Bloomington Community Orchard

Bloomington Community Orchard is an organization devoted to growing fruit for the community and growing our orcharding skills through educational opportunities. The publicly owned orchard is maintained by volunteers, and the harvest is available to everyone in the community.

As one of the only projects of its kind in the nation, the Bloomington Community Orchard is on the forefront of sustainable living and community building. Incredible, dedicated volunteers have worked thousands of hours to carry the Orchard from its first community meeting in February 2010, through two major grants and two community-wide planting days, and onward to harvesting and maintaining a place they love.

As one of the only projects of its kind in the nation, the Bloomington Community Orchard is on the forefront of sustainable living and community building. Incredible, dedicated volunteers have worked thousands of hours to carry the Orchard from its first community meeting in February 2010, through two major grants and two community-wide planting days, and onward to harvesting and maintaining a place they love.

Thanks to hundreds of community members who voted in the Communities Take Root contest, representatives from Edy’s and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation came to town to provide the trees and instruction for our first planting. Apple Blossom The Orchard contributes to Bloomington’s food security, inspires joyful community engagement, and educates citizens while making sustainability delicious.

The Orchard is a nonprofit organization that operates in partnership with the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.

A volunteer Board of Directors approves major Orchard decisions. Volunteers have organized into teams and committees, and each has a board member as the team or committee leader.