How the Fruit Tree Giveaway Began (and Why It Still Matters)
Urban Tilth’s Fruit Tree Giveaways began eight years ago as a creative, community-driven response to a challenge in the early days of the Edible Food Forest at Unity Park. At the time, fruit trees were being dug up and removed soon after planting. Instead of turning to restrictive or punitive solutions, the team looked for a different approach rooted in care and generosity.
Heather Blackie, long-time Urban Tilth board member and collaborator, helped shape the idea of giving fruit trees away directly to the community, a reflection of the abundance and reciprocity we see in the trees themselves. That idea became the foundation of what is now the annual Fruit Tree Giveaway program at Urban Tilth.
The Verde Fruit Tree Giveaway is traditionally held at Verde K–8 School in North Richmond. This year, however, changes in the reservation process and additional funding requirements made it difficult to secure the site in time. After some adjustment and coordination, the team shifted the event to North Richmond Farm. While the change came late in planning, it also opened up new possibilities, and the farm is now being considered as a potential future home for the giveaway.
Even with these challenges, the day came together beautifully. Trees were distributed throughout the event, and many community members showed up to participate, connect, and take home something they could plant and care for in their own spaces. The success of the day was made possible through the dedication of Verde and Orchards for All staff, along with support from across Urban Tilth teams and partners, including Planting Justice.
Who Showed Up and How the Trees Were Shared
Outreach this year focused primarily on North Richmond and Verde K–8 School communities, with additional invitations shared through local flyering, word of mouth, and the email newsletter for Richmond and San Pablo residents. The event was also shared on Instagram following the last-minute location change, helping broaden awareness.
All 110 fruit trees were distributed by the end of the event. Attendance was strong, with 95 participants recorded overall. Of those, 76 (80%) were from Richmond, including North Richmond. This marks an increase from last year’s 67 Richmond participants (74.4%), showing continued growth in local engagement.
Participants also came from nearby communities including El Sobrante, San Pablo, Rodeo, and Pinole. Within Richmond, North Richmond and Shields-Reid were represented by 12 residents (15.8%), a slight decrease from the previous year.
Figures and Data
Figure 1. Over three-quarters of participants were from Richmond (including North Richmond).
Figure 2. Participants from neighborhoods targeted by Urban Tilth projects (North Richmond/Shields-Reid and the TCC project area) represented approximately one-third of total Giveaway participants.
The Feel of the Day
What stood out most this year was the energy of the space itself. People moved through the event choosing trees, asking questions, and imagining what their future harvests might look like. Even after all the trees were gone, the conversations kept going.
The Fruit Tree Giveaway continues to be about more than distribution. It is about trust, access, and the shared act of planting something that will grow beyond a single day.