Apple Orchard Helps Kids Go to College

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By Sharon Song

Story Published: Jul 28, 2011 at 7:19 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 29, 2011 at 3:43 PM MDT

BILLINGS - If you're driving around downtown, you might spot an apple orchard next to the Salvation Army. Seventy organic apple trees were planted on the lot next to the building, and the seeds planted there could help some kids start some roots in higher education.

"The apple orchard ultimately exists to get a child into MSU-B," said Salvation Army Executive Director Major Kevin Jackson.

The organic apple orchard is part of Salvation Army's agricultural program called "Billy Boots Fine Arts Academy" offered to disadvantaged kids. After harvesting the apples, the kids participating in the program will sell them by the basket or by making their own organic apple cider. Part of the funds will go to a custodial account to help the kids pay for college.

"That's really the goal of this, we believe education is a great way, and maybe the most important way, to get out of poverty and break that cycle," said Jackson.

Jackson says the idea for the Orchard grew out of his own experience of living the city life in Los Angeles for 15 years. "I realized how we had gotten away from working in a garden, helping to pick apples or plant apple trees, and there's just something healthy about that; getting our kids outside out in the nature.

Salvation Army plans to expand the orchard summer 2012 by planting an additional 120 trees, and eventually, by 2014, have around 1,000 trees throughout the community.

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