Building A Fruit Tree Nursery To Support Future Food Forests

Objective:

Our goal was to support the development of the 2025 ReTreeUS Fruit Tree Nursery—an initiative that distributes fruit trees to school gardens and educational food forest projects across New England. The nursery will serve as a living resource for community resilience and ecological restoration.

Why this action?

ReTreeUS has been planting food forests for over a decade. This year, they needed support potting bare-root fruit trees at the beginning of the season so the nursery could take root and grow. We joined in to support this critical moment of emergence.

What happened:

Volunteers gathered in Sandwich, NH, to pot over 25 bare-root fruit trees—apples, pears, plums, and more—at the new nursery site. We set up a dedicated children’s potting station, played live music, and explored a nearby river trail together. The day was rounded out with a raffle to support ReTreeUS and raise awareness about regenerative agriculture. The vibe was joyful, educational, and grounded in service.

What we learned:

Hands-on tree planting days are powerful opportunities for intergenerational learning and community building. Children especially thrive when given their own space to contribute meaningfully. Even a small group can create lasting infrastructure when supported with clear roles and shared purpose.

Challenges:

Managing bare-root trees during spring weather requires close attention to moisture and timing, but the team’s preparation and care ensured the trees were safely planted. We’d love to see even more local outreach next year to grow participation.