MIDDLETON/MADISON (WKOW) -- One location in Middleton and four in Madison are in the running to win a free fruit orchard in a national contest called "Communities Take Root".
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is teaming up with Edy's Fruit Bars to plant fruit orchards across the country. The winners are chosen by online voting.
There are 5 rounds of voting. The top 5 vote-getters at the end of the final day win the orchards. First round voting began March 15th, and as of March 17, Bock Community Forest and Garden in Middleton had 594 votes, putting it in 5th place.
- Round 1 - March 15 - April 30
- Round 2 - May 1 - May 31
- Round 3 - June 1 - June 30
- Round 4 - July 1 - July 31
- Round 5 - August 1 - August 31
According to the City of Middleton, the grant would provide 20 fruit trees, an installed irrigation system, and tree care training for volunteers. The organic apples, pears, and plums would be available for public consumption and would be donated to the Middleton Outreach Ministry food pantry as part of the garden's "Plant A Row for the Hungry" program.
The Madison locations in the running are Allied Wellness Center, Eagle Heights Community Garden, The Kids Garden at Troy Gardens and Wingra Park.
You can "plant your vote" once a day at www.communitiestakeroot.com.
FTPF has a goal of planting 18 billion fruit trees worldwide. Fruit trees heal the environment by cleaning the air, improving soil quality, preventing erosion, creating animal habitat, sustaining valuable water sources, and providing healthy nutrition.
