Common Vision on NPR ~ March 2009

This NPR show on Fruit Tree Tour really captures the magic of the daylong program with the schools. NPR visited Nuview Elementary a school program sponsored by Amway's Nutilite and the One-by-One Campaign.




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Amway's Nutrilite - This company does it all

Never in the history of Fruit Tree Tour has Common Vision experienced such a thorough collaboration as we have with Amway's Nutrilite and the One by One Campaign. At every step of the way, from contacting schools, organizing program logistics, providing additional trees, and offering long-term orchard care the staff of this amazing company has shown impeccable dedication to their local community. It is through the One by One Campaign that Nutrilite and Amway sponsor and get involve in community events. Since 2003, One By One Campaign has impacted 6 million children through employees and distributors contributing 1 million employee volunteer hours and donating more than $70 million.

Nutrilite, a global company with local roots organized and sponsored 3 schools in Southern California this year. Riverside County’s Nuview Elementary School & Nuview Bridge Early College High School, and Buena Park’s Beatty Elementary School have three new orchards for a collective 70 fruit trees.

Experienced farmers from Nutrilite will work directly with parents and teachers to manage their new orchards, mulch and install drip irrigation. The diverse new orchards at these schools are destined for lots of yummy fruit for years to come. Thank you Nutrilte! If you can't view the below show, click here.

Orchard Care Collaboration

During our time in LA we spent a Saturday engaged in a day of orchard care continuing the 5-year annual collaboration between Common Vision's traveling caravan and Community Services Unlimited's local nonprofit in South Central LA. Started 30 years ago as a branch of the Black Panthers focused on bringing healthy food to the neighborhood, CSU has been active in South Central building gardens, educating youth and creating community. In 2004 CSU completed a Community Food Assessment that analyzed the socioeconomic factors that led to insufficient accessibility to nutritious food in their neighborhood. Common Vision’s collaboration with CSU began in 2005 when the veggie oil caravan came through and helped to install two schoolyard orchards. The rest is history. . . Find out more in this short film . . . .

Before and After

As photo editor for Fruit Tree Tour for the past two years I've seen thousands of photos, some better than others and a few outstanding examples. One of the trickiest things to document in a busy day of school programing has been a classic before and after shot which shows the impact installing an orchard can have on a regular school yard. At the campus that Mariposa Charter and Sumac Elementary share in Agoura Hills, just northeast of Los Angeles we were finally able to get a good picture of what planting 24 trees in one day looks like.

Working at the Car Wash

We love to keep our Buses squeaky clean and in tip top shape so just before rolling into Los Angeles we stopped at the car wash to work and work (and dance) until the buses were shinning.

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