More than just trees: The business case for orchards скачать в хорошем качестве

More than just trees: The business case for orchards

Welcome to Up Your Impact, the newsletter turned podcast where corporate leaders come to sharpen their sustainability strategy and cut through the noise. Hosted by Courtney Holm, Founder of The Holm Edit Advisory and long time sustainability practitioner. This podcast series brings together a powerful network of seasoned experts to unpack the persistent, systemic, and often messy sustainability challenges facing businesses today. In the latest episode of the Up Your Impact podcast, we sat down with two powerhouse leaders in the orcharding movement: Katherine Rosen, CEO of The Orchard Project (UK), and Aleah Likas, Director of Strategic Partnerships at The Giving Grove (US) to discuss a surprising source of community wealth, The Community Orchard. Our conversation left me questioning if businesses are investing where it matters most right now, in the communities where their employees and customers live, work, and play? When we think of local investment, we often think of donations or mentorship programs. But what if one of the most effective ways to boost community resilience, employee wellbeing, and biodiversity was literally right in our backyard? More than just trees: The business case for orchards For businesses, supporting a community orchard isn't just a "nice-to-have" sustainability initiative. It is a tangible investment in the social fabric of the areas where your employees live, work and play. Here is why community orchards are becoming a focal point for forward-thinking businesses: Biodiversity as a metric: As businesses face increasing pressure to report on environmental impact, supporting an orchard provides a measurable boost to local pollinators and soil health, and one that you can actually visit. Employee engagement: Forget the away day in a conference room. Orchards offer unique, hands-on volunteering opportunities, from planting in the winter to harvesting in the autumn, that foster team bonding and mental clarity. Legacy: Unlike a one-off event, an orchard grows and provides value for decades. It’s a permanent billboard for your brand's commitment to the local area. The Power of Shared Space Katherine and Aleah make a powerful case for the holistic impact of community orchards. Low cost, high return: An investment of around $10,000 USD or £10k-£15k establishes an orchard, which includes the vital social infrastructure to achieve the social benefits and a 95% tree survival rate. Transformational social impact: Their models deliver far more than fruit, fostering deep community connection, improving mental health, reducing social isolation, and producing up to 9,000 servings of fresh food per year. Community partnership: Successful, long-term partnerships require authenticity, co-design, and, crucially, multi-year funding to support lasting impact. A community orchard is a destination, a place outside of home and work where people gather. For communities, orchards provide: Food security & education: Providing free, fresh fruit and teaching the next generation where their food comes from. Climate mitigation: Acting as natural "coolers" for urban heat islands and helping with local water absorption. Social connectivity: Reducing isolation by creating a common ground for residents of all ages. Listen to the full episode to learn how your business can get involved in local orchard projects or how to start one in your own neighbourhood?