The Harvard Conservation Trust is working to protect the Prospect Hill Community Orchard, a 75-acre parcel of land that has been farmed for apples for the past 100 years. Since 2014, the nonprofit Community Harvest Program has operated this orchard, growing 150,000 pounds of apples and peaches for families experiencing hunger.
Community Harvest has teamed with Harvard Conservation Trust; the federal, state, and town governments; and Sudbury Valley Trustees to secure the land with an agricultural preservation restriction. Together, these organizations have nearly procured the necessary funds. What will this agricultural preservation mean for town residents?
First, the orchard’s fertile soil will continue to grow fruit, rather than being cleared, paved, and subdivided for a new housing development. Not only will this scenic orchard remain, but so too will its vital link in Harvard’s wildlife corridor. (Deer excluded due to their love of apples!)
Second, plans call for a permanent recreation easement along the orchard’s southern border. Imagine being able to walk, run, bike, cross-country ski, or snowmobile from Fruitlands to the top of Prospect Hill with birdsong, towering pines, apple trees, and open space as your companion?
Third, Harvard neighbors will continue to join old friends and new to harvest, sort, and bag apples for distribution to local food pantries. This quintessential fall activity has the added joy of helping others. Funding will also allow the installation of a fire protection system in the barn, reopening a much needed meeting space for Harvard residents.
We are lucky to live in a community that values helping others, conservation, and history. But protecting and expanding this legacy is expensive and HCT needs our help.
Please donate by June 30 to complete this vision and close the $300,000 gap. All donations to the Harvard Conservation Trust’s effort to preserve the Prospect Hill Community Orchard will qualify for a 1:1 match contribution from the Muller Conservation Collaborative Trust. Thank you.
Prescott and Nancy Hartshorne
Prospect Hill Road
