Dozens of community members, from sprouting young seedlings to seasoned oaks, gathered for a day of planting, teamwork, and digging deep (literally). The event kicked off with a fruitful presentation about the orchard’s goals, explaining how the apple of our eye—this community space—would grow to provide fresh fruit and a lush gathering spot for everyone. Fueled by tea, coffee, and biscuits, attendees were ready to get to the root of the matter.

Armed with shovels, determination, and a healthy dose of “can dew” spirit, we broke into teams and got down to the “core” of the day—digging holes and planting apple and plum trees. Once the saplings were nestled in their new homes, it was time to “branch” out into the heavy work: building protective fences. With mallets swinging and pile drivers thudding, we ensured the trees were safe from any potential “fowl” play. And while this was just the beginning, there’s more to come—next year, we’ll be planting even more trees to help this orchard truly blossom. Stay tuned for updates, because we’re just getting started!