The Relationship Between Music and Mulch

Members of the band Amateur (Tristan Murphy and Cassie Norton) play music in Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard as volunteers Nadine and Jane look on. This was part of an end-of season event for orchard volunteers and their families. At the event we raised money for cedar mulch for our fruit trees. Photo credit: OrchardPeople.com.

This has been an amazing year for the Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard. We got so much work done as a result of a number of new young volunteers. And while COVID 19 has been a challenge, we worked safely in small groups, keeping social distancing practices. And the best part? We all learned lots and had a great time.

But there was one problem. Because of the pandemic we did not have any opportunity to raise new funds for our orchard. We spent about $500 this year on spring mulch and for soil testing and new tools. That left just $500 for us to use next year. We had no money available to cover the cost of fall mulch which insulates the delicate roots of our fruit trees during the cold winter months. It costs $250.

One of our volunteers, Reenie, came up with an idea. As a professional musician and part of the band Citizen Jane, she suggested we have a mini concert in the park for our volunteers and their families and friends. We would limit the event to about 30 or 35 people, keep social distancing, and wear masks. And we would suggest that attendees make a donation of $10 or pay what they can. Our goal was to raise the $250 and if there was any extra funds, we would be able to pay our musicians for their time and effort.

Reenie Perkovic has been volunteering in the Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard for over a year now and during the event we discovered that she is also an incredibly talented musician. Photo credit: Lynn Nicholas.

So Reenie and long-time community orchard volunteer Janina took it upon themselves to organize the event. Reenie would perform and she invited some other musicians, Tristan and Cassie, to participate as well. And even Janina showed off her musical skills during one of the songs.

All four musicians playing together during the fundraising event. Janina is proudly wearing her Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard volunteer T-shirt. Photo Credit: Lynn Nicholas.

Due to the virus, there were no posters for the event. We didn’t actually want to attract too many people because of social distancing rules. But the volunteers came out and brought their families and friends and it was a magical day. While the morning was wet, the rain stopped an hour before our start time and by the time the show began it was a sunny, breezy and beautiful day.

Nadine and Jane are both orchard volunteers who enjoyed the event. Photo credit: Lynn Nicholas.
Orchard volunteers Giselle (left) and Susan (middle) with Margaret (right). Margaret was an orchard volunteer in the early years before she started her own community garden in Wychwood Barns. Photo Credit: Lynn Nicholas.
Two of our teenage volunteers brought their mom and little sister to join the celebrations. Photo credit: Lynn Nicholas
Hard working volunteer Annie (middle) brought along her friends Anne (on left) and Ann’s mom Irene (right). Ann and Irene also brought along a donation from Renee Hoyt, the manager of Glen Garden Apartments where they live. This was a donation from DMS Properties as part of their Good Neighbour Project. We are so grateful for their support! Photo credit: Lynn Nicholas 

While we were all enjoying the music, Lynn was running around with her iPad, taking photographs of everyone having fun.

Lynn relaxing at a table before the event begins. After the action started, she would be busy taking photos for this blog and for our annual community orchard photo calendar. Photo Credit: Susan Poizner

Now, are you wondering what the event sounded like? The music was amazing. So much so that you wanted to experience it fully rather than record it for posterity. But Susan couldn’t help herself and she filmed this little clip from one of Amateur’s songs. The iPhone sound isn’t terrific but it gives you a feel for the music of the day.

So you might be wondering how much money we raised during the event? As I mentioned, our goal was to raise $250 to cover the cost of 2 yards of cedar mulch that will insulate the roots of our fruit trees during the winter. And as agreed, any additional funds would go to the musicians who agreed to come out to the park to help us.

In the end, we actually raised more than our goal and so we were able to give the musicians $170! They deserve that and more for generously offering their time and for sharing their talent with us during the event.

Coming up in the next few weeks in Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard will be our fall mulching day. We will mulch the trees, put on the tree guards, collect, clean and store our fruit tree traps, and get ready for a new fruit tree and gardening adventure in 2021. Want to join us? Make sure you’re on our mailing list.

Email Lynn at growingforgreen (at) gmail.com and we’ll add you to our list!

Susan Poizner is the coordinator of The Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard in Toronto and the author of the award-winning fruit tree care book Growing Urban Orchards. Susan teaches fruit tree care skills online at he fruit tree care training website OrchardPeople.com. Susan is also the host of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast, a show that explores topics relating to fruit trees, food forests, permaculture and arboriculture. She is also an ISA Certified arborist.