the orchard

About This Project

A couple years ago, I dreamt of creating an orchard both abundant and beautiful. After collecting plenty of inspiration, I drafted a simple one-pager, shared it with friends, and secured a 5-acre unloved field near our home.

We transformed it in just 3 months with:

• 15 dedicated friends

• 207 saplings (50 different varieties)

• $75,000 (from Live Oak Lake's first quarter profits)

Our team spent over 1,000 hours (mostly nights and Saturdays) installing irrigation, building a deer fence, milling timber and building a pergola, and creating an herb and flower garden plus a web of pathways.

In January 2023, we planted those tiny 18-inch saplings. They've since tripled in size twice and are already bearing first fruits.

Coincidentally, my son Lucas was born just after planting, and both he and the orchard are now 2 years old. We're learning to tend both family and orchard, and there are plenty of parallels!

With these trees producing for the next 20-50 years, we'll soon need to figure out what to do with all the fruit: cider, U-pick, fruit leather, workshops, weddings (and other events)? What a great generational investment.

Most importantly to me, we’ve helped create a real space that brings people together in real community. This is the best part of the investment in my opinion.

Go dream, go plant. Whether it's 2 trees or 200, you'll thank yourself. I promise.

If this interests you, you can read more about our orchard here and here.