Bloomington Community Orchard

as one of the only projects of its kind in the nation (and world), the bloomington community orchard (bco) is on the forefront of sustainable living and community building. with a mission to dream, build, and share an orchard community, the bco strives to inspire communities to cultivate thriving systems of sharing and growing fruit. the bco was born from simple but powerful ideas: access to healthy food is a right, not a privilege; local produce is essential to ensuring a sustainable future; and community can be built and strengthened through collaboration. in a country where most people remain disconnected from their food sources, the bco contributes to local food systems that support long-term environmental sustainability. through outreach, we equip our beneficiaries with the knowledge and desire to apply these practices in their backyards and daily lives. incredible volunteers have carried the orchard from our first community meeting in february 2010 through several national grants