The McCauley Urban Fruit Orchard Project is a partnership between Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton and the City of Edmonton. Since 2012, OFRE has been planning and organizing this ground-breaking project. The area specifically located on 107A Avenue between 95th and 96th Street is being transformed into a micro Orchard – a fruit bearing oasis!
This project was conceived of and designed in partnership with members of the Edmonton Permaculture Guild. The orchard uses permaculture principles to create symbiotic relationships between the elements in the design, including a passive water harvesting and irrigation system.
With grant funding from the City of Edmonton, OFRE has transformed a section of the McCauley School grounds. The micro Orchard includes plantings to showcase the types and varieties of fruit trees, shrubs, and bushes that can grow in the Edmonton Capital region. Fruit varieties planted include: apples, pears, cherries, saskatoons, raspberries and more!
As a green addition to McCauley, the micro Orchard is used by OFRE to host educational workshops. People will be able to learn how to press apple cider, and care for their fruit bearing trees and bushes. Its aim is to help feed the citizens of Edmonton, through the installation of the micro Orchard, and to empower people with the skills needed to grow, harvest, and preserve locally grown fruit in their own homes and gardens.
The Edmonton Permaculture Guild is working on a partnership agreement that will allow us to assist Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton to maintain the site, and in return provide us access for educational events and workshops.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Orchard, or participating to help maintain it, please contact us with the subject line OFRE Fruit Orchard.