A Grove for South Jamaica

South Jamaica Houses is now home to its very own fruit orchard—20 trees, including fig, apple and pear—thanks to New York Restoration Project and the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment.

South Jamaica Houses is now home to its very own fruit orchard—20 trees, including fig, apple and pear—thanks to New York Restoration Project and the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment.

On May 5, members of the South Jamaica Resident Green Committee (RGC) picked up their shovels and planted the small grove. They were joined by actress Susan Sarandon; Julie Menin, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment; and Council Member Adrienne Adams. Eleanor Ince-Roberts, Captain of the RGC, says they plan on giving some of the fruit from the orchard to the day care center to educate children about fruit and promote healthy snacking, as well as host baking competitions to demonstrate the benefits of growing your own produce.

Named the Film & TV Orchard, these fruit trees will provide South Jamaica residents with the beauty of the natural environment steps away from their homes for many years to come.