Today was a perfect example of why stewardship is at the heart of our community orchard. Volunteers at Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard came out in full force, rolling up their sleeves and digging into some much-needed fall prep!
We split into teams to get everything done. Team 1 took on the pollinator garden, giving it a proper fall cleanup, making sure it’s ready for the winter months. We want to make sure our pollinators have a happy home when spring comes around!
Meanwhile, Team 2 focused on the fruit trees, using a sharp spade or edger to create neat circles around the trees, keeping the grass and weeds at bay. The goal here? Make sure those weeds and grass don’t compete with the trees for precious nutrients. It’s a simple task but one that calls for some muscle and this work makes a big difference for tree health.
After the hard work, we got to enjoy one of my favorite traditions – our annual potluck! There were delicious bagels with toppings, sweet treats, and even some fancy homemade tiramisu. It’s always fun to share a meal together after a day of working in the orchard.
In addition to our 19 awesome volunteers, we had a special guest join us: local Realtor Ben Kafetz. Ben’s been such a huge supporter of our orchard, especially when it comes to keeping our equipment in top shape. He’s fixed the sprayers we use for our holistic molasses spray more times than we can count!
Today, Ben came with another big gift – two Home Depot gift cards totalling $400! This is going to help us big time with next year’s expenses for plants, tools, and mulch. A huge thank you to Ben for his generosity and for supporting our team in so many ways.
And as if that wasn’t enough, we also got to enjoy a rare treat, courtesy of our friend Lisa, who lives near St. Clair. She’s got two mature pawpaw trees in her yard, and guess what? They’re producing fruit! Pawpaws are native to North America, but they’re a rare find in most supermarkets. The fruit is soft, creamy, and has a unique tropical flavour, like a cross between banana and mango. You won’t see them on store shelves because they don’t store or transport well, but thanks to Lisa, we all got to share this special fruit—about 25 small pawpaws in total!
Our pawpaw trees at the park are still young and won’t bear fruit for another five years or so, but today’s harvest from Lisa was a sweet preview of what’s to come.
Thank you to everyone who came out today! You made a huge difference. And if you couldn’t make it, don’t worry—we’ve got one more stewardship day coming up. Hope to see you there!
Susan Poizner is one of the volunteers for The Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard in Toronto. She is the creator of the fruit tree care education website OrchardPeople.com. Susan is the author of four fruit tree care books including Grow Fruit Trees Fast: A Beginner’s Guide to a Healthy Harvest in Record Time. She is also the host of the Orchard People podcast and an ISA Certified Arborist.