Announcement
Photo: Hannah Letinich/Forterra
The IRC in Seattle's New Roots program, in partnership with Forterra and Global to Local, built a new garden site this summer for refugee, immigrant, and low-income families living in the West Hill neighborhood of Kent.
This garden came to be thanks to funding from King Conservation District, Starbucks, and local non-dairy creamer start-up Nutpods. The garden sits on the property of St. Columba's Episcopal Church, who have welcomed the project and its participants with open arms. Other partners include Tilth Alliance and Jewish Family Service, the latter of which will steward two plots collaboratively with refugee clients living nearby.
Staff arborist Rico Montengro from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.
Photo: Hannah Letinich/Forterra
Just months ago the half-acre lot was completely covered by blackberry brambles. Today, thirty-five families are growing fresh, organic produce in a beautiful 10,500 square foot garden space. Adjacent to the individual plots is also a freshly-planted fruit tree orchard.
After learning about Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) from a community partner, the New Roots program was invited to apply for a donated fruit tree orchard. In this work we are constantly amazed at the opportunities that present themselves, and this opportunity was no different. From their website: "The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat climate change, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water."
Volunteers from Ecova and community gardeners celebrate the newly-planted orchard.
Photo: Hannah Letinich/Forterra
Later in the summer, the IRC was chosen as one of four projects to receive a donated orchard from FTPF. On September 28th, a 15-tree orchard was planted at the new garden property. Types of trees include several varieties of apples, European and Asian pears, sweet cherries, plums, and even an edible crabapple. In addition to FTPF staff arborist Rico Montengro and Lizzy Rainey, gardeners from Bhutan and Eastern Congo, and a mighty team of volunteers from Ecova helped plant the trees.
The orchard is cooperatively cared for by gardeners, IRC staff and volunteers, and through a new partnership with the Seattle-based non-profit City Fruit. Fruit from the orchard will be shared by the garden and church communities for generations to come. Thanks so much to all the amazing organizations and volunteers that helped us make this project come alive!