Orchard on a Mission

In partnership with the Spring Rose Growers Cooperative, the Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability has launched a unique Community Orchard Stewards Program at the Center’s orchard west of Verona.

The program’s first nine “stewards” began their guided journey into orchard management in July amid the Center’s 25 quarter-century-old apple trees, 29-year-old grape vines, and mix of pears, apricots, currants, raspberries and saskatoons planted in 2011.

A program like this would be expected to cost hundreds of dollars; but in line with the Center’s dedication to socially progressive change and community partnership, the program instead employs a time-honored barter system— a commitment to time and muscle working in the orchard (plus a mere $30 to cover instructor fees) in exchange for a portion of the harvest and, most important, priceless handson education.

Though the program was created by five individuals at the Center, the future vision will ride on steward-inspired evolution. “We sincerely hope that the folks participating as stewards this year and in future years will come to drive the program,” says Kelly Maynard, one of the program creators. “We want it to be a space where people learn from the land and each other, reap the bounty of their joint efforts, and even become teachers themselves."

For more information about the Community Orchard Stewards Program and to apply to become a steward, contact the Farley Center at info@farleycenter.org or 608-845-8724.