Our primary role as orchardists is to build system health. Embracing forest edge ecology is critical when it comes to getting a leg up on fruit tree diseases and addressing pest challenges. Equally telling is the nutrient density—and flavor!—of the apples we then harvest for our families and communities. Come learn about fungal allies, root relationships, and the biodiversity that makes good fruit possible. Holistic orcharding involves a wide breadth of knowledge and timeliness, yet one fact stands clear—we can have beautiful apples, peaches and the like, all grown without chemical intervention. This whirlwind tour touches on a broad range of alternative approaches to meet the challenges at any site.
Our primary role as orchardists is to build system health. Embracing forest edge ecology is critical when it comes to getting a leg up on fruit tree diseases and addressing pest challenges. Equally telling is the nutrient density—and flavor!—of the apples we then harvest for our families and communities. Come learn about fungal allies, root relationships, and the biodiversity that makes good fruit possible. Holistic orcharding involves a wide breadth of knowledge and timeliness, yet one fact stands clear—we can have beautiful apples, peaches and the like, all grown without chemical intervention. This whirlwind tour touches on a broad range of alternative approaches to meet the challenges at any site.
How to create and maintain a poly-culture orchard where fruit trees and a wide assortment of companion plants, small fruits and even vegetables interact and work together to create a healthy environment for growing food.
Which are the best apples and other tree fruits to grow in this bioregion that will “knock your socks off” with incredible flavor? Michael will share decades’ worth of insight in answering that fundamental orcharding question. We’ll delve into cider lore, the right number of tree to plant for a homestead or community orchard, and growing considerations for specific cultivars from an organic perspective as well.
