HOULTON, Maine — Thanks to a grant from TD Bank, in partnership with ReTreeUS, Houlton Southside School will soon have an apple and peach orchard for students to enjoy.
ReTreeUS is a Maine-based, nonprofit program whose mission is to promote an environmentally sustainable, socially just food system through education, practical resources and mentorship.
By planting orchards in schools, providing agricultural education and promoting food security we seek to empower generations of healthy environmental stewards.
Houlton Southside student Eason Britton helps dig a hole Thursday at a tree planting event at the school.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
The group partnered with TD Bank as part of the bank’s “TD Tree Days,” which is a community-based program that expands urban forests and green spaces in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.
Staff and volunteers of ReTreeUS joined local employees of TD Bank to plant 40 large fruit trees and 15 native fruiting shrubs at the school. Ironically, the trees were planted on “Johnny Appleseed Day.”
“This started out as a super fun event for the kids to be outside, but it has turned into an educational project as well,” said Jen Vega, branch manager for the Houlton TD Bank.
The new orchard is located in a back corner behind the school, near a softball field that features a collection of trees originally planted by Cindy Peterson, the school’s principal, when she was a fourth grade teacher. Plans are also in the works to add birdhouses, benches and more to the orchard area.
Working together to plant trees in Houlton Southside School’s new orchard are, from left, Suzanne Hiltz, Caleb Thompson and Charles Clark Jr.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
Jacqueline Rogers, a math and science teacher at Houlton Southside School, said she applied for the grant, hoping her school might receive a few trees they could plant to grow some fresh fruits for the students in her classroom and as a project for her science class.
“I wanted to teach the kids about stewardship of trees and everything that went along with caring for fruit trees,” she said. “I wanted to show the kids that they could grow their own fruit, right here at the school.”
Rogers said she found out in January that her grant had been approved. She received a call in April, though, and was asked if she wanted more than the initial 10 trees she applied for.
“This is such an amazing grant for our entire school,” Rogers said. “Other teachers can benefit from this orchard by bringing their students out to do science projects or perhaps even an outdoor classroom.”
In addition to the fruit trees, several other species of trees will be planted to help beautify the school grounds.
A group of 15 high school students with the Breaking Ground agricultural program assisted with the planting, alongside bank officials from as far away as Portland. In addition to the agricultural lesson, the students also employed mathematics and science skills as part of the planting session as they discussed things like the diameter of the hole to be dug.
Apple and peach trees were planted behind Houlton Southside School Thursday morning, creating a school orchard. The trees were part of a grant the district received from TD Bank and ReTreeUs.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
“We’re excited to team with ReTreeUS during TD Tree Days to benefit the community and elevate the quality of the environment,” said Joe Doolan, TD Bank’s head of environmental and community partnerships. “At TD, we’re driven by a central belief that together we can break down barriers and help build inclusive futures, where everyone can succeed in a changing world.”
Now in its 10th year, the TD Tree Days program brings together community members and TD employees at planting events in communities from Maine to Florida. Founded in 2010, the program has positively affected communities and the environment as TD’s flagship volunteer and urban greening program, planting nearly 400,000 native trees and shrubs, primarily in Canada and the United States, and is managed with support from the Arbor Day Foundation. Under The Ready Commitment platform, TD pledges to plant a million trees in North America by 2030, and the TD Tree Days program will count toward that goal.
ReTreeUS is one of 18 organizations in the United States that was chosen to participate in TD Tree Days through an application process.
“We are very excited to be facilitating this event at Houlton Southside School,” said Richard Hodges, ReTreeUS Program Manager. “The school has worked hard to bring this orchard opportunity to the community. The students at the school, with the help of TD Bank staff and students from the High School’s Breaking Ground program, will be creating a legacy that will benefit generations to come. We will be delighted to see these students enjoy the fruit of their labor.”
