Can You Dig It? A Fruit Orchard at Brook Run's Garden

The Dunwoody Community Garden is about to become bigger – a lot bigger.

Councilman John Heneghan reports in his popular blog that at 10 a.m. Nov. 9 their will be a ceremony where the trees will be delivered by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.

The orchard was won by the Dunwoody Community Garden through a dedicated online campaign that showed the support of Dunwoody’s gardeners in the national Edy’s promotion.

The orchard will be extensive: 20 fruit trees and 15 berry bushes on the grounds surrounding the community garden. Organizers have selected apples, pears, plums, persimmon, pawpaw, pomengranate and more. 

The ceremony is the start of the hard work it will take to plant the orchard. Some has already been done, Heneghan said, and Handy Andy Outdoors has contributed equipment to dig holes.

Dignitares will attend the orchard launch, including county master gardeners, civic groups, the city council and, of course, the community garden folks that made it happen.

Karen Converse is one of the leaders in planting the orchard. She said, “DeKalb master gardeners are excited to be partnering with the Dunwoody Community Garden on this unique opportunity to grow an orchard using organic methods."

Our intention is to provide workshops and hands-on learning for community members who may be interested in growing organic fruit in their home Garden. We invite participants from the greater community to come and learn with us on planting day.”

If you’re real serious, volunteers wanting to work on the planting should arrive at 9:30 a.m.  You’ll need work gloves, scissors or trowel for separating roots and a shovel. Lunch will be provided in a refurbished barn on the property near the garden.

Every year, the community garden donates more than a ton of food to St. Patrick’s Food Pantry, across the street from Brook Run Park. The orchard will greatly expand the footprint and likely trhe reach of the garden.