Pelican Bomb, A Studio in the Woods, and Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University present “Fallen Fruit of New Orleans,” a citywide suite of public projects with internationally acclaimed artists Fallen Fruit (David Burns and Austin Young). This multi-site presentation continues Fallen Fruit’s exploration of the ways people experience public space. As one component, Fallen Fruit are planting 300 fruit trees throughout New Orleans in 2018—in honor of the city’s tricentennial. Individuals and community groups are able to adopt fruit trees, free of charge. In the spirit of sharing resources, trees must be planted to overhang a public sidewalk or street so that the fruit is accessible to passersby to pick.

On January 13, the planting initiative kicks off with a community day in the Lower 9th Ward. Together with neighborhood residents and volunteers from throughout the city, Fallen Fruit are planting 30 trees along the Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle, inaugurating our first public fruit park in New Orleans. Through a partnership with the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (L9CSED), the park will be maintained and available for residents year round.

With community outreach support from L9CSED and Movin’ for LIFE, over 40 residents and community groups have pre-reserved trees and these can be picked up 10 am–12 pm. Any remaining trees will be available on a first come, first served basis to residents of the Lower 9th Ward and may be adopted 12–2 pm at L9CSED’s Environmental Learning and Research Center on the corner of Florida and Caffin Avenues. Volunteers from the citywide New Orleans Martin Luther King Holiday Planning Commission will be on hand to assist with the transport and planting of fruit trees.

If you’d like to volunteer or if you’re a community member interested in “Fallen Fruit of New Orleans,” contact katrina@pelicanbomb.com.