Help support the development of the Boulder Apple Tree Project Orchard
I feel so fortunate to be able to call Boulder and the Front Range my home. It is truly an amazing place – the people, communities, ecology. Yet, I am also shocked at times how fast this place is changing. Historic apple trees dot our neighborhoods, wildlands and parks. The Boulder Apple Tree Project is building ties among our history, community, and land via these amazing trees.
February marks the third anniversary of the Apple Tree Project. We have accomplished so much in these years. We have recorded over 600 trees. We have analyzed the genetics of over 300 trees. We have found varieties that were commonly planted here in the late 1800s (like Ben Davis and Wealthy). We have found local varieties that were planted here in Boulder but possibly nowhere else. We have also stumbled upon wild seedlings, some of which might become a future Boulder variety able to withstand our harsh climate and with an amazing taste. We have involved over 50 students in our quest.
Building on this momentum, our next big step is to start preserving trees. The trees are reaching the ends of their lives. We lose some every year. So I write to you in hopes that you can help make our next step a reality.
February and March is the time of year for grafting – taking twigs of trees we want to save and joining them to new young rootstock – essentially giving these trees a new life. We want to graft as many trees as we can to ensure their future vitality, but we are slowed because we don’t have a place to plant these trees once they are ready to be put in the ground.
Our dream is to be able to graft these special trees and plant them in community teaching orchards. Landscape architects at CU have designed the first one of these to be right in Boulder, off 30th street and the Boulder Creek Path, open to anyone that wants to walk under these great trees, eat their fruit, and learn their sorties.
For this project to go forward, we are seeking funds for constructing the orchard, with the goal of ground breaking this summer. By contributing to the project, you will become an instrumental partner with the Boulder Apple Tree Project in providing much needed community orchard that showcases history, food, and our special place.
Please consider joining with other individuals and community organizations to help us put this next step into full swing and reach our fundraising goal of $25,000 by March 30th, 2020. You can donate online by following the link below or on the Boulder Apple Tree Project webpage.
Warmly,
Katharine Suding
The Boulder Apple Tree Project
University of Colorado Boulder
P.S. We have lots of upcoming exciting events, please see our web page on how to join in!
March 28, 2020 Learn How to Graft with the Boulder Apple Tree Project
April 25, 2020 Apple Tree Planting with the Growe Foundation
April 26, 2020 Boulder Apple Tree Project History Symposium
August 17, 2020 Apple Tree Project exhibit opening at the CU Museum of Natural History