Nearly 100 fruit trees were given out to South L.A. residents this past weekend, with plans to have a similar event next year.
Non-profit A Place Called Home, which offers after-school programs, distributed 90 fruit trees on a first come, first serve basis to community members with space in their yard for a fruit tree.
The trees, donated by the Beverly Hills based non-profit Tree People, were given out for free Saturday, along with advice for caring for the trees.
“This event came about through a relationship that our executive director and the executive director from Tree People. They have been wanting to collaborate and this event seemed betting,” said Gilbert Radillo, Community Initiatives Coordinator for APCH.
On Satruday, volunteers got the bagged trees with the Tree People logo out to the line of people. Michelle Bagnato, Urban Forestry Manager for Tree People, explained to the adopters how to take care of their prize. Once planted, the delicate looking fruit trees should grow to be 25 to 30 feet tall.
Most people who came by already had trees and other plants in their yards. They described gardens that had everything from avocado to guava trees. Others had blueberries, collard greens and squash already growing.
The trees were not just going to homes. A small space at A Place Called Home is being turned into a garden and 10 trees will be planted by Darren Butler, APCH’s gardener, and children taking gardening and healthy eating classes at the center. The hope is to have health food grown and prepared at A Place Called Home, Radillo said.
The goal of the event was to “have more people within South L.A. learn about gardening and how to be more self reliant regarding produce,” said Radillo.
Several trees were set aside for the Central Avenue Business Association, who will plant the trees near local businesses.
There are plans to make the fruit tree giveaway an annual event.
