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Taking over care of an orchard space


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#1 Paradox

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 04:55 PM

A little tired, so forgive me if this is a little less than coherent... Recently, I was looking at Craigslist and found a listing for someone offering space for people that want to garden. Long story short... we have 3/4 of an acre to take care of! It hasn't been tended much since the previous person (the owner's dad left it to him) passed away about 18 months ago. In the orchard, there are:
apple trees
pear trees
asian pear
cherry
plum
peach (dead)
raspberry bushes
gooseberry
blackberry
grape vines
currants
asparagus

and who knows what all else...
it's so full of weeds right now, though... and the bushes have a boatload of dead branches.

but, is it strange that I can picture it all cleaned up and producing beautifully next year??

#2 themartianchick

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 07:04 PM

That sounds wonderful! Congratulations!!

#3 Paradox

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 09:00 PM

the owners want a small percentage of the production... I'm thinking if i can get the rows between the trees plowed up, we can do something along the lines of a CSA set up, where we try to have a box of goods for them and a set for us. Also wondering about growing some grain, but never tried it on any scale, except some corn (which last year had corn smut... we'll see how this year goes).

So what would you do if you suddenly had nearly an acre to work with?

#4 dogmom4

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 09:29 PM

Wow, what a piece of luck!


"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

#5 Ambergris

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Posted 16 July 2011 - 09:42 PM

Get the deal in writing.

I bet arguta kiwi would do beautifully in the place where the peach was.


"We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home." Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965)


#6 themartianchick

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Posted 17 July 2011 - 08:47 AM

Excellent point, Amber! (Get it in writing!)

#7 Vic303

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Posted 17 July 2011 - 08:56 AM

Also watch out for food-poachers. Folks who know the orchard is there, and once you get it up and producing again, will go in at night and steal ALL the fruit...happened to a friend of mine here in TX.

#8 Paradox

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Posted 17 July 2011 - 10:38 AM

Also watch out for food-poachers. Folks who know the orchard is there, and once you get it up and producing again, will go in at night and steal ALL the fruit...happened to a friend of mine here in TX.


Not much I could do about that, if someone is determined. The orchard is fenced (6-7' tall), and locked at the gate. but it's about 25 miles away, so not like we can mount a night watch all the time. on the plus side, it's rather out into rural areas, so hopefully not a huge problem.



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