TreesNC to Plant Community Grove

Asheboro, September 17, 2014 – TreesNC  has been awarded a grant to plant a grove of 32 fruit and nut bearing trees through the Alliance for Community Trees Community GrovesSM program. The planting will take place during the following months.

Too many low income individuals suffer from limited access to fresh, nutritious food. Many communities, now including  Asheboro, are turning to urban orchards to address food access locally. This Community GrovesSM grant will fund TreesNC’s  grassroots effort to bring food-bearing trees to Asheboro’s East Side neighborhood.

“TreesNC is honored to receive a Community GrovesSM grant to help us plant and maintain a grove of fruit trees that will provide nourishment for the residents of a historic minority community for years to come,” said Owen George of TreesNC.

“Healthy trees make healthy communities,” said Carrie Gallagher, Executive Director of Alliance for Community Trees. “Planting Community GrovesSM of fruit and nut trees will provide fresh food for communities, educate residents about nutrition and agriculture, bring neighbors together, and revitalize vacant or derelict urban lands.”

Community GrovesSM was launched in 2013 after a successful pilot initiative, which brought 2,000 new trees and shrubs to community gardens in 30 cities across the U.S. in partnership with the USDA People’s Garden initiative. The Community GrovesSM Guidebook, which is available online, offers tools and resources for bringing the nourishing benefits of fruit and nut trees to any neighborhood. It’s designed to help nonprofits, community leaders, and residents plan, establish, and maintain their own urban orchards.

TreesNC is one of only 12 organizations nationally to be awarded this grant. Community GrovesSM events will also take place across the country: Baltimore, MD; Dallas, TX; Elko, NV; Fitchburg, WI; Goleta, CA; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; Manchester, NH; New Orleans, LA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Sacramento.

About Alliance for Community Trees

Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. With over 200 member and partner organizations in 44 states and Canada, ACTrees engages volunteers to take action to improve the environment where 93% of people live - in urban areas. Together, ACTrees member organizations have planted and cared for over 15 million trees with help from over 5 million volunteers. Learn more about ACTrees and its member organizations at www.ACTrees.org and follow us on Twitter @alliance4trees and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AllianceforCommunityTrees