Holistic Orchard Intensive

For many years Michael has offered an apple intensive weekend here at our Lost Nation Orchard. This annual event has been a long time favorite. Michael did the teaching and Gracie and Nancy did the cooking.

This year, Gracie will give a tour of our Lost Nation Orchard and we have invited Todd Parlo to carry on this tradition as our featured teacher. Todd is an experienced teacher whose orchard work and philosophy aligns with ours. Todd and Michael have been friends and fellow orchardists for years, so we know Michael would approve!

This organic apple everything weekend with Todd Parlo inspires people to pursue their own orchard dreams. Come gain the practical insights needed to establish your own fruit planting based on the biological systems approach used here at Lost Nation Orchard.

Holistic orcharding involves a wide breadth of knowledge and timeliness, yet one fact stands clear – we can have beautiful fruit grown without chemical intervention. Regenerative agriculture thrives when we have fun and get people involved with growing healthy food in the places where we each live. This course points the way for all orchardists to meet their unique site challenges. Our time together ends with a rambunctious wassail sure to kindle those hopes of offering the good fruit to one's own family and community.

Tree-Focused Curriculum

Michael will lead participants in a walk through the orchard season. We will discuss the key role understory management and soil health plays in a biological orchard, and look at varietal and rootstock choices. Pruning, grafting, branch training, and trunk protection will be woven into our time together along with a look at righteous equipment for small-scale orchards. Michael will also identify insect and disease dynamics from a holistic perspective aimed at achieving maximum diversity, pointing out a few of the culprits and beneficial allies on hand. Check out this past syllabus for fuller detail.

Lodging Options

We aim to be as accommodating as we can when people come to the farm for one of our classes. Setting up a tent to camp in the orchards and woods can be a great part of the experience. Two outhouses are available for what needs to be done. Understandably, some of you may want to spring for a real bed with private facilities. There are several places to stay nearby that come complete with a definitive share of northern New Hampshire character.