CSU’s Tree of Life program was created and established by one of our From the Ground Up youth teams almost a decade ago. Youth noticed a lot of the fruit on trees in the neighborhood was going to waste. TOL maps fruit trees in and around South Central LA and works in partnership with homeowners and renters in a reciprocal exchange. TOL identifies, harvests from, and cares for fruit trees. Harvested fruit is used in CSU’s various community programs, featured in our VMP market/café, processed into value-added products, and is shared with residents in other capacities. Do you have a fruit tree? Interested in the program? TOL volunteers and CSU staff will pick the fruit – leaving you however much you want – we offer free pruning and light tree-care services on harvested trees (small-to-medium sized only) and if you wish, we will happily train you how to care for and harvest the tree yourself. If you’re interested in the program, please fill out this form.
