiliate.