Networking Connections

Fruit growers have a number of ways to connect with one another about holistic approaches to orcharding. Active dialogue is critical to advancing our means for it is here we explore nuance and refine research ideas. The chance to chat at home on the computer screen can be especially useful when participants stay on topic. Regional networks offer the opportunity to meet face-to-face, sometimes even in actual orchards during the growing season. Getting involved makes things happen!

Web Discussion Groups

AppleNet Jim Gallot in Vermont set up a place to discuss alternative methods of commercial apple production on the Web. This discussion is not restricted to organic, biodynamic, ecological, IPM or any other production method or philosophy. All are welcome to join and share in-depth ideas: groups.yahoo.com/group/applenet .

Organic Tree Fruits The Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers offers a list-serve forum to explore the full gamut of questions that come up in the organic orchard. Experienced growers are involved here as well as folks initiating a community orchard effort. Contact the network coordinator (Deirdre Birmingham at ) to sign up by simply providing your email address.

NAFEX The North American Fruit Explorers isn't necessarily organic or commercial but many, many avid fruit growers will tackle questions about all manners of fruits. Truly, from paw paws to gobi berries! Members receive a quarterly newsletter, but anyone may participate in these wide-ranging web discussions by registering at lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex .

Home Orchard Society Forums This Oregon-based network of home orchardists encourages all manner of fruit growing questions. Sign up at homeorchardsociety.org/forums/profile.php?mode=register for a western slant on what you need to know to grow healthy fruit at home.

Organic Apple Growers' Hour

A weekly conference call between organic-minded orchardists and Michael Phillips, author of The Apple Grower, is taking place throughout the 2008 growing season. What a great opportunity to explore the nuance of orchard health, insects, and fungal events as such happens!

The calls will be geared for commercial apple growers in the Upper Midwest with intermediate to advanced orchard management skills. Open-minded growers who are interested in a holistic approach to orchard management will get the most out of these calls. Whether you consider your growing practice to be certified-organic or ecological-organic or biologically-based IPM -- or just plain ornery! -- we hope you join us for involved discussion.

This call was organized by Wisconsin's Eco-Apple Project in cooperation with the Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network, with funding provided by the Organic Farming Research Foundation. The calls take place on Thursday mornings at 8 AM Central time. You can register to participate by contacting Lisa DiPietro at or 608-265-3637. Weekly call summaries can be found on the Tree Fruit Growers website.

Bioregional Meetings and Organizations

Our annual Berkshire Roundtable Meeting is held every March for growers in the New England vicinity. The Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Network has been organizing field days in orchards where growers can discuss alternative approaches to growing apples in season. If others are doing anything like this in other regions, please let Michael know so we can spread the word.

Regional chapters of the North American Fruit Explorers are a great way to meet other fruit growers in your neighborhood. Scion exchanges and fruit tasting events by bioregional groups like the Home Orchard Society, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners (organized by John Bunker of FEDCO Trees), and California Rare Fruit Growers serve us all well by introducing folks to the pleasures and ways of growing good fruit.

Workshops and Conferences

Given the chance, we'll post upcoming events here that specifically speak to the growing of healthy fruit. Mostly this is a question of individuals keeping tabs on regional group activities and any open-minded Co-operative Extension offerings. Growers interested in meeting up with Michael Phillips can check his updated schedule of speaking events for conference presentations as well as all-day apple intensives held in the growing season.

March 4 & 5, 2009 Berkshire Roundtable Meeting, West Hawley, Massachusetts. Contact Michael Phillips for more details.

Holistic Orchardist Network www.GrowOrganicApples.com Sure, you're here now on the very site of which we speak . . . but are you involved?!!! A running summary of grower input as well as links to important discoveries are posted on our Research Pages. The kind of sharing sought here does not need to be limited to a reductionist scientific approach (as useful as some of those results can be) as much as reflect inquisitive thinking from a systems point of view. The updated articles posted within our Biologic Curriculum suggest numerous possibilities of inquiry. Growers can sign up here as well for our Community Orchardist newsletter for announcement of specific networking events.

This network needs your financial involvement as well!