Hereford Residential College is built on the foundations of social justice, sustainability, and mindfulness. Hereford’s orchard has been around since circa 2007 as part of our sustainability garden, creating a beautiful view for those driving by.

However, we have recently been informed that there was a year and a half long effort to remove all the long standing trees and bushes there (consisting of 20 healthy plants: blueberries, elderberries, pawpaw’s, an apple tree, a mulberry, plums, and hazelnuts) and replace it with dumpsters. In doing so, they’d also be taking out a basketball hoop used by the Hereford residents that was donated in memorial of Khizr Khan’s son, Humayun Khan, a Purple Heart recipient that was a resident of Hereford. Instead of the site of abundant trees being the first thing people see when coming to Hereford, a residential college known for its sustainability, they would see two gaudy dumpsters obstructing their view. 

In addition to all of this, the dumpsters would now be closer to the road, making it significantly more dangerous to take out trash in the nearly pitch black area, especially for people who don’t feel safe going out at night. Being closer to the road, where people tend to tear through and peel into the area where the trucks would presumably pick up the dumpsters, also proves to be hazardous for students regardless of the time of day. 

Now is the time to act! They plan to excavate and cover the entire area with concrete on Monday! Sign this petition and save Hereford’s orchard!