by Jonathan Simpson
Guest writer
The Baltimore Orchard Project (BOP) celebrate a unique new mural that was painted on the road near the BOP orchard in the city’s Druid Hill Park. The artist is Teresa Hammann, a graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art, who painted the scene this summer. The mural features sunflowers, trees with pears and other fruits, a Baltimore oriole and a block tagged with Baltimore Orchard Project.
While Hammann is the main artist, she took suggestions from bystanders on what to include in the mural itself. So it feels like not only her work but the work of the community as well. “As people were walking by, they would say, “you should add this’, or ‘you should add that,’” Hammann recalled.
So, it isn’t just Hammann’s creation, but it is also the community that was involved in a way. On Sunday, October 22, Hammann opened the mural up to let the community will “help finish the work”, by adding more flowers and details using stencils, said Forest Fleischer, co-president of the Baltimore Orchard Project.
The mural at Druid Hill Park, on Red Road near the soccer field and adjoining the community garden, was celebrated There were tool sharpening classes, apples, cider-making in addition to the mural work.
The event is one of many BOP projects to find and promote sources of healthy food in the city. Healthy food is a necessity for all, the project states, but not everyone gets to access it, especially people in poor communities where food deserts are common, and the people there don’t always have the knowledge or resources to grow their own food. The Baltimore Orchard Project, which began in 2012, is doing its part to help change the food disparities in Baltimore City, with a group of members dedicated to education and finding economical sources of food to share. In September members harvested 709 pounds of apples from an orchard located on the grounds of Baltimore Country Club to share with those in need.
“We educate people of the existing fruit trees and orchards in the city. We also look to expand on those fruit trees. So, if people already have an orchard, they want to add more or maybe they want to establish one on their own on their own, and we’ll help them do that,” said Fleischer.
Fleischer, who grew up on a farm in Carroll County, found BOP offered her the opportunity “to experience more nature and the outdoors part of Baltimore, and that’s really helped me to get involved here,” she added. “We are in this green space and even though our focus is fruit trees, it is still important to add to the green spaces in Baltimore.”
It helps that the project is located in Druid Hill Park, the 745-acre park developed by Frederick Olmstead, the creator of Central Park. In a grassy plain, the group holds meetings and events ranging from how to take better care of garden tools to tree planting.
The orchard features beautiful fruit trees, which the group planted two years ago. The trees are beginning to bear fruit, including apples, berries, and pears.
Fenced off near those trees is a flourishing community garden where urban dwellers can plant fruit and vegetables. It’s quite a sight to see and if you keep on walking around the campus there are various fields for soccer, baseball, and tennis with a tennis court right across from the park headquarters building. It’s a great place to take a walk, sit and walk by the fruit trees or play sports nearby.
Note: I’m honored to have been named a board member for Baltimore Orchard Project recently. I think it’s a great cause; I’m really into more trees and more nature, especially in areas that haven’t been served in the city.
I’ll be helping with the apple cider press Sunday for the “InCider” event which reminds me of cool fall days growing up when we gathered all the apples that had fallen on the ground in baskets. We’d wash them in a big tin tub, then throw a mix of red and green apples into the mill, along with a few yellow jackets, to produce this amazing aromatic golden drink.
It’ll be fun and delicious at the park so come Sunday if you are anywhere nearby.
Lavinia
