Contact Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips
picks organic apples at
Lost Nation Orchard.
(photo: Frank Siteman)

Farmer, writer, carpenter. Michael Phillips makes his living in typical New England fashion. One wears many hats, weaving into each season sweet toil and intriguing challenges alike. Apple trees rate at the very top, having led this lad to write a book called The Apple Grower and another called The Holistic Orchard based on lessons learned at his own Lost Nation Orchard in northern New Hampshire. That in turn led to many friendships with organic and IPM orchardists alike. The need for grower-inspired research based on orchard health took Michael even further and thus the sponsorship of this website and an even more expansive book, The Holistic Orchard.

I'm happy to serve as network coordinator to a cause I can only hope grows as strong and giving as the trees we all love. Please explore the many teaching and requisite support avenues of GrowOrganicApples.com. Feedback and direct involvement on every grower's part is welcome!

Mailing Address: Michael Phillips 859 Lost Nation Road Groveton, NH 03582 (603) 636-2286

Email: Websites: www.GrowOrganicApples.com www.HerbsAndApples.com

Conferences and Workshops

An orchard can be a part of every diversified farm and homestead. Growing a profitable fruit crop is a challenge no matter what the management philosophy that one follows. Holistic orcharding involves a wide breadth of knowledge and timeliness, yet one fact stands clear -- we can have beautiful apples grown without chemical intervention. Sustainable agriculture will work only when we have fun and get people involved with our farms. Michael's workshops (see an updated schedule here) point the way for organic fruit growers to meet their unique site challenges. Please request a presentation flyer that outlines class possibilities and the costs involved if you'd like to have Michael come speak in your area.

Orchard Consultations

Michael offers several ways for folks to get direct advice about their own orcharding efforts. You can choose literally to "walk" through an entire growing season with me via ongoing chats and emailed reports, always aimed at increasing your understanding of what it takes to produce a commercial crop of health-providing apples. Some people value a homestead visit as essential to their apple growing future. Others just want a good chunk of time on the phone to get important questions answered. And occasionally, someone in the "regional neighborhood" simply wants to see pruning done right.

Organic Apple Intensive

This "organic apple everything" weekend at the farm around bloom time with Michael 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. Details about this yearly orcharding class can be found by clicking that blue link!

The Community Orchardist Newsletter

Stay informed about issues important to orchardists and backyard fruit growers by signing up to receive our newsletter. We'll write only on occasion, as life in the orchard gets pretty busy throughout the growing season. Part of the fun of having written The Apple Grower and The Holistic Orchard is serving as a clearinghouse of information that helps all of us to grow the good fruit.

Free Advice

Anyone visiting GrowOrganicApples.com is by all means encouraged to ask one question of Michael in this lifetime. And perhaps even two. . . if you tell me you have a copy of The Apple Grower or The Holistic Orchard in hand! Please keep in mind that plenty of free advice on growing organic apples is already available on the website as well.

Be fair about this folks, and I will help as I am able. Cheers!