150 Chapel St, Norwood, MA 02062
781-762-0959
Food Forest and Apple Orchard
The Community Contemplative Food Forest at Grace Episcopal Church grows the oldest heirloom apple varieties in the US. There are also pears, cherries and raspberries, with much more to come. Much thanks to our friends at MEND and the help of the Sathya Sai Baba group for making this part of a local regenerative movement that spans generations, cultures and religions.
What is a Food Forest?
The original 18 fruit trees of the Food Forest are heirloom cultivars ensuring the continuation of trees with
a historical significance. For example, the Roxbury Russet apple trees were the first cultivar of apple created in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635. The Baldwin apple tree, once the most popular apple in the United States, was first cultivated in Massachusetts in 1784 in Wilmington. The Newtown Pippin was first created in 1759 on farms that are now in Queens, part of metropolitan New York City.
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Apples & Friends
We have an abundance of trees, along with various insects, mammals and birds that call the orchard home. We often see our resident ground hog, hawks and song birds.
Contemplation
Among the trees of the orchard there are seven nature-centered quotes which call upon those walking this living labyrinth to contemplate the physical presence of blossoms, branches, and fruit. Among the quotes mounted at the foot of the trees are Martin Luther’s “If I knew tomorrow was the end of the world, I would still plant an apple tree today.” There is also the Chinese (or Sufi) proverb, “Keep a Green Tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.” There are also various quotes from the Bible, pointing to God's creation.
Path to Memorial Garden
If you one were follow the Food Forest path you would find a butterfly garden, which is a stopover point for many monarchs during their migration south. Next you would arrive at the Sunken Garden with its fountain basin, and then continue on the path to the Memorial Garden. The Memorial Garden begun in 1994 has the ashes of 18 people who now rest there. These additional parts of the parish’s pre-existing landscape are thus interwoven into a whole living labyrinth.