Our Second Annual Edible Tree Tour!
Sep 16th, 2009 by Laurel Atkinson
We’ve been so busy picking that we’ve had nary a spare second to write about the fabulous Edible Tree Tour that took place almost a month ago!
In partnership with LEAF and their very own Toronto Tree Tours, a second annual Edible Tree Tour was held August 15th. By far the most popular of the Toronto Tree Tours, a crowd of 120 gathered in Ben Nobleman Park to hear a little about Toronto’s first community orchard, an initiative by Growing for Green and Not Far From the Tree.
Moving with the herd, we ambled through Cedarvale Ravine and down through the tree-lined streets of Ward 21. We were honoured with the presence of artist Stan Krzyzanowski, who uses grafting techniques to blend and fuse cherry trees (and the help of Mother Nature, of course).
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LEAF arborist Todd Irvine and Not Far From The Tree’s Laura Reinsborough
LEAF arborist Todd Irvine and Not Far From The Tree’s Laura Reinsborough
A beautiful, pear-laden tree was another stop along the way, and a few pocket knives were even produced to share the (somewhat under-ripe) fruit. We even happened along a Not Far From the Tree fruit pick in progress, with volunteers daintily plucking golden plums from the boughs. My favourite stop was a house where the front yard was overflowing with the creation and cultivation of fig trees, plum trees and the like – one man’s 50 year labour of love.
If you missed out on the walk this year, there are still more rambles to be had! Why not take advantage of LEAF’s self-guided Toronto Tree Tours online. Or you could even take your own stroll in a neighbourhood, and hunt for some more fruit trees that Not Far From the Tree can pick! For the more mellow-at-heart, take a virtual tour of the Edible Tree Tour through Torontoist’s great recap.
