GRAFT-01: Edible Urban Canopies — Native Fruit Tree Planting and Guerrilla Grafting in North Carolina

This research investigates two complementary approaches to improving urban ecosystems: introducing native fruit-bearing trees into urban landscapes and grafting edible fruit varieties onto existing compatible trees. Inspired by Sam Van Aken's Tree of 40 Fruit, the project explores how urban environments could provide more sustainable food sources for humans and wildlife while reducing reliance on exclusively ornamental landscaping. The study will evaluate grafting success, tree survival, biodiversity, maintenance costs, and the feasibility of developing community-based edible landscapes throughout North Carolina.