Winter Moth on Attack
May 3, 2017
On April 21, I noticed a rolled leaf on the Twinberry at our house. I shuffled over to our apple tree. Hmm. More rolled leaves. I jogged up to the orchard and every fruit tree that had leafed out showed this same leaf damage.…
Off With Its Head!
March 3, 2017
The bold Honeycrisp is too tall! "Bring down the height and the apples are within reach, plus the ladder can stay in the shed." We all nod with approval. Ingela is convincing.
Eight of us gathered in February to enjoy Ingela's…
Planning for 2017
January 31, 2017
Eleven thoughtful volunteers met this month to sketch out a vision for the coming year. The Cider Fest will be our key event, we will add a few more fruit trees and bushes and the food bank bed is expanding. (Note Sue's gorgeous…
Harvest Highlights – Part II – Fruit
December 07, 2016
Now for the fruits of our labor. 2016 was our fifth season and we finally picked a substantial amount of apples, enough to test and to share. For the first time kiwi berries developed and both chestnuts produced fully pollinated…
Harvest Highlights – Part I – Vegetables
November 30, 2016
The bounty from our seven vegetable gardens was spectacular and, beginning mid-May and ending mid-November, we donated over 300 pounds of produce to the University District Food Bank. Thanks so much to experienced gardeners…
Moonlight Hunt
October 31, 2016
While cleaning up after sheet mulching under the grape trellis, I noticed the box cutter was missing. Yikes! The blade on that tool was open. I looked everywhere I could think of, then, I looked back at the six-inch thick…
Moonlight Hunt
October 28, 2016
While cleaning up after sheet mulching under the grape trellis, I noticed the box cutter was missing. Yikes! The blade on that tool was open. I looked everywhere I could think of, then, I looked back at the six-inch thick…
6th Annual Fest is the Best!
October 3, 2016
Half way through our 6th annual cider fest I strolled down the path and saw volunteers Jennifer and Liz sitting comfortably on the orchard bench, feet dangling. I realized then that the number and quality of volunteers at…
The Apple Sleuth
September 6, 2016
Lori Brakken, apple ID expert and landscape designer, volunteers tirelessly in her efforts to further people's enjoyment of fruit. Last weekend, she graciously invited me to observe an apple ID session. Thinking that identifying…