Need something to hug? The great tree giveaway is on! Come out to EL Garden community garden at 120 Jefferson Street this Sunday, March 29th, and get a tree, free. Online registration is already closed but there will be many free trees on a first come first served basis, from 10:00 AM till noon.
Four trees on offer:
Granada Pomegranate (Punica granatum Granada)
In ancient and medieval worlds, the pomegranate, with it’s ability to “bleed” when eaten, was a symbol of birth and death. Its bloody drippings were identified with menses and female goddesses of the underworld. And it many seeds were a sign of great fertility. In Jewish legend it is the fruit of all things forbidden that grows upon the tree of knowledge of sexuality and death and was forbidden to Adam and Eve.
So hey, why not grow one out back and drip its ancient seeds and blood into your next pomegranate martini-and don’t forget to use a condom!
The Granada Pomegranate is a small fruit tree reaching 12’-25’ tall and 10’ – 20’ wide.
The tree reaches it’s mature height in 10-20 years. It is difficult to maintain and requires full sun and well-drained soil.
Celeste Fig (Ficus Carica celeste)
The Buddha achieved enlightenment sitting under a Bodhi (fig) tree. Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with the leaves of the fig tree. Why not create your own personal Garden of Eden right here in Bushwick? Imagine waking up, walking naked into your backyard and feasting on fat, full, fleshy figs dropping right at your feet.
With wood so fragrant it’s trimmings can be used in the fireplace in winter!
The Celeste fig reaches 15’ – 30’ tall. It takes 10-20 years to reach full height and width. The Celeste must be wrapped in winter and requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Carolina Gold Peach (Prunus persica Carolina Gold)
Forget vampires, werewolves and zombies, in Chinese mythology peaches symbolize the immortals and confer longevity on all who eat them. The Jade emperor and his wife Xi Wangmu ensured the gods immortality by feasting and feeding them with peaches. You can do the same for all of your friends and neighbors in your very own backyard. Imagine the popularity!
The Carolina Gold Peach is a small tree reaching 10’-18’ tall reaching its mature height and width in 10-20 years. It’s moderately difficult to maintain and requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Moorpark Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
Hunza, the mountain state known as the original Shangri-la, where the people were beautiful, intelligent, immune to diseases, lived to 140, and, wait for it, feasted mainly on apricots! Due to the high levels of B17 in apricot kernels, the Hunza today have low levels of cancer and high rates of longevity. Want to grow an apricot tree in front of your house? Yeah, I thought so. Get there early and tack another 40 years onto your life.
The Moorpark Apricot is a small fruit tree reaching 8’-15’ tall. It is easy to maintain and reaches mature height in 5-15 years. This tree requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Tree Giveaway, Sunday, 3/29 at EL Garden, 120 Jefferson St., starts at 10am.