The Giving Grove, a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, has expanded its operations to help volunteers plant fruit and nut orchards on vacant urban lots in 17 cities nationwide. The organization reported it has supported the planting of approximately 14,000 trees across cities ranging from Seattle to Atlanta.
The program began as a local initiative to assist community garden organizations in transitioning to tree cultivation. The Giving Grove provides partner groups with technical training, workshops, and seed money for equipment and staffing. According to founder Kevin Birzir, the organization uses corporate donations to fund most of its operations while relying on volunteers for the majority of the labor.
The organization reported that it currently supports nearly 850 orchards. These sites produce more than 2.5 million pounds of fruit and nuts annually, including apples, pears, figs, and jujubes. Science teacher Janet Porter, who manages an orchard at the Kansas City Academy, stated that the group provides ongoing support and troubleshooting for local participants.
For residents and students in participating districts, the change is the availability of free food in their neighborhoods. Instead of traveling to rural areas for seasonal picking, residents can access fresh produce, such as jujubes and apples, directly from trees in formerly vacant city lots. Students at participating schools, such as the Kansas City Academy, now have access to fresh snacks during lunch periods.
The program transforms vacant municipal or private lots into productive agricultural spaces. As the organization fields invitations from new cities, the model of using corporate funding to supplement volunteer labor may influence how other municipalities approach food security. While specific upcoming expansion dates were not reported, Birzir stated the organization is currently reviewing invitations from across the country.