POP planted two new orchards this spring: the POP Learning Orchard at The Woodlands (with support from the Junior League of Philadelphia), and the Wissahickon Environmental Center (with support from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Garden Club of America). Due to ongoing restrictions around group gatherings, both plantings were carried out over a number of days and weeks with organization staff and the help of a few dedicated Lead Orchard Volunteers. In all POP helped plant 75 new fruit and nut trees, 162 berries and vines, and 260 perennial flowers, herbs, and groundcovers at city orchards this spring. In late June, POP was awarded a grant from the William Penn Foundation's Great Public Spaces program. This funding will support POP's ongoing education and community engagement efforts with its 65 site partners, including the development of POP's nursery and headquarters at The Woodlands. We also received new support from the Claneil Foundation, and a donation by Jody and John Arnhold in memory of Marcia Winik Vitiello to sponsor the orchard at Norris Square Neighborhood Project. POP's board and staff are deeply appreciative of POP's foundation, individual, and corporate supporters whose partnership allows us to continue working to build food sovereignty and a city with fruit for all. Thanks for reading, and stayed tuned for news on POP's annual Orchard Celebration (which will be taking a different form this year!). |