2016 CIIP Program Booklet | Page 11

Community Partner : Baltimore Orchard Project Intern : Anna Lindsay Site Supervisor : Eric Sargent
What is Baltimore Orchard Project ? Baltimore Orchard Project strengthens communities through planting and cultivating orchards .
Just wait a few years , then you ’ ll see … Prior to my internship with the Baltimore Orchard Project I had no idea what kind of impact that fruit and nut trees could have . While it takes some patience , love , and care to grow , I can ’ t imagine planting any other trees but these . I ’ ve been able to witness first hand how much food they produce in community gardens and in urban forests , and furthermore the impact they have . Not only is it fresh , nutritious food but it is literally the fruit of one ’ s own labor when our planting partners pursue developing their own orchard . Through my internship I have been able to see people connect with nature in healthy and sustainable ways . From hosting harvests to educating the public on the benefits of fruit in our lives , I am seeing just how possible it is for us to create a truly “ edible Baltimore ”. Simply showing local children and community members how easy it is to harvest your own fruit , and being able to see their reaction of awe is what has inspired me to continue working in this area . Managing my organization ’ s social media constantly reminds me of why I want to . I ’ ve been fortunate enough to be exposed to a wide array of neighborhoods in Baltimore now , seeing how much of a threat food deserts are to this city ’ s environment and public health . I took my overall goal to create a seasonality fruit calendar into something more , a resource which ANY person in the Baltimore community could use . I went beyond the seasonality and nutritional benefits of fruit to incorporate access to local farmers ’ markets where they could buy this food ( fresh and local ), exercises that one can do without the need of a gym to stay fit , recipes that require minimal experience / spending on ingredients , and great alternative ways to use these fruits throughout the year . I ’ ve learned a great deal about this city , and even more about myself this summer . I found that I have a love or knack for urban planning , and I plan to pursue a long term project with a local community farm throughout the year to help them design and implement a community garden center . Seeing all of these community farms that my organization partners with gives me hopes that one day everyone will know about them , and Baltimore will once again be filled with fruit trees in which anyone can enjoy the gifts of . ‐ Anna
Tasks :
● Researched seasonality , nutr recipes , and alternative ways for " An Edible Baltimore " boo features local farmers ' marke exercises
● Worked with other local non organizations by teaching at community garden planning making night
● Prepared recipe cards for eve be distributed to the public
● Consulted future planting par planning