Fruit tree for nice memories
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
People in cities usually don't possess a garden where they can plant a fruit tree. We introduce the solution to buy a land where interested individuals could plant their own fruit tree for special occasions such as: birth of a child, first day of school, graduation, wedding, anniversaries...
The tree seedling comes with a wooden box of memories - a memo cube, which is used to record the most important events in life of its owner. It is designed to be passed down from generation to generation.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
With this project, we want to realize the deep - rooted need for contact with nature, even for those who live in cities and do not have their own garden. Our idea is based on the fact that anyone can afford to buy a fruit tree seedling, but most do not have land or a garden to plant it. The purpose of the project is to enable the ownership of the fruit tree, also to those, who live in cities.
A fruit tree needs an average of 6m2 of space, which is not a big cost, but it is not possible to buy just 6m2 of land. However, we could buy land and find people who would buy a fruit tree for their newborns or on special occasions such as the first day of the school, graduation, wedding, anniversaries and the like, which they would plant in a our orchard.
Awareness of the importance and benefits of human coexistence with nature should begin with the youngest. Young generation spend most of the time indoors, often with a computer or smart phone. Such a way of life distances people from nature and has detrimental consequences for health. We believe that a child's own fruit tree will arouse interest in nature, in observing plants and animals. Along with it, the child will learn to recognize different types of fruit trees, ways of harvesting and storing fruits…
A child, who receives a tree as a gift at birth, will grow up with a tree. The tree symbolizes the growth of a child. The roots of the tree are firmly dug into the ground, and the branches stretch towards the sky and the sun. Just like as we wish for a child at his birth that he will get a solid foundation for life and reach high achievements.
With the tree seedling, it comes a wooden box of memories - a memo cube, which is used to record the most important life events of its owner. It allows us to keep special moments in memory and pass them to our kids. The memo cube is designed to transmit from generation to generation.
Key objectives for sustainability
MATERIALS
The memo cube will be made exclusively of solid wood of fruit trees without the furniture fittings. The wood will be treated with natural oil, which makes it pleasant to touch. All materials used are renewable.
REDUCING CO2 EMISSIONS
Trees contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions in the next phases: growth, production, use and recycling. Plants, which also include trees, use it to synthesize sugar: sunlight, CO2 and water, while releasing oxygen O2. Wood is therefore an ideal material for solving environmental problems.
BIODIVERSITY
The potential owners of fruit trees will be able to choose between different types of autochthon varieties. In addition, the orchard with various autochthon fruit trees will be a pebble in the mosaic of biodiversity.
EDUCATION
A child who receives a tree as a gift at birth will grow up with a tree. Through workshops, the child will observe changes in the orchard through the seasons, learn about tree care, harvesting and fruit processing.
Kindergarten children who plant a tree in a pre-prepared planting hole will learn how to plant, care for a tree and water it. Later on, the tree needs you less and less, and it gives you back with fruit and beauty.
USE
The memo cube is designed so that the owner will be able to use it for entire life. It will be passed down from generation to generation. Memo cube is a box, containing cards on which the most important events in life will be written.
RECYCLING - Waste does not exist
The memo cube will be completely biodegradable. If we want to throw it away, we can feed the biological system (for example compost, woodchips) or use it as a source of energy and thus feed the technological system.
When the fruit tree no longer bears fruit, the tree is cut down and a new tree is planted. New wood products are made from the wood of the old tree within organized workshops.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Memo cube as a decorative element
The cover of the memo cube will be processed in different ways, based on the needs and wishes of different target groups of users, and also allows for completely personalized processing according to the specific wishes of the user. There are available three basic versions:
- Nature
The "Back to nature" cube has a cover made of several layers of different types of veneers, which symbolizes the richness of tree species in Slovenia. The circular pattern created by the concave surface symbolizes the growth ring and the vortex of life in harmony with nature.
- Picture
The cover of the cube has a picture or pattern made with laser engraving according to the wishes of the user or his photo, picture, etc.
- Minimalist
Box without surface treatment, allow individual painting approach.
The cover with engraving or painting can be sanded and re-decorated or left untreated when we want changes or when the box is given to next generation. A wooden memo cube (box) will also be a decorative element.
Idyllic nature
The emerging orchard lies along the Ižica river on the edge of the Ljubljana Marshes Landscape Park. It is only 3 km away from the city centre, however the area is extremely biologically diverse. There we can meet: many birds, bees, frogs, nutria, deer, weasels, butterflies… Biologists have listed almost 6.000 plant and animal species in the Ljubljana Marshes. Therefore, in orchard will be a diverse selection of fruit trees, which the user will be able to choose from a list of autochthonic species of fruit trees. Each tree will also have a wooden plaque engraved with the owner’s name and birth date.
Key objectives for inclusion
Fruit tree-affordable for everyone
Memo cube with a fruit tree seedling can be afforded by anyone, but not the land or garden where this tree could be planted. The purpose of the project is to enable the ownership of the fruit tree also to those who live in multi-apartment buildings in the city and don't posses their own garden where they could plant their own tree.
The memo cube and a fruit tree as a gift at the birth of a child, will be available to anyone until the places on the existing land are filled. Then, we plan to expand or purchase new lands intended for such orchards.
Public participation
Fruit trees will be cared by a qualified gardener. Through the workshops, tree owners will be learning pruning, how to protect with natural insecticides and fertilization process. Meetings will also be organized during the time of fruit picking and processing (i.e. cooking jam...).
When the project reach more than 50 users, we will establish a board of members, to help co-design and co-create common activities.
Intergenerational cooperation
We anticipate that this gift will often be chosen by grandparents at the birth of family child, so activities related to the fruit tree and its harvesting will often take place in collaboration with three generations.
Green areas as a connecting element
Every year, a picnic will be organized in the orchard, which will be an opportunity for socializing and networking of ecology-minded people, who want to live in harmony with nature. Otherwise, the orchard is connecting factor throughout the whole year when they visit and nurture their own tree.
Accessibility
The existing orchard is located near the road where is organised the city traffic.
Vision for the future
We see orchard (in the future) supplemented with a glamping offer, where the tree owners could take a rest and sleep in temporary dwellings built exclusively of natural materials (wood, stone, straw). Boutique eco-tourism would be linked to surrounding eco farms.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
Long life products
We live in a consumer society where many products become obsolete because they are no longer fashionable, not because they would no longer be usable, as such they end up as waste material. In addition, we use too much raw material and energy to produce new products. Based on environmental protection, we should reduce the quantity of products and improve their quality in the long run. This means that we need less products, but with higher quality. That's why memo cube is made of high quality and durable materials, with a design that provides a long product life for several generations.
Memo cube brings nature into the space
The memo cube is not only a functional element for storing memories, but also a decorative wooden cube that can brighten up the appearance of any space. At the same time, due to the material from which it is made, it brings warmth and the feel of nature into the space. Oil-protected wood acquires a patina over the years, which further increases the value of the product.
Living in harmony with nature
The modern urban lifestyle disconnects people from nature; this may be associated with adverse health effects. In this project we want to include the theory of biophilia and realize the deep-rooted touch with nature even for those who live in cities and don’t posses garden.
We want to show to youngsters the relation between caring for nature and the goods that nature gives us back, if we live in harmony with it.
Education
The orchard would be a crossroads of different generations and a place dedicated to education about: growing plants, knowledge of different fruit trees and animals that live in the natural environment. We believe that the project would also contribute to a healthier food culture for children, as they would certainly be happier to eat own bio fruit.
