Looking to provide a variety of freshly grown fruit available free of charge for local residents and an area food bank, a former Galesburg restaurant owner plans to transform a vacant south-side parcel of land into a new urban orchard.
Walt McAllister, who with his wife Annette owned and operated Q’s Cafe for 14 years, recently received a $25,000 Urban Agriculture Grant from the City of Galesburg to create Libby’s Corner, located near the intersection of South Academy Street and Louisville Road.
The project will focus on the planting and cultivating of assorted fruit trees. The fruit would be available to pick at no charge to community members with the excess being donated to Riverbend Food Bank. The project will also focus on youth engagement and education, being open to youth groups, elementary schools, college students and senior citizens.
Grant funds will be utilized for start up costs such as water service installation, crops, and equipment. Once the grant funds are depleted, McAllister plans to use personal funds to cover yearly maintenance costs.
Among the tree varieties McAllister plans to plant at Libby’s Corner are apple, pawpaw, cherry, pear and plum, along with blueberry and pomegranate bushes.
There will be no charge to visit Libby’s Corner and no charge to pick fruit.
McAllister said the goal is to increase the availability of fresh foods for community members, share in the learning opportunities a community garden would afford residents, and to create a community garden accessible to all.
The donation of crops produced to River Bend Food Bank will assist in providing fresh foods to those who utilize the food bank.
Urban agriculture was identified in the 2019 Comprehensive Plan as beneficial for Galesburg, particularly on the south side and in vacant lots.
“This motivated this City Council to provide grants to prompt such activity,” said Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman. “Having open lots full of fruit and nut bearing trees/plants will encourage healthy eating, enhance biodiversity, and promote positive social dynamics in our neighborhoods.”
“Perhaps most importantly, a productive grove of fruit trees and berry bushes fosters an uplifting, can-do spirt for a community’s image, both for its residents and visitors.” — Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins, special projects coordinator for the City of Galesburg, said, “It is difficult to image a more comprehensively beneficial undertaking for the citizens of our community. Successful orchards projects can simultaneously impact food security, climate resilience through biodiversity and human health.
“Perhaps most importantly, a productive grove of fruit trees and berry bushes fosters an uplifting, can-do spirt for a community’s image, both for its residents and visitors.”
Libby’s Corner is named in memory of McAllister’s late mother-in-law, Libby Harbour.
McAllister said his interest in fruit trees originated when Q’s Cafe hosted an apple grafting class, and several of the trees were planted on the lot on Louisville Road.
“I always kept my eye on that lot, and when it came up for auction, I thought it would be great to fill full of fruit trees,” McAllister said. “And my goal was to really turn it into a community orchard, as opposed to a community garden.”
McAllister said the project will be ongoing. He noted there are two neglected fruit trees on the property and he’s in the process of acquiring and planting new trees. He also plans to plant a hedge of blueberries on the permitter.
“Anybody will be able to just come on the property and pick the fruit,” McAllister said. “If someone is driving by and sees an apple hanging from the tree, they can just grab it. I’m really hoping the community gets involved.”
