Cal U. orchard produces fruit for the community
Cal U. students Eric McRae, sophomore environmental sciences major, and Kurtis Gale, a senior biology major, plant a tree while the property developer for the Student Association Inc. Farm, Keith Skirpan, steadies the fruit tree. On Thursday, students and Cal U. faculty and members from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation planted a variety of fruit trees including apple, peach and pear at the farm.
Cem Akin, executive director of the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, provides a demonstration to students on the proper tree planting techniques. Students with the horticulture club along with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation secured 42 fruit trees to plant at the Student Association Inc. Farm.
Cem Akin, executive director of the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, loosely pats down soil around a fruit tree. The fruits of the orchard will go to the Cal U. Cupboard food pantry and for horticulture club fundraising.
CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania students produced more than just an orchard Thursday.
By planting 42 fruit trees on the school’s upper campus, the group created opportunities for community outreach, educational experiences and farm-to-table dining.
The university’s Student Association Inc. and Interdisciplinary Center for Environmental Sciences successfully applied for a grant with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation to obtain 42 fruit trees. The orchard’s harvest of apples, peaches, cherries, plums and pears will supply the Cal U. Cupboard campus food pantry and be used for Horticulture Club fundraising efforts. Students will also use the orchard for hands-on learning outside of the classroom and as a recreational space.
“It was a really easy decision,” said FTPF Executive Director Cem Akin of the decision to choose Cal U. out of more than 1,000 community applicants. “I’m so thrilled we’re able to support this project because it has a dual purpose – nutrition and education.”
The Pittsburgh-based international nonprofit selected Cal U. based on three criteria – commitment to caring for the trees, a horticulturally appropriate planting site and a plan to serve communities for generations.
The orchard is located on SAI Farm, a 94-acre former dairy and beef farm where a conference center, walking trails, frisbee golf course, pavilion, wetlands, bee hives and a vegetable garden used to supply the campus food service provider are located.
Akin taught students and other volunteers planting techniques and how to prune and care for the trees in a sustainable way.
“One of our goals is to help the environment,” said Dr. Sarah Meiss, adviser to the horticulture club and professor of environmental and biological sciences. “One of the easiest things you can do is plant a tree.”