The Mary Scott Community Orchard and Living Classroom is situated at the edge of a food desert in Richmond, Indiana, and is within walking distance of three schools and a daycare. It occupies part of the larger Mary Scott Community Park and serves multiple purposes for the local community.
Orchards offer various benefits when placed in appropriate locations for the right purposes. Communities across the United States are recognizing the value of transforming public spaces into orchards. We believe in the importance of community, and this orchard is our contribution toward fostering that belief.
The orchard site and accompanying pollinator garden provide valuable educational resources for local schools. Teaching students about nature and ecological processes aligns with Indiana's educational standards.
Community residents have access to the orchard just like other public parks. These shared spaces foster a sense of community and build connections. Moreover, the orchard provides access to fresh organic fruit and promotes nutritional awareness. Healthier lifestyles begin with knowledge, and Wood Block Press is dedicated to supporting this small site for the Richmond community
The name 'Mary Scott' comes from a longtime resident of Richmond of the same name. Mary Scott was active in the community and ran a children's summer lunch program in the basement of the cabin located next to the orchard. Her focus was always for the betterment of those around her, and this was the source of her continuing efforts and work. The original cabin she ran this program though is located behind our group on the right side of the photograph. Her dedication to the community of Richmond and the people who live here serves as the perfect exemplar and we are proud to name the orchard after this influential and dedicated woman.
A Thought that...
each season is a sleep
filled with an orchard of dreams
mile high ice ground rock to soil, here
so long before we came
so long before we staked and named
these gifts rising to the bud of our tongue
butterflies lean and list
bowing their whole bodies
to the root of sweetness
as the mandalas of their wings
open and close
each season is a sleep
filled with an orchard of dreams
a poem written by Aaron Nell (August 2021)
Mary Scott Community Orchard and Living Classroom
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