TreePeople has provided over 30,000 free fruit trees to Los Angeles communities for over 30 years through their Fruit Tree Program. The trees are carefully selected, ordered, and distributed to both individual families and public orchards. TreePeople also educates communities on planting, caring for, and harvesting fruit trees through workshops and demonstrations. Their goal is to make locally grown fruit accessible while inspiring environmental stewardship.

1. TreePeople Fruit Tree Program Giveaway

2. Free Fruit Trees Provided to Los Angeles communities for 30 years

3. Funded by Generous support from 11,000 TreePeople members

4. Volunteer Driven

6. History: Originally inventory was comprised of donated free left over bare roots from wholesalers From ’84 -’89: 26,000 provided to low income families in LA, and Indian reservations throughout the Southwest (but there was no choice, often poor quality, in scraggly shape after b.r. season, no attention to chill hours or self fertility)

7. 1986-1989: African Airlift Over 7,000 trees distributed, with the cooperation of humanitarian assistance groups, indigenous organizations and government agencies. 80% survival rate documented

8. Now, Trees are Carefully Ordered and Purchased Since the 90’s we buy quality commodity varieties -- low chill and self fertile -- guaranteed to produce in Southern CA – apples, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums, until 2008 around 3,000 per year

9. Expansion of TP FTP 2008 – 9,000 bare root deciduous 2009 – 9,000 bare root and 3,000 citrus 2010 – 6,000 bare root and 3,000 citrus 2011 – 6,000 bare root deciduous 2012 – 7,800 deciduous, citrus, and avo

11. Preps For Bareroots 1. Pruning -- Small caliper trees cut to whips or nearly

12. (Wet muddy fun) 2. Root ball wrapping in wet newspaper & plastic bags

13. Recipient Community Group Volunteers prep along with regular TP Volunteers Simple: prune, wrap, load and go!

14. Concise and thorough planting and care instructions provided in English or Spanish Planting and ongoing care on either side of 1 piece of paper 2 sets of instructions: “in the ground” & “ permanently in a pot” (Advice is given to plant bare roots within 2 days.)

15. Distribution of fruit trees “ Family Distribution” -- Most of the trees go to individual families who can’t easily afford or have access to fruit trees (+/- 80% of inventory) A smaller percentage of inventory goes to “ Public Orchards ” -- communally grown and not for profit

16. Festive Giveaway Distributions

17. Community networking events

18. Farmers mkts in targeted areas

19. Some happy recipients

25. 2012 – target areas for Family Distribution Northeast San Fernando Valley and South Los Angeles January through early February 7,000 bare root deciduous apples, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums

26. Public Orcharding: Any non-profit communal fruit growing endeavor in LA County qualifies. For 2012 – 800 deciduous, citrus, avocado, & other species

27. Elementary School Orchards South Shores Elementary School, San Pedro

28. Community Gardens Roger Jessup Community Garden, Pacoima

29. High School Ancient “Ag” Areas Carson High School, Carson (300 fruit trees in 1.5 acres!)

30. (‘How to’ for the future) learning what works and …

31. Grant High School Serenity Garden, Valley Village Breaking ground January, 2011 (47 deciduous varieties: apple, apricot, nectarine, peach, plum, pluot, aprium, nectaplum, peacotum, jujube, persimmon, fig, and pomegranate)

32. September 2011 (For 2012 – add citrus and avocados!)

34. TreePeople Nursery and satellite nursery fruit tree propagation and care oddball species to propagate ourselves: fig, mulberry, pomegranate, white sapote, cherimoya, loquat, passionfruit, banana, papaya, etc.

35. Baby white sapote seedlings

36. Education & FTP: Fruit Crew Events

37. Fruit Tree Pruning & Fruit Tree Care 2 separate formal 3 hour traveling workshops

38. Ad hoc fruit tree talks Designed for recipient community groups’ particular needs

39. school garden curriculum

40. Grafting workshops and demonstrations

42. Urban Angelino Fruit Enthusiasts: ! Unite!