Speaker: Matt Bunch, Horticulturist

TALK: Planting Trees and Growing Communities: Placemaking through sustainably grown food systems  

The idea of urban orchards is not new, but The Giving Grove organization digs deep to find the resources to help other community organizations establish community orchards and orchard programs. This is done through education, matching funding, and resource sharing. This is an overview of the organization but geared towards those that are interested in growing perennial food crops while growing community.

3 Main Bullet Points of Talk

-Keys to starting a community orchard: right plants, the space to grow them, and the community behind them
-Ongoing education and community engagement are key to a community orchard's success
-Access to low cost resources make community orchards available to all

Register for D.I.G. Today! D.I.G. is the only green industry conference in the Midwest to Discover - Investigate - Grow away with knowledge. It will offer skills to improve business, employee education and the tools to discover the latest innovations the green industry has to offer. Managing organization: Missouri Green Industry Alliance

Matt Bunch, Horticulturist -- The Giving Grove  
Matt has 30 years experience in the horticulture field, in commercial, residential, municipal, botanical garden, and non-profit capacities. Matt is the Program Director of the Giving Grove orchard program of Kansas City Community Gardens, and the Horticulturist for The Giving Grove National Org. With the Giving Grove he has planted over 4000 trees with nearly 4000 people. All told he is responsible for at least 10,000 trees planted in yards, parks, campuses, and right-of-ways. When not planting and educating about trees and all things woody and herbaceous Matt enjoys gardening and searching out big trees near and far.

The Giving Grove -- Little Orchards. Big Impact.  
The Giving Grove’s mission is to provide healthy calories, strengthen community, and improve the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards. Our work -- The Giving Grove supports neighborhood volunteers in planting and caring for fruit trees, nut trees, and berry brambles that improve the urban environment, increase tree canopy and provide a sustainable source of free, organically-grown food for neighborhoods facing high rates of food insecurity.

Our impact -- Our Community
The Giving Grove network has more than 500 orchards across the U.S. with the potential to grow over 4 million servings of free, fresh food annually while re-invigorating urban green spaces from coast to coast. Giving Grove orchards become a gathering place where neighbor meets neighbor, allowing the community to grow alongside the trees and brambles. Want to see it for yourself? Tap the image!