Since 2012 we have planted more than 2,000 fruit trees at more than 100 sites across Baltimore. We are driven by our mission, rooted in our story, and stewarded by our team.
Our Mission
The Baltimore Orchard Project strengthens communities through planting and cultivating orchards, teaching citizens to be long-term stewards, and sharing the harvest among neighbors.
We work with schools, congregations, neighborhoods, and individuals on their land to create productive sources of food, neighborhood gathering places, and lively ecosystems that keep Baltimore’s communities healthy.
In 2016, the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future teamed up with the Baltimore Orchard Project to create a story map. We have planted, harvested and stewarded more orchards and become an independent nonprofit since then, but Stories from the Orchard still captures the spirit of the Baltimore Orchard Project.
Meet Our Amazing Team
We are currently a volunteer organization lead by a team with a vision. Our leadership team members have ample experience in farming, public service, research and community organizing.
If you would like to donate to help us continue and expand our services please click here!
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Forest Fleischer
CO PRESIDENT
Forest works as an operations analyst at T. Rowe Price. While she both works and lives in Baltimore City, she grew up in a small town, where her family owns a farm. Growing up in this environment helped her to recognize the benefits of sustainable farming and the positive impacts it can have on a community. Forest values the opportunities that BOP has to offer Baltimore City for both its citizens and its environment.
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Colin McDaniels
CO PRESIDENT
Colin practices litigation as an attorney in Towson. He is a fourth generation Baltimorean and many of his earliest memories are of his grandparents growing and caring for plants in their yard. Colin was drawn to BOP by the opportunity to work outside and make tangible improvements to Baltimore communities by planting. He values the organization’s capacity for enriching people’s connection to nature and providing them with the tools to become better stewards of their environment.
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Merritt Pridgeon
VP OF VOLUNTEERS
Merritt began volunteering with BOP because the organization combines many of her interests: the outdoors; trees; food; community organizing; and education. She has learned a lot about planting and caring for fruit trees and shrubs, and harvesting wild mulberries and serviceberries that grow in public spaces. What Merritt enjoys most about BOP is meeting and talking to new people who come together in the orchards of Baltimore City.
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Dawna Cobb
SECRETARY
I have been involved with BOP since 2013 after meeting BOP founder, Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, when she came to speak to my MICA class in a course on Baltimore Urban Farming. I am a past board chair and current secretary. I have stayed involved all these years because bringing fresh fruit and fruit trees to the urban environment bestows benefits not only on the community and its members, but on the overall environment.
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Brennan Tolstoi
TREASURER
The only thing I like more than trees are trees that produce food. I also like Baltimore, and I want to see our city succeed. It is 100% possible to strategically sow food producing plants such that anyone in our city can access them. It’s such a simple concept, but in my mind, the idea that a future hungry resident (though I hope those numbers dwindle as rapidly as possible) can walk up to one of our trees for sustenance is why I keep volunteering.