The Friends of Piper’s Orchard (FoPO) care for the heritage fruit trees found on the eastern slope of the Piper’s Creek Trail. Working in collaboration with Seattle Parks and Recreation Urban Food Systems Program, City Fruit, and the Carkeek Park Advisory Council, they steward and protect the orchard, support local food systems, and help to educate about fruit tree care. At harvest time the FoPO welcomes the community to enjoy a “Festival of Fruit” which includes cider making, mouthwatering pies, and the rare chance to taste the unique heirloom fruit varieties found in the orchard.
Get your hands dirty
Friends of Piper’s Orchard needs you! Do you like getting your hands dirty? Then you might like pruning, mulching, clearing fallen fruit, bagging and harvesting. Would you rather keep your hands clean? We’d love your help with food access outreach and event planning. This is a great opportunity to connect with the earth and with your community.
For more information or to volunteer
Email: DonnieAppleseed@yahoo.com
Website: Friends of Pipers Orchard
Documentary: Truth About Trees
FoPO events and work parties are posted on their Facebook page.
Oldest orchard in Seattle
Piper’s Orchard was planted in what was then the homestead of notable Seattle settler A.W. Piper sometime after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. It is the oldest orchard in Seattle. For decades the fruit trees were unattended and largely forgotten until a restoration survey rediscovered the orchard in 1981. Recognizing the value of this historic resource, volunteer orchardists restored the property and cultivated new trees, forming the seeds of the Friends of Piper’s Orchard.
See for yourself
Spend some time connecting with nature and history. Piper’s Orchard is located on the eastern slope of the Piper’s Creek Trail about halfway between the Carkeek Park Road and the Eddie McAbee entrance at NW 100th Place.