Over Fall Break, campus was a little bit more quiet than usual. But not at the Bloomington Community Orchard! Students, families, and furry friends alike turned out to celebrate the Orchard’s fifteenth anniversary at the Cider Festival. And so did Sustain Collins!
The Community Orchard is a special gem here in Bloomington. The idea for the Orchard was originally proposed by a graduate student at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The city agreed to finance the project, converting an unused plot of public land to a treasure trove of urban horticulture and collectivism. Today, the Orchard is as is dedicated as ever to enhancing local food security, community ties, and sustainability.
As soon as we were graciously welcomed by the Orchard’s stewards, we were invited to enjoy a magnificent fall feast! And there was no shortage of extravagance! We gorged ourselves on delightful, homemade pastries like apple baklava and cinnamon whoopie pies. But the delectable deserts didn’t spoil our appetites for pumpkin chili. And, of course, we drank tons of warm, apple cider! We also wandered on over to the apple tasting section, and stimulated our palate in trying the multiple variants of apples harvested from local orchards.
After the decadent feast, we embarked on a tour of the Community Orchard. We learned of the amazing mission and history of the Orchard, and how it stands at the intersection of permaculture, science, and collectivism. The Orchard’s composting practices best showcase this convergence of knowledge bases, drawing upon traditional Japanese techniques that separate the organic matter from the liquid, which is lovingly referred to as “compost tea.” We also had the exciting opportunity to watch a beekeeping demonstration led by a gentle elderly man. While we all kept our distance at first, slowly but surely we moved in closer as he showed us his busy bees at work in the hive!
SustainCollins can’t wait to get back to the Community Orchard. We have organized volunteering so that we can give back to the Orchard after all the enjoyment it gave us during the festival. Look out for more information to come as to how to get involved in volunteering.
The College of Arts