This Waitsfield community group performed the awesome task of putting together an orchard for the public to enjoy and care for the Flemer Orchard. We hope this sets an example to other communities, as these acts bring folks together in a healthy way and expose our children to agriculture and nature.
- Trees were supplied by Walden Heights Nursery and Orchard
Comments from Walden Heights Nursery:
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 7:37am
Todd Parlo of Walden Heights Nursery is not able to attend the event today and sent these comments to share:
“The planting of a fruit tree is an act of many parts. It means placing food on the table, that’s a given. It means providing shade for people and a home for animals, this too is obvious. But we, too are looking to the future and creating for the present. The future in that an apple tree might live 200 years, see countless children swinging from the branches and feed thousands of people. In choosing an heirloom tree we may ensure an already ancient part of our culture a place in the future. The manner in which we plant, too can enrich us. Today we are planting as a community, friends and stranger coming together in a single selfless act. It encourages an understanding of what food means to us, how it comes about, and the efforts necessary in bringing it to fruition. A community orchard means anopportunity for learning, for good honest work, and for sustainability andindependence in a changing world.
“I should say a bit about the fruits you will be finding in your orchard. Among these are heirlooms like the Fameuse apple and Montmorency cherry are both 400 years old and counting. Vermont natives like Leo and Bethel apples are easy to care for and disease resistant. Selections such as Liberty and Duchess of Oldenburg. The cultivars represent many nations, includingFrance, Russia, Canada, Italy, and many states from our own shores. Represented are both creamy and crunchy pears, apples for ciders, baking and fresh eating and cherries for pies, jellies, juice or just popping on your mouth. The fruits will ripen from July right into the snows of November. The trees are nearly all of classic size and will be long lived giants, bringing thousands of bushels of fruit for a century or more.
“I feel privileged to be associated with this project and will be happy to lend my guidance when the community needs help. Thanks should be extended not only to the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and its sponsors, but to the organizers in the community who first saw the opportunity and acted upon it. Thanks to should be given to each other for supporting such an undertaking. The real success here will come, not from gifts or guidance from others so much as will the work and commitment of YOU, members of the community, in years to come. It is work to maintain a living entity, like an orchard, for year after year. But by working together you may supplant the mundane with something truly outstanding for yourselves and many generations to come. Good luck to you.”