For those interested in this concept… I just purchased and watched the DVD “The Permaculture Orchard: Beyond Organics” with Stefan Sobkowiak; film by Oliver Asselin (Possible Media). I’d watched many Youtube video’s on Stefan’s “Miracle Farm”, and read quite a bit, since I find what he’s doing interesting. I like his approach; open, honest about the ups and downs, sharing, a good communicator. But I’d put off getting the DVD, thinking there wouldn’t be much more in it. But I was greatly surprised to find it is not only a first class, very well done production and videography, but really packed with info and ideas. No fluff; very hands-on. I found it inspiring and came out with a basket load of ideas for my own place. I don’t have a commercial orchard and don’t plan to (have about an acre (fenced) plus some more), am not trying to duplicate what he’s doing and there were parts I skipped through (not many!). But just SEEING his orchard, with trees that were not “picture perfect” but were producing good fruit, and seeing just how he fits varied plantings together was well worth the cost of the DVD. This is one video I’ll be watching more than once for sure. Sue
Let us know if you try anything of his and it works!
I’m not a permaculture person, but when ever I read some of the permaculture articles and blogs I often find they give me something to think about, since they are approaching agriculture in a slightly different way.
I agree, Sue. It is a very informative DVD with lots of worthwhile info. He has certainly had success there in southern Quebec. I luckily discovered and learned from his approach before starting my 1/2 acre homestead orchard a few years ago here in the humid central Midwest. I arranged my trees into 6 rows by ripening time, plant tons of support plants and shrubs, try to mow between the rows on rotation and provide plenty of nestboxes for beneficial birds. I also incorporated many ideas from The Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips such as his holistic sprays, herbal teas, etc. Additionally, I attempt to grow the healthiest trees by building the healthiest soil. I ascribe to Albrecht’s approach at producing high brix fruit and produce by balancing the minerals in the soil and using compost teas to enhance soil biology. I soil test and amend my soil on a yearly/every other year basis to monitor progress. Steve Solomon’s The Intelligent Gardener was the book that helped bring the most understanding for me of soil tests and devising your own amendments. You might enjoy some of these other resources as well. Michael Phillips also has a great DVD based on The Holistic Orchard that I checked out from the local library - tons of useful information!
Most of my trees are yet to come into bearing (though I’m pretty happy with what has produced so far), so the jury is still out on which varieties are adaptable to my approach. If you’re gonna grow fruit organically in my climate, I’m pretty sure its going to be management-intensive. (And I doubt it would work on any commercial scale - unless you’re growing the natives: persimmon, pawpaw, aronia, elderberry, and maybe the hybrid plums.)
Cheers,
Kirk