Lincoln Salt Mine Urban Orchard

In 2024, the Placer Resource Conservation District (Placer RCD) and the Lincoln Salt Mine collaborated to create an urban orchard at the Lincoln Salt Mine Thrift Store in Lincoln, California to help support the Lincoln Salt Mine Food Closet with fresh and nutritious produce for the communities they serve. This orchard was funded by a National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Urban & Community Grant awarded to Placer RCD in 2023.

The Lincoln Salt Mine, a faith-based non-profit organization, serves 1,800 families in Lincoln and Sheridan, California. With a commitment to ensuring no individual or family in the area goes hungry, the Lincoln Salt Mine’s partnership with Placer RCD will help fulfill its mission by transforming underutilized urban spaces into a source of fresh fruit. Twelve citrus and pomegranate plants, chosen for their long harvest season, shelf stability, and nutritional value, were planted to enhance food security and improve access to healthy food options.

“This orchard is an incredible example of how conservation can directly support community needs,” said Andrew Justus-Fritz, Community & Conservation Director at Placer RCD. “By combining our efforts with the Lincoln Salt Mine, we’re revitalizing urban land and enhancing its ability to serve those who need it most.”

Stephen Hay, Operations Manager at the Lincoln Salt Mine, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration: “Our goal has always been to support and uplift our community. Thanks to Placer RCD’s support, we now have an orchard that will bring fresh produce to our pantry and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

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Two people stand in front of a large building.
Sarah Jones, Executive Director of Placer RCD, and Stephen Hay, Operations Manager at the Lincoln Salt Mine, tour the newly established Urban Orchard at the Lincoln Salt Mine.
A white flower of a citrus tree.
An orange tree blossoms at the Lincoln Salt Mine Urban Orchard.
Three people looking at the camera while standing around a tree.
Andrew Justus-Fritz, Community & Conservation Director at Placer RCD (left), Sarah Jones, Executive Director of Placer RCD (center), and Stephen Hay, Operations Manager at the Lincoln Salt Mine (right), stand beside one of twelve newly planted orange trees at the Lincoln Salt Mine Urban Orchard in Lincoln, California. The orchard was established to enhance food security for local residents.

Related Assistance and Information

Lincoln Salt Mine Urban Orchard Project Updates

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