This workshop is for anyone who would like to grow organic apple trees.

ifarm is excited to welcome Linda Hoffman, of Old Frog Pond Farm and Studio, to teach us her methods for raising abundant apples from healthy, organic apple trees. Linda will share insights she has gained from reviving an abandoned orchard of over 300 trees, as well as the successful methods she has developed over ten years of growing apples. She will walk each participant through the essentials they need to raise their own backyard orchard.

Topics covered will include:

• How to easily plant and care for a small backyard apple orchard;
• What trees to purchase (and the value of disease-resistant apple trees);
• Where to purchase trees;
• Planting and protecting trees from voles and deer;
• Tools for managing disease and identifying pests;
• Encouraging apple production with hand thinning;
• Increasing soil fertility with companion planting;
• Winter pruning;

If you have ever considered growing apples, this is the workshop for you. Even with only two or three apple trees (each tree is $15 – $25 bareroot) you can produce a bumper crop of apples. This workshop will provide all the information you will need to get your trees in the ground for 2018.

In the case of cancellation due to weather, we will send out an email to all registrants at least 12 hours before the event. We will also send out an update on our facebook page. You can read about our cancellation policy here.