The Northeast
Organic Farming Association of Connecticut’s Organic Land Care Program has
scheduled an advanced workshop with Michael Phillips, author of The Apple Grower
and The Holistic Orchard and owner of Lost Nation Orchard in Groveton, New Hampshire. The workshop, titled “Practical Orchard
Health with Michael Phillips” is for all levels of apple growers: professional
producers, land care professionals offering edible landscaping services and
advanced gardeners looking to grow apples in their yards. The workshop is on June 25 from 10:00am to
4:00pm, with the class meeting at Connecticut College for the first portion and
moving outdoors to Hidden Brook Gardens in Ledyard, Connecticut for instruction
in the field.
During the
classroom portion in 101 New London Hall at 270 Mohegan Avenue in New London,
Phillips will teach about building a healthy soil food web to promote soil
fertility and healthy roots in an orchard.
Phillips will then discuss organic management of common orchard pests.
After a
catered lunch, the group will carpool to 551 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard
in Hidden Brook Gardens to Lyman Orchards, Connecticut’s only organically
certified orchard. Anita Kopchinski and
Bill Sokol, owners of Hidden Brook Gardens will share their experiences taking
on management of the orchard and the certification process. Phillips will then lead the walk through the
orchard pointing out clues to the orchard’s health, companion plantings, groundcover
options and pollinator habitat.
“Practical Orchard
Health” is organized by the NOFA Organic Land Care Program in collaboration
with our partners in sustainability and education, Connecticut College, Hidden
Brook Gardens and Soil Food Web New York.
The workshop is $125 for NOFA members or Accredited Organic Land Care
Professionals and $140 for regular admission.
To reserve a space and receive lunch, please register before June 11,
though registration will remain open until filled. For more information and
registration please visit www.organiclandcare.net. Those with questions are also welcome to call
the NOFA Organic Land Care Office at 203-888-5146.
