400 Fruit Trees Distributed: Growing Richmond’s Food Forest & Youth Leadership

Imagine fresh, healthy, and delicious organically grown fruit freely available in Richmond!

Making this a reality is the exact goal of Urban Tilth’s new Orchard for ALL! Program. Launched in 2024, as a part of the State of California’s Transformative Climate Communities grant, Orchard for ALL! seeks to establish a dispersed community orchard across hundreds of backyards in the Iron Triangle, Santa Fe, and Coronado neighborhoods in Richmond CA.

This program aims to:

1) Distribute FREE fruit trees to local residents in our project area, 2) Offer FREE fruit tree care support to low-income residents, 3) Offer free “gleaning” or fruit picking service which collects excess fruit from community fruit trees and redistributed that fruit to families in need, and 4) Employs and trains young people from Richmond to perform all of these services.

This program addresses a vital need: many homeowners and community members desire more access to green spaces, both in their neighborhoods and at home. With the support and resources provided, individuals can begin transforming their own properties into thriving green spaces. Beyond receiving free fruit trees, participants also gain essential guidance on how to care for and cultivate them. This initiative not only fosters a sense of connection to nature but also makes fresh fruit more readily available, benefiting both individuals and the larger community through optional donations to free farm stands. In its first year, the Orchard for ALL! program already has an impressive list of achievements, embarking on the distribution of 400 fruit trees as a part of the initiative and thus far the team has redistributed over 1,000 pounds of locally grown fruit.

The program also hosts a seasonal apprenticeship program in summer and winter months, designed for local youth aged 18-24. Participants are paid $20 per hour to participate in the 100-hour training program where they are immersed in lessons on tree care, soil care, organic pest control, tool safety, pruning techniques, and building community relationships.

Young adults walk away from this program understanding foundational tree care and harvesting through the seasons. In summer, pruning focuses on shaping, removing excess growth, and ensuring sunlight reaches the fruit, which helps improve quality and ripening. The winter session focuses more on maintaining tree health pruning during dormancy allows for structural adjustments without stressing the tree, promoting better growth come spring. Winter is also the time to apply dormant oils to prevent pests and diseases, setting the tree up for a healthy new season.

These lessons take place within the classroom, in the orchard, and at community members’ homes during free fruit tree care services. One such stop is Rita’s home, where she, a dedicated volunteer involved in farm work and the annual fruit tree giveaway, welcomes apprentices and instructors each year to practice fruit tree care and harvesting. Friday field trips are designed to focus on building community engagement skills and exposing apprentices to environmental and social justice topics that affect Richmond and San Pablo residents.

This program inspires youth to create more edible forests! Support these efforts and stay up to date with how this program is expanding and evolving.