The Lawn is Dead: Long Live the Orchard!

Let’s talk about grass. Not the fun kind that sparks debates in Parliament, but the kind that takes over our backyards, schoolyards, and church grounds. It's everywhere, and it’s doing... well, not much.

For decades, we’ve cultivated a culture of mowing, watering, and fertilizing our lawns into submission. It costs money, time, and gallons of water. But what if that patch of green could do more than look tidy? What if it could feed us?

Reimagining the Green Space

At Eden’s Refuge, we see land differently. Where most see maintenance, we see ministry and possibility. Where others see work, we see worship and loving our neighbours. Our mission is to transform underused spaces, like lawns, into edible landscapes that feed families, build community, and steward creation.

Community orchards are one of our favourite ways to do that.

These are not your grandma’s fruit trees (though we love those too). They’re ecosystems, designed to work with nature instead of against it. Low-maintenance. Beautiful. Abundant. And perfect for churches, schools, and municipalities that want to serve their communities in tangible, regenerative ways.

Why Community Orchards?

We live in a time of rising food prices and deepening food insecurity. Families are choosing between groceries and gas. Community orchards offer a small but mighty solution: long-term, local food that anyone can access.

Here’s what makes them amazing:

• Abundance for Decades: Properly designed, an orchard can produce food for 30–50 years with minimal input.

• Low Maintenance: Once established, these systems need far less weeding, watering, or spraying than a typical garden.

• Education & Ministry: They offer hands-on ways to teach, serve, and connect; whether through school programs, church events, or ecotourism.

• Beauty with Purpose: These landscapes aren’t just edible, they’re beautiful. Think blossoms in spring, shade plus berries in summer, and fruit in the fall.

The Plan: From Lawn to Orchard

We start by asking: What does your community need? Is it food? Connection? A place to gather or learn? Then we tailor a design to fit; from sprawling community orchards to mini starter plots. Our designs focus on:

• Perennial Polycultures: Blends of fruit trees, berries, herbs, and beneficial plants that work together.

• Waterwise Techniques: Like rainwater harvesting, mulch layers, and swales.

• Access and Inclusion: Paths, signage, and planning for harvest equity.

• Long-Term Stewardship: Training your team to maintain and share the harvest.

The result? A landscape that heals the soil, feeds the people, and shows the abundance of nature.

A Real-Life Transformation

Last fall, we worked with a rural church with old parking lot that wasn't being used. They had a big heart to do something with their land, but limited experience in using parking lots for good.

Over the winter we designed an orchard with apples, pears, plums, cherries, kiwis, raspberries, pollinator plants, and a space for gathering. The congregation got their hands dirty. Kids learned how to plant their first flowers. And this summer they are hosting a workshop to teach others to grow mushrooms in their backyards!

This is the kind of transformation that keeps us going. It’s not just about plants. It’s about purpose.

But Isn’t It Expensive?

It can be, but the long-term return is enormous. A well-designed orchard can produce food at ~$0.04/lb over 40 years. That’s pennies per pound, without the chemical inputs and supply chain emissions of grocery store fruit.

We also support churches and municipalities with fundraising strategies, grant writing support, and scaled-down options like mini orchards that start as low as $1,000.

How You Can Start

You don’t need a farming background to grow an orchard. You just need:

• Some land

• A desire to steward it

• A bit of vision (we’ll help with that part)

Let’s dream together. Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, city planner, or homeowner, there’s a way to turn your land into a legacy.