Fruit Rites of Spring

It is that time of year again for our bizarre fruit tree fertility rites at the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave).  We’ll be standing around in and under trees, applying nylon hose to baby fruit to hoodwink the apple maggots and codling moths into believing that perhaps in fact though it seems like fruit, it is instead some alien thing which they have no interest in…so far, they are sort of tricked, which is some unfair biological advantage we seem to have in dissembling.

Anyway, this standing around in the GSC orchard in the parking lot will happen on Saturday May 22nd and Saturday May 29th all from 9 am or so until 1 pm or so.

Appreciated qualities for participation are:  a joyful exuberance for fruit, trees, people or standing around doing kind of strange things for a few hours; snack making or bringing abilities; musicians, dancers, street performers to lend a celebratory air to the insect confounding or anyone with an extra stepladder or interest in learning how to apply nylon barriers to newly formed fruits so that they grow into luscious food, available to those who might not otherwise have access to such food.

Most of this fruit will be harvested in the Autumn and then donated by City Fruit volunteers to senior centers, food banks, shelters and other organizations who help hungry people.  We welcome volunteers who would like to participate now, later or now & later.  Some of the fruit will also be picked by Wallingford citizenry for snacking as is their annual custom.

For more information, contact Lily at (206) 349-4991 or email to [email protected]!