Orchard For All describes tree giveaways, harvest distribution and apprenticeship

Lisa (Orchard For All state coordinator) and Bruno Ellen Caruana described a distributed community-orchard program serving the Iron Triangle, Santa Fe and Coronado neighborhoods. The program provides free tree care (pruning, fertilization), harvests fruit for distribution at free farm stands and trains young adults in arbor skills through a six-week apprenticeship.

The presenters said this year’s giveaway included roughly 400 fruit trees and that the team harvested thousands of pounds of produce in 2025. Bruno said the program now tracks homeowners and tree status in a new database to support care and harvest planning. A six-week apprenticeship for participants ages 18–25 will run March 2–April 10, with sessions Monday–Wednesday 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Orchard For All announced a public fruit-tree giveaway at Unity Park on March 7 (10 a.m.–1 p.m.; Unity Park entrance at 1605 Ohio Avenue) and a second giveaway March 14 at Verde Elementary School (10 a.m.–1 p.m.). Staff said one tree per recipient will be distributed at the event but homeowners can request additional trees by contacting the program.