not far from the tree

Such is the choice in today’s supermarkets for members of a low-income family, even with a father suffering from diabetes.

This scene from the new film FOOD, Inc. is one of the more poignant ones, revealing the personal implications of the industrial food system. It brings home just how important it is to share our backyard fruit as a small step with big implications.

The film ends with a string of messages to empower us as consumers, encouraging us to consider the way we vote by eating, three times a day. For Torontonians, the time is now for us to vote in a much more powerful way.

The City of Toronto is currently considering policy changes to support local food production, and is looking to its citizens to inform how that is done. Deputations are being made tomorrow to the Parks and Environment Committee (see the agenda here). I just found out about this meeting today, but hope to be able to keep informed of the process as it continues.

FOOD, Inc. opens this Friday, June 19th. For those who haven’t read Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation or would like a refresher, check it out.

Last fall the New York Times reported on fruit tree projects around the States, the kind like Not Far From The Tree that organizes fruit picking and then shares the harvest.

Today they’re putting their finger on the pulse once again with a beautiful article on public fruit foraging. It mentions the artsy urban pioneers of the public fruit movement, Fallen Fruit, and focuses on the work of Asiya Wadud at Forage Oakland. Asiya and I have been emailing and blog-stalking one another since our projects both got off the ground at about the same time last year.

I regularly read about fruit-bartering of Forage Oakland on Asiya’s wonderful blog, but think it’s something that I’ll need to see in person to really get a sense of just how it works. And to taste my first loquat!

My fruit-themed vocabulary has improved tremendously since embarking on this project (see pomological and usufruct). I can also initiate fascinating cocktail conversation about heritage apple varieties, though sustaining them depends upon the interest and/or benevolence of others.

The world of fruit has many interesting words to offer, such as my latest discovery, “scrumping.” It appears to be a British term originating in the mid-19th century. It has limited use in daily conversation because it often applies to “apples and only apples,” but we here at Not Far From The Tree can do our part to ensure that this quirky term doesn’t go extinct.

scrump, v.

1. To steal fruit, especially apples, from a garden or orchard.

P.S. It’s a fun word, but please don’t steal. Just ask, and I’m sure your neighbours will be willing to share!

Please have a look at our newest job opening in the position of Ward 21 Hub Coordinator. If you or somebody you know fits the criteria, we’ll be accepting applications until June 5th, 2009 at 5pm EST.

Not Far From The Tree’s first ever Spring Blossom Fest proved a hit this year. We choreographed an afternoon of relaxed fun among the blossoming heritage fruit trees at Spadina Museum this past Mother’s Day.

The atmosphere was set by the blossoming trees, ambient DJ music, and picnic blankets strewn between the trees. Families, friends, and couples gathered to make their own fun with picnics, reading, sketching, playing, and soaking up the fresh spring sun.

It was delightful to see the orchards being used in this way. I kept overhearing people say how the grounds of Spadina are such a hidden gem in the city. While it would be nice to keep that secret, the Spring Blossom Fest demonstrated how special places like this can be used to their full potential. There are so many ways to inhabit an orchard, the least of which is to pick the fruit like we do! Access to the gorgeous grounds of Spadina Museum is free on Tuesdays-Sundays from 12-5. Enjoy, and take good care when you’re there!

Photographer Rannie Turingan took a host of beautiful portraits, many with blossoms in the background. Check them out (and download yours!) here.

Special thanks to Chocosol who came at my last minute request to sell their tasty wares. I hope you all had your fill of their chocolate! If you need more, they can be found at several farmers markets around the city.

In Toronto Life’s June 2009 issue, Not Far From The Tree is featured as one of “50 reasons to love Toronto now.”

We’re feeling the love. Thanks for the recognition!

Hello, I’m Peggy from A.Y Jackson Secondary School and I have participated in Generation Green, a new program by Live Green Toronto.

This morning I met up with Laura at the Wychwood Barns. We walked around some neighborhoods and handed out some flyers to homes that seemed like they would have fruit trees or plants, and we also handed out some flyers to houses that we passed by. As we walked she taught me which kinds of fruits belonged to which plants or trees, but I’m sure I won’t be able to tell the different when I’m by myself!

After handing out a couple of flyers, we went to do a Generation Green video. I was really nervous about the interview because I got really tongue tied when the camera was around, but it was really fun. I had never done a interview infront of a camera before, so it was an really nerve-racking and an exciting experience.

When we were done doing the interviews and done with the video we continued on handing out flyers. We passed by Humewood House (a partnered agency with not far from the tree), but we stopped when Laura spotted the blooming blossoms near the House. Laura took some pictures of the blossoms which were so beautiful. And along came a bee, it was so fuzzy and chubby that I thought it was cute.

Before the day started, I was really nevous about job shadowing because of the interviews and I didn’t really know what we were going to do. But the day was so much fun and Laura was the nicest person I’ve met. I’m really glad I got the opportunity to participate in Generation Green’s job shadowing.

Not Far From The Tree’s inaugural Spring Blossom Fest will be happening this Sunday afternoon at the Spadina Museum orchard!

Spadina’s 50+ fruit trees are ready to perform for you. Most of them are heritage apple varieties, and should be in full blossom this Sunday, May 10th. We’ve orchestrated an afternoon of lazy fun for you to enjoy. While the museum hosts its Mother’s Day Cream Tea inside, we’re throwing a hip counterpart outside.

The attractions include:

• lots of blossoms!
• DJ Quim spinning relaxed tunes in the orchard
• blossom portrait booth (get your photo taken on your own, with friends, or with your mom!) by the famous www.rannieturingan.com
• a tour of the orchard with heritage horticulturalist Wendy Woodword (at 2pm)
• the buzz on bees with Fran Freeman of the Toronto Beekeepers’ Coop (at 3pm)
• picnic blankets will be strewn between the blossoming trees (you’re invited to bring your own as well)
• apples will be offered for everybody (you’re welcome to bring a snack or picnic on top of the apples)
• blossom-less trees will be adorned with playful artistic installations for this special occasion

Here’s a map to the Spadina Museum orchard (with subway stations): tinyurl.com/c7g5uh

And the Facebook event listing: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=81737301785
Hope to see you there!

It is with great pleasure that I announce the generous support of the Ministry of the Environment’s Community Go Green Fund for Not Far From The Tree. Their support gives us a big boost towards launching a very successful 2009 season.

The goals of the Community Go Green Fund are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use all three of the following mechanisms:

* Provide outreach and education;
* Promote long-term behavioural change;
* Advocate actions that create results that can be measured

A list of all approved projects for 2009-2010 are listed on the Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s website here.

Many Not Far From The Tree supporters came out to celebrate at the Green Toronto Awards ceremony last week. Although we didn’t win the Green Toronto Award itself, we were awarded an Environmental Award of Excellence. It was an honour to be selected as a finalist, especially after only our first year.

We are friends of a feather with the other two finalists in our category, so it was guaranteed to be a great night. Roscoe Handford, the Green Toronto Award winner, helped start Not Far From The Tree by connecting me with the orchard at Spadina Museum. And Greenest City, fellow Enviromental Award of Excellence recipient, is the agency that will be hosting our fruit-picking hub in Parkdale this summer.

Much thanks to the City of Toronto (especially the Toronto Environment Office) for celebrating environmental efforts in this way.