Fallen Fruit is project about mapping of all the "public fruit" planted on private property that overhangs public space. This grassroots community activism project encourages people to harvest, plant and share public fruit in response to accelerating urbanization.

The mission of Fallen Fruit is to expand our community fruit maps, photos and essays to create an online global public fruit resource. The project asks all of us to petition cities and towns to support community gardens and only plant fruit-bearing trees in public parks.

Let our streets be lined with apples and pears! Demand that all parking lots be landscaped with fruit trees which provide shade, clean the air and feed the people.

By Dave Burns, Matias Viegener and Austin Young.

(See also Village Harvest)

In Massachusetts back in the late 70s and early 80s we had a state-wide Fruition program for public access plantings of food-producing trees and shrubs. It was quite successful and publicly funded through the MA Department of Food and Agriculture. The original idea was based upon a similar Fruition program in Santa Cruz, CA.

Currently, EarthWorks is carrying on the work privately as a non-profit.

I used to have raspberries, currants, and grapes next to the sidewalk a few blocks from Central Square, Cambridge but the landlord changed and would rather have bark mulch than a garden. The grape still survives but I don't know for how much longer.

Posted by: gmoke on June 23, 2005 9:31 PM

I noticed a few pear trees when I was driving into work. There's nothing weirder than seeing piles of something you usually pay $2+ per pound lying on the ground.

Posted by: Paul on June 24, 2005 5:49 AM