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Check out the Burke-Gilman Trail Orchard this Sunday

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The neighborhood fruit trees are having a great year so far. They’ve produced bumper crops of cherries, yellow transparent apples, and are now into plums. BGT apple trees cropped

Did you know there are 40 fruit trees along the Burke-Gilman Trail between the University Bridge and Northlake Place, west of Gas Works? Come and see a group of them on Sunday.

City Fruit, a local non-profit which harvests fruit from private trees throughout the city, also takes care of fruit trees in 11 public Seattle parks, two of which are in Wallingford: Meridian Playground and this southerly section of the Burke-Gilman Trail.

On Sunday, July 20, City Fruit staff will lead a work party at a site with one pear and ten apple trees on the north side of the Burke-Gilman, just east of where the Trail intersects with 7th Ave NE (that’s the crazy five-way intersection with Pacific and upper and lower 40th.) Look for our blue canopy from noon to 3 pm.

We’ll be cutting and digging different kinds of weeds, making wooden props for one tree we call the “Burke-Gilman Red,” and doing summer pruning. Gloves, tools, water, and snacks will be provided. Wear closed-toe shoes and socks, and long pants and sleeves if you choose to tangle with blackberries (your choice.) Or, wear whatever you want and just stop by and say hi!

First time volunteering with City Fruit? Sign up on our volunteer page.

Interested in nearby fruit and tree-related classes, work parties, and other events? Check out the City Fruit calendar.

And if you need help harvesting surplus fruit on your trees at home, email Luke, the City Fruit harvest coordinator:  [email protected]

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barbbsea

Barb has lived in south Wallingford since 1992. She's a lady with a lopper as volunteer lead of the Burke-Gilman Trail Urban Orchard Stewards, a group that cares for public fruit trees along the Burke-Gilman Trail between Eastern and where Pacific becomes N 34th. In February 2020 Barb founded the current Friends of Meridian Playground which cares for the fruit trees and grounds of the park and holds weekly volunteer work parties on Wednesday noonish. Friday mornings she joins the Tilth Alliance volunteers to manage the care of the fruit trees at the Good Shepherd learning garden. Barb worked for nonprofit City Fruit for 9 years and still partners with them to teach neighbors to grow good fruit locally. Barb is also accumulating records and photos about the Good Shepherd property for eventual publication online.