Orchard Community Learning Service

2024 "Food Relief" projects were directly related to funding opportunities to deliver locally grown food to local residents and service providers. Distributions were made in communities of oppressed nationalities and to senior living facilities whose residents are primarily Mexican and Mexican-American and to unsheltered individuals/families in the Phoenix area. Donations from Leafside were distributed in the community. This program also interfaced with our educational efforts toward healthy lifestyles through food.

The Educational Programs of the Orchard's work included (1) wellness education drawing on the plant-based "healthy roots" of our community's ancestors, utilizing the produce grown in our Farm-to-Table program; (2) youth classes in culturally relevant arts/music/opportunities and; (3) operation of the Nature Explore Classroom for youth 2-8 years old at the 19 acre Spaces of Opportunity incubator farm/farmers' market.