The Urban Farmers Annual Fruit Tree Project

Did you know one mature fruit tree can produce 100-500 lbs of fruit? Planting and caring for fruit trees is a fun and rewarding way to eat local. 

Help us populate Contra Costa with heritage fruit trees that will enrich our lives for the next 25 to 75 years.

The Urban Farmers is coordinating a Group Purchase of trees.  Anyone mentioning Sustainable Danville Area will get 15% off the price of trees purchased during the sale.  Because we are ordering as a group, everyone gets free drop shipping,  a free workshop and free bulletins.

Here's five reasons why you should participate:

1.  Personal Wellness - Some of the fruit that grow easily in N. California - such as Apples, Pears and Plums - are amongst the most heavily sprayed crops. For example USDA has found 42 pesticide residues on Apples where 5 are known (or probable) Carcinogens and 19 are Hormone Disruptors. By growing your own fruit, you can eat healthy, home grown food, without breaking the bank.
 

2. For Our Children -  The Urban Farmer is donating trees to local schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified, Mt. Diablo and Accalanes School District to teach our children about the cycle of food in nature.  There is a 15% discount for any parent, faculty or administrator affiliated with these school districts.

3. As service to the less fortunate -  More than one out of ten children in Contra Costa and Solano counties live below the federal poverty level. Thirty three (33%) of those served at emergency food programs in Contra Costa and Solano counties are children. A single tree can produce 100 to 500 lbs. of fruit per year.  If your family eats 20% of the fruit, imagine the impact you can make at a local food bank with your donation!  Please watch this short clip.

4. For Our Environment - Planting a tree is the easiest way to sequester carbon from the air and into the soil. One tree can process up to a ton of carbon in it's lifetime - so plant a tree...or plant 20 trees per year and be carbon neutral.

5. The Taste - There are thousands of Apple varieties, but if you look at what’s available in stores, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there are only 6 or 8 kinds of Apples. Some of the best tasting fruit is not suitable to the needs of commercial agriculture (shipping, shelf life, massive production, etc.) Instead of growing commonly available fruits, we are planting antique heirloom fruit trees. Some of these trees date back to 1200AD and the taste is so exceptional that in Europe, and at Chez Panisse they are still served as desert.

Orders are due by Feb. 20th and trees will be available at the arrival party Feb. 26th. Please visit The Urban Farmers.org for more information.