05 Cider Orchard

Number of votes

1,048 (845 paper/203 online)

1. The project in a nutshell

Create an organic cider apple orchard and set up small gardening spaces at 11 and 13 Route du Jorat.

2. The Project’s Objective

Montblesson is a suburb of Lausanne that lacks community infrastructure. An association was founded in 2016 to launch community activities (Les Amis de Montblesson). One such activity was collecting apples and experimenting with making local cider and apple juice (a successful experiment). We now need more apples to involve more residents. Not everyone is passionate about apples and cider. Consequently, to expand the project and engage more residents, we decided (in agreement with the City of Lausanne) to add a “planting/gardening” component—specifically, small fruits—among the apple trees. Through these two community-based activities, the goal is to provide residents (adults and children) with opportunities to get to know one another, work together, help one another, and celebrate special moments.

3. The Project in Detail

The goal is to make use of the unused land near the former Montblesson post office, Route du Jorat 11 and 13 (near the Ferme de la Fontaine antique shop), which belongs to the City of Lausanne. Dimensions: approximately 40 m x 20 m (part of which is on a slope). 1. Plant 4 rows of half-standard/bowl-shaped apple trees. - Spacing of approximately 5 m between rows and trees. - Total of 40 trees (4 x 10 trees). - Cider varieties with the necessary balance, combining: A. local heirloom varieties (from French-speaking Switzerland and German-speaking Switzerland, to be selected in collaboration with the Rétro-Pommes association in Neuchâtel). B. cider varieties from Normandy, with a phytosanitary certificate for Switzerland (sweet, bitter, and tart varieties, to be selected in consultation with arborists based on adaptability to the soil and climate). Some of the cider and apple juice will be distributed to active participants, and some will be sold to neighborhood residents (at low prices) and to people in Lausanne in order to eventually self-finance the trees’ maintenance. 2. Set up gardening, permaculture, and small fruit areas among the trees - Create mini-plots (depending on the number of participants), estimated at 6 m² each, with dividing boards. - Prepare the plots using geotextile, soil/potting mix, plants, straw, compost, and other organic materials to create “lasagna” layers - Water will be drawn from the nearby fountain (for the lower part of the slope, a water tank could be installed, filled from the Flon Morand) - Create a shared tool pool (shovels, rakes, watering cans, etc.) that remain on site. - Organize a rotation of plots if there are many participants.

4. The amount requested to carry out the project

15,860 CHF

• Flyers: 500 CHF

• Equipment rental: 1,800 CHF

• Meals, drinks, cider tasting: 1,800 CHF

• Annual tree maintenance: 2,160 CHF

• Tree planting, transportation, and miscellaneous: 9,600 CHF

5. Neighborhood(s)

Montblesson

6. The Association

Vergers-Jardins de Montblesson Association