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Announcements
The 2023 Know Your Roots Orcharding Webinar Series: “Holistic Pomology: What’s It All About?” is newly revised and covers many aspects of holistic orchard management with an organic and cosmic flavor. It includes new and updated material focusing primarily on apples, but touching on other perennial fruit crops, as well as plants and herbs that support ecological function within the farmscape.
- All webinars updated with more intensive biodynamic and holistic insights!!
- Access to the 2023 webinar recordings until Dec 31, 2023, for all series registrants.
- Cost: $20 per class or $320 for complete series.
- Registrants from the 2022 series receive 20% registration for the 2023 webinar series.
For more information and to register, visit our website . Email mike@knowyouroots.com with questions or comments.
An Introduction to Holistic Pomology: What’s It All About?
Saturday, February 18, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
An introduction to the 2023 Know Your Roots online webinar series for holistic orchardists. We will discuss the basics of holistic orcharding with a focus on biodynamic principles and practices. This introductory session is FREE and open to anyone interested in holistic fruit growing (register below). Our focus will be apples, though other perennial fruit crops may be discussed from time to time. Click here to connect to the recording for the inside scoop on the series.
Free!
The Promise of Biodynamics
Saturday, March 4, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
This webinar is focused on the basis and use of the biodynamic calendar. What this means to how you do things now – in other words how you can align your farming practices with the cosmos – can be complicated yet is not rocket science. That’s where the biodynamic calendar comes in. During this webinar we’ll demystify the biodynamic calendar and relate what it means on a cosmic scale to you and your orchard.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the Holistic Grower
Saturday, March 11, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
An introduction to the art and science of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from a holistic and
biodynamic perspective. We’ll discuss the various tools and technology available to everyone as we triangulate the IPM cornerstones of observation, technology, and practical solutions, all with the perspective that technology is just one piece of the puzzle and there is more at play in your orchard than the eye can see.
Common Diseases of Apple Trees and Fruit
Saturday, March 18, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
An in-depth look at the major early season tree fruit diseases of apples (Malus spp.). We’ll describe and discuss the life cycles, epidemiology, management, and control options for apple scab, fireblight, cedar apple rust, powdery mildew, and Marssonina leaf blotch.
Tree Fruit Physiology – The Basics
Saturday, April 1, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
What is actually going on inside the tree? Photosynthesis, respiration, plant growth hormones, immune systems, and water relations all play a role in the health and proper functioning of the tree. Each physiological topic will be discussed considering their practical aspects in the orchard and how they relate to a successful holistic and biodynamic orchard ecosystem.
Let It Grow! Soils, Fertility, and Plant Nutrition
Saturday, April 15, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
Soils are the foundation of any farm or orchard. Without healthy soils, plants won’t thrive and you can’t raise nutrient dense food. Soil biology, chemistry, nutrition, fertility, and ways to revitalize and balance used and abused soils. This is a highly recommended precursor to the Microbial Connection.
The Microbial Connection
Saturday, April 22, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
There is little doubt that the foundation of any farm or orchard is the soil on which is stands. Yet for far too long most agricultural scientists have looked at soil as something dead; a combination of sand, silt, clay and gravel made of inert ingredients that were nothing more than physical substance for the tree to stand in and feed off of. But what does this mean to the health and vitality of your orchard? Learn about the microbial world in your orchard and what you can do to enhance its diversity and health in your orchard.
Bug Off! Spring Insect Pests of Apple Trees and Fruit
Saturday, April 29, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
Insect pests can provide some of the most confounding and confusing problems for a holistic orchardist. From mites and scale to codling moth and plum curculio, each insect pest has a unique life cycle, level of importance, and effective control strategy. We’ll discuss this and more including the use of beneficial insects, biological organisms, and biodynamic peppering to understand and control the major early season insect pests of any apple orchard.
Beyond Apples: Nurturing a Diverse Ecosystem
Saturday, May 13, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
In a conventional sense, an orchard is reduced to trees and grass between the rows. Diversity is
discouraged as focus is on apple production at the highest levels. In this webinar we will discuss the myriad plants you can use and encourage in your orchard to help support the primary crop: apples. We’ll discuss ecosystem design and function, the myriad understory plants and their functions, their utility, and ultimately what they mean to overall health of your orchard and You!
Moths, Larva, and Spores, Oh My!
Wednesday June 7, 2023 ~ 7-9pm
We’re close to the midpoint of the season. Now it’s time to investigate summer insect pests and
diseases. We’ll throw in a good dose of summer fertility considerations. The insect pests we’ll cover include mites, codling moth, Obliquebanded leafroller, borers, and more. We’ll discuss life cycles, ecological and economic importance, and more including the use of beneficial insects, biological organisms, and biodynamic practices to understand and control these apple orchard insects and disease pests.
Plant Medicines for Plants (NEW!)
Saturday, July 8, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
Plants contain some of the most powerful chemistry we know of for human health. Its why
pharmaceutical companies study them so intensely. But what’s less known is that plants also contain powerful phytochemicals, minerals, and biology that can be used to keep our trees, bushes and vines healthy as well. Comfrey, nettles, horsetail, and garlic are the four plants we’ll focus on after giving a general overview of the benefits of plants as plant medicines.
Getting Ready for Harvest – Picking, Handling, and Storage
Saturday, August 19, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
You’ve done the hard work, now comes the fun – harvest! Getting prepared for harvest is critical. From the harvest tools, to timing, to handling and storage – all will depend on a keen eye for detail and the ability to get things done efficiently. We’ll discuss different modes of harvest, handling and storage. How to time your harvest exactly right.
Starting Your Orchard
Saturday, Sep 9 , 2023 ~ 7-9pm (please note date and time!)
The past year we’ve spent quite a bit of time working with growers to help them properly design a
holistic orchard. We’ve borrowed from the permaculture world and applied concepts that allow the orchard to thrive. What makes a good orchard site? How do I prepare the soil? Do I need irrigation? What varieties work best? How do I even plant a tree? We’ll cover it all and more.
Winterizing the Orchard
Saturday, November 18, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
Harvest is over. The fruit is in the barn – and you’re ready to put the orchard to bed for the winter. Understanding what happens at the tail-end of the season, the things you can do to ensure happy, healthy trees next spring – late season fertility considerations, biodynamic tree paste, vole and critter protection, when you can start pruning, grafting considerations, and more.
Pruning and Training
Saturday, December 9, 2023 ~ 8:30-10:30am
Whether your trees are 4 or 40 years old, pruning and training trees is some of the critical and fun stuff you’ll do throughout the year. But there are some basic considerations to pay attention to. Pruning and training is as much an art as it is a science. But if you don’t understand the science, then the art suffers. Like everything else we’ve discussed – and why this is all “integrated” – pruning and training can both make or break the success of your orchard.
For more information and to register, visit our website . Email mike@knowyouroots.com with questions or comments.
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