Dunwoody Community Garden wins Orchard

Ceremony on November 9 at 10:00 AM

On Friday, November 9 at 10:00 AM Johnny Appleseed is coming to the Dunwoody Community Garden at Brook Run Park.  Well, not literally, but certainly in spirit.

This past August it was announced that the Dunwoody Community Garden at Brook Run Park had won a complete orchard in a nationwide contest sponsored by Edy’s Fruit Bars.  The Dunwoody Community Garden will receive more than 20 fruit trees and at least 15 berry bushes to plant on the grounds of the Community Garden.  The trees will include apples, pears, plums, persimmon, pawpaw and pomegranate.

There will be a ceremony on November 9 at 10:00 AM for the presentation of the trees by Edy’s and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation which is overseeing the planting of the orchards.  Following opening ceremonies, volunteers will begin the work of planting the orchard. Luckily, Handy Andy Outdoors of Chamblee has contributed equipment to dig the planting holes and that bit of hard work is already done. Refreshments and lunch will be provided to volunteers doing the planting work.  Representatives from the DeKalb Master Gardeners, the Dunwoody Community Garden and civic groups will attend and take part in the planting.  Dunwoody’s Mayor and City Council representatives will also attend.

As a newly selected training site for the DeKalb Master Gardener Program, Dick Langway and Karen Converse will serve as co-leaders for coordinating the Orchard activities and the Dunwoody Community Garden. According to Karen Converse, “DeKalb Master Gardeners are excited to be partnering with the Dunwoody Community Garden on this unique opportunity to grow an orchard using organic methods. Our intention is to provide workshops and hands-on learning for community members who may be interested in growing organic fruit in their home Garden. We invite participants from the greater community to come and learn with us on planting day.”

Those wishing to join the volunteers in the planting should arrive at 9:30 AM.  They should bring gloves, scissors or trowel for separating roots and a shovel for back filling the hole. Lunch will be provided in the barn. A free seminar afterward will be provided by certified arborist Rico Montenegro of the Fruit Tree Planting Association.

Each year Dunwoody Community Garden has contributed over a ton of fresh vegetables grown in their organic Garden to St. Patrick’s Church Food Pantry and the Interfaith Outreach Home.  Now they will be adding fresh, healthily grown fruit to those contributions.

The public is encouraged to attend and enjoy the activities planned.