“AS EASY AS APPLE PIE”
Many thanks to the Bowen Island Community Foundation for the Neighbourhood Small Grant to fund the reconstruction of the fences around our two apple trees here at Bowen Court Seniors Co-op. The trees were planted 14 years ago: the Liberty (a cross between a Macintosh and a Macoun) and the Golden Delicious. Both trees have been very productive and tasty, and shared with grateful neighbours. The original fences were failing, no longer able to protect the growing trees from foraging deer. The grant allowed our co-op to move into action and made the job, well, as easy as apple pie.
A volunteer demolition crew of four co-op members (Ross, Richard, Carole and Pauline) took down the old fences, and removed soil and grasses from reusable materials. What seemed like it would be a lot of work, turned out to be a fun social occasion. Nice weather and a chance to chitchat with a new member. We hired BowenWorx to rebuild the fences. We kept as much of the original materials as possible — old posts, some wire and rods — to live up to our co-op’s goal to be sustainable.
The BowenWorx crew completed the job, including sinking the old posts into cement so they would be more stable. They gave a lot of their time for free – in the pouring rain – so that the project would stay on budget. They love these apple trees and share in the bountiful harvest.
Co-op member (Ross) designed and built a door for the Golden Delicious. The Liberty door – built two years ago by another member (Bill) — was still in good shape..
On March 30, the community gathered for a potluck tea party in our community hall with members bringing apple-themed desserts to celebrate the new fences. We have welcomed several new members to the co-op recently, and they got to experience gathering with the community.
We are looking forward to the fall, and the sharing of apples with members, neighbours, and the Food Bank. The most memorable moments (apple pies) are yet to come.
