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Warren Gardens Housing Cooperative

This site was willed to the City of Boston in 1955 as a natural area. However in the 1960's a public housing development of 225 townhouse units was built on most of the bequest. EarthWorks began planting fruit trees on the housing grounds in 1993. In 2000, EarthWorks, with the help of volunteer groups and Warren Gardens residents, planted over 200 trees, including 50 fruit trees and shrubs. Most orchard plantings are near the intersection of Warren and Circuit streets. The plantings include several varieties of pears, cherries, currants, apples, and hazels. In addition, there are juneberries, kiwis, and grape vines. A few of the plants are in a fenced enclosure, but most are simply growing along the slope in between the apartments and the street.

In addition to the orchard, EarthWorks' Urban Wilds Program has done extensive ecological restoration work in the remaining parcel of natural area. Warren Gardens Urban Wild, as it is officially named, is known to residents at the Housing Cooperative as “The Mountain”. It features old cellar holes, a small meadow, and woods rife with invasive tree-of-heaven and Norway maple. Native species present before restoration began include white and red oak, black cherry, ash, common hackberry, black locust, and hophornbeam trees. EarthWorks has bolstered the native biodiversity by introducing native dogwoods, maples, evergreens and other tree and shrub species.

Location: Warren St. at Circuit St.
Plants: Many pears, Northstar cherries, and currants. A few apples, hazels, juneberries, kiwis, and grapes (Concord & Edelweiss).
Accessibility: All plants are on a publicly accessible bank. There are a few vines, and other plants in an enclosed garden.

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