Do you have someone on your holiday gift list who really loves the outdoors? Are you putting off holiday shopping because you’re afraid of crowds or don’t like the idea of buying more “stuff”? I have an idea!

Last year, The Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) began offering donors the ability to have a fruit tree planted in honor or celebration of a loved one in exchange for their generosity.

Planting an Illinois Everbearing Mulberry Tree in the Historic Fair Hill Community Orchard in Fall 2016
Planting an Illinois Everbearing Mulberry Tree in the Historic Fair Hill Community Orchard in Fall 2016

Persimmon trees live an average of 60 years, and some well-tended apple trees have been known to live for well over 100 years. Some fig trees begin bearing fruit their first year in the ground. A healthy cherry tree can produce over 200 pounds of fruit in a good season. You could truly give a gift that keeps on giving–for generations!

With a “Plant-a-Tree” Donation of $60, POP will mail you a certificate that states the name of the honoree and the gift-giver and reads: “In celebration of name, a bountiful fruit tree has been planted for an urban orchard in Philadelphia, providing its community with up to 150 pounds of fresh fruit each year for decades to come!”  

plant-a-tree-certificate-template

A fruit tree certificate can be gifted for a number of meaningful occasions:

  • The birth of a baby. One donor told us, “I chose to plant a tree in honor of the birth of my childhood friend’s first child. I chose a tree certificate because it’s customary for Jews to plant a tree in honor of the birth of a child. My friend’s child was born in Philadelphia, and I thought it would be meaningful to plant a tree in his honor in the city of his birth. Furthermore, both my friend and his spouse are lifelong social justice advocates, and the name they gave their son means ‘generous.’ I like that the Philadelphia Orchard Project helps feed low-income communities in Philadelphia, and hope that honoring my friend’s child in this way expresses the values he and his spouse hope to instill in their child.”
  • Memorializing a loved one’s passing. Another donor told us, “I dedicated a tree certificate for a baby who was stillborn, in honor of her first birthday. Her parents spend a lot of time outdoors and gardening, so it seemed like a perfect way to mark the occasion. They were very appreciative, and they like associating her memory with gardens and nature.”
  • Celebrating a graduation or going away to college. Assure your graduate that they’ll always have roots in Philadelphia.
  • Celebrating a holiday or birthday.
  • Commemorating a retirement.

Follow this link to take you to the Fruit Tree Donation Page, fill out all the necessary information, and we’ll do the rest!

The Staff and Board of POP wish you all a restful, joyous, warm, healthy, and uplifting holiday season, and we can’t wait to see you in an orchard in 2017!