Orchard to bloom at Philadelphia prison complex

The Philadelphia Prison system is planting an orchard. 

Prisons Commissioner Louis Giorla says the Orchard Project is just one of several efforts to make prisons more sustainable. 

“This represents the fourth step in our environmental measures to accomplish the goals set forth by the mayor and the city to make the city the greenest city in the country and to expand on the education efforts that are extended not only for the citizens of the city but also the returning citizens in the city of Philadelphia,” Giorla said. 

The prisons already compost, have a major recycling effort and grow vegetables in a garden.

Mayor Michael Nutter says two acres of prison property will be transformed with fruit trees.

“The orchard will soon be home to 180 fruit bearing trees and berry bushes,” Nutter said. “Volunteers from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, prisons, personnel and our clients here will plant and maintain our orchard throughout the year.”

The clients as the mayor refers to them are inmates at the prison. They will have the opportunity to receive Community College credits for their work in the orchard.