Courtesy photo: Raymond Samora Karen Kimmell’s fifth-grade class at Fort Sumner Elementary School planted fruit trees Wednesday on the grounds of Fort Sumner State Monument.
A Fort Sumner man is hoping schoolchildren will literally see the fruits of their labor every time they visit the Fort Sumner State Monument.
It was at the monument a week ago that Karen Kimmell’s fifth-grade class at Fort Sumner Elementary School planted fruit trees on the grounds of Fort Sumner State Monument.
Raymond Samora said his non-profit, Trees Provide Nutrition, provided three peach trees, two apple trees and wild berry bushes to be planted.
The produce from the plants is available to children and families.
“Before I leave this world,” Samora said, “I want to do something good.”
He had originally planned to donate the trees and bushes to the Fort Sumner Schools campus, but the school board nixed the idea, citing concerns about cleanup and the potential to attract bees and wasps.
— Compiled by CNJ staff writer Kevin Wilson