Our Arboretum is made up of over 140 trees, including 51 different species, growing on our five acre site. Led by our fantastic Green Space Director, Tito, our garden team is committed to providing access, beauty, and food justice at the grounds and in our satellite gardens. Once spring comes, we will open up again for field trips, nature tours, Family Fun Days, festivals, and harvesting for our weekly farmstand.
Below are just a few highlights that we’re particularly excited about as we look forward to a new growing season together. All of these activities would not have been possible without the engagement of volunteers. Their involvement has underscored the importance of inclusivity—creating a space where anyone can contribute, support, and help facilitate the furthering of ideas.
Tree Planting & Care: We’ve recently planted 8 new fruit trees, which will be utilized in future workshops, as well as 7 non-fruiting trees in the arboretum. Some of these included Sourwood, White Oak, Montmorency Sour Cherry, and Appalachian Snow Dogwood. These trees were planted with the help from our friends at the Philadelphia Orchard Project and the Philly Tree Plan. As we plant trees, we’re always thinking to the future to make sure we are prioritizing native trees and trees that will be able to withstand our changing climate. We are now in the process of pruning our fruit trees to get them ready for spring.
New Plantings: Additionally, we’ve planted 1,300 bulbs between the graves and 150 herbaceous plants (some bulbs) as part of the understory orchard planting. Many of these plants will be featured in workshops, tying into the site’s history of making medicinals and simples. We’ve also planted kiwis and maypop at our 9th and Indiana lot to beautify the space and provide fruit that is easily accessible to neighbors as they pass by. These plants not only improve the visual appeal of the area, but also enhance local food access by offering fresh, free produce to the community.
Seed Saving Cohort: Tito has joined a seed-saving cohort led by GREAT (Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together) in collaboration with local gardens. The initiative focuses on sharing saved seeds to help build a more sustainable, localized food system. Seed saving is essential because it empowers communities to take control of their food sources, preserves diverse plant varieties, and reduces dependence on commercial seed companies. By exchanging seeds within our neighborhood, we are fostering a resilient ecosystem that can adapt to local environmental challenges and support food sovereignty.
Grape Trellis: We’ve built a new trellis to support the grapes growing near the vegetable garden. This structure will not only allow the grapes to grow upward and free from the fence, but it will also create much-needed space for the blueberries planted below. Previously, the grapevines blocked sunlight from reaching the garden, which impacted the growth of other plants. Now, with the trellis in place, the vegetable garden will receive more light, and the blueberries will have the room they need to thrive. This change will improve both the aesthetics and the productivity of the entire garden area.
Plus! : We’re currently in the midst of soil testing to improve the pH and acid balance, aiming to enhance the productivity of our fruits and vegetables. We’ll also be measuring our garden plots, with plans to digitize the data and create a record of seasonal crops to guide future planning.
If you are interested in finding out more or becoming a garden volunteer, let us know by emailing info@historicfairhill.com. You can read more about additional gardening initiatives here: Garden Class Visits; Native Pollinators; Summer Youth Internship; Food Distribution
