Book an hour with The Apple Tree Lady Shannon Smith - our Orchard Learning co-ordinator - is offering one-hour fruit tree consultations in gardens and alloments within a 2km-ish radius of Horfield Organic Community Orchard. The fee is £20, which includes a £5 donation to HOCO. Dates available from Saturday 19 September to Saturday 31 October. Shannon will share her expertise, and give practical and down-to-earth advice about fruit trees all ages and conditions. An hour with the
Apple Tree Lady is highly recommended by Alison, a recent Orchard
Learning participant, “I’ve learned more about apples in 30 minutes
than I have in the whole of my life!”
Please book using this link: https://forms.gle/FXEA31GezBy6H9fq6 or contact us with any questions. Get Growing Fruit Trees - an
introduction over a growing season Sundays:
15 March, 17 May, 12 July, 13 September, 2pm-4.30pm
Course fee: £80, £75 (H&DAA / AOG members), £65 (HOCO members*) 6 places No previous experience needed. · March - Know your trees, their care needs, site, and soil · May - Pests, diseases, disorders · July - Pruning - why and how · September - Harvest, storage & preservation Praise from last year's Get Growers: "A very useful course - very sensible and down-to-earth information from a very experienced and well informed teacher." "Lots of practical advice. Great to see things develop through the year, and be in a relaxed and pleasant environment." "I'm looking forward to a much improved crop of apples in future years, and thoroughly recommend this course." Apply using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/0niaxJCUPhNlzSNy1 or contact us for a pdf form, and with any questionsDoes fruit tree pruning leave you stumped?
Knowing when to prune, is as important as knowing how. Understanding the seasonal cycle of fruit trees is essential to planning, shaping, and enjoying fruitful and healthy trees. Learn to tune in to the character and needs of trees in your care. Use different pruning tools, make pruning decisions and put them into practice. Courses take place in HOCO’s rich and diverse outdoor learning environment. Learners will work with real trees, and learn by doing. They are led by Shannon Smith, a knowledgeable and down-to-earth tutor. One-day Pruning courses Pruning - Dormant season – Apple & pear
trees Pruning - Growing season – Apple & pear
trees - Fully booked. Please note that because of Covid-19 the group workshop will be replaced by one-to-one sessions, to be arranged with each participant. Learn by doing, and gain hands-on experience and confidence to: · Form and train young trees · Renew established free-standing and trained trees · Restore old trees Course fee: £50; £45 (H&DAA/AOG member); £40 (HOCO member*) Discounted fee if both courses booked at the same time: £85; £75 (H&DAA/AOG member); £65 (HOCO member*) Introduction to Pruning
Apples & Pears One-day course Saturday 27 June, 10.30am - 4.30pm - this course is fully booked Hands-on
introduction for absolute beginners. Participants will learn the basics
of pruning while being guided as they work with real trees Apply using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/0niaxJCUPhNlzSNy1 or contact us for a pdf form, and with any questions. Pruning fruit trees for beginners - one-day course - Fully booked Please
note that because of Covid-19 the group workshop will be replaced by
one-to-one sessions, to be arranged with each participant.
4 places No previous experience needed Growing season pruning of Apples & Pears – an introduction Saturday 27 June, 10.30am-4.30pm Course fee*: £55, £50 (H&DAA/AOG), £40 (HOCO members**) *Includes follow-up 30-minute one-to-one session in your garden or allotment. Participants learn while working with real trees of
different needs.
They are guided by Shannon Smith, a knowledgeable and down-to-earth tutor. Course covers: pruning technique & tools; trained forms; renewing fruiting wood on established trees; restoring older trees. Get in touch if you want to be the first to hear about new courses. Use this link: https://goo.gl/forms/0niaxJCUPhNlzSNy1 or contact us for a pdf form, and with any questions. Learning Orchard - one-to-one sessions for HOCO members in 2020 Contact us for more information about membership. · Feb – Pruning: trained trees · Mar – Pruning: free standing trees · April – Living soils: sustaining healthy trees · May – Balancing nature and nurture: co-existing with pests & diseases · June – Pruning: stone
fruit · July – Pruning: growing season (1) · Aug – Pruning: growing season (2) · Sept – Harvesting; Diversity & resilience; Pruning review Orchard Learning Programme 2020 - course withdrawn because of changed circumstances. It will be offered again in 2021. Course dates, outline & information 9-months from March-November, first Saturday of each month The programme is designed for participants with some experience
of growing tree fruit (e.g. apple, pear, plum). It is ideal for anyone involved with a community orchard, as well as professional and home gardeners looking after more than a handful of different trees.
Course fee, £150, plus HOCO membership*, £25/£20 Apply using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/0niaxJCUPhNlzSNy1 or contact us for a pdf form, and with any questions. Orchard Learning is a hands-on and
holistic programme. Learning with others is practical and fun. Participants
will gain experience, knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for fruit trees
for years to come.
The Orchard Learning Programme guides participants through a growing season in an established community orchard. It begins as the soil is stirring, and trees, as well as pests and diseases, are waking up from dormancy. It follows the fruiting arc from blossom, pollination and fruit set, to development, ripening and harvest. During the course participants learn to tune in to, and be guided by, the characteristics and needs of individual trees of different ages, varieties, and conditions.
*Participants agree to be/become members of Horfield Organic Community Orchard, and can join as a Harvest-share or Friend member (more information about membership here). Members share responsibility for looking after a pioneering community orchard, and helping to organise successful community events. Here's what participants say about the Orchard Learning Programme: "A unique opportunity to share in the management of an orchard with a highly knowledgeable leader. Prepare for action! You'll learn a lot." Colin "A wonderfully complete immersion in the year of the orchard." Rebecca "Growing apples, pears and plums? If you want practical knowledge and valuable skills, then this is the place for you." Rob "Shannon is a great teacher as well as being phenomenally knowledgeable about fruit growing. I can't think of a better way to learn than having hands-on experience of every form and variety of fruit tree." Mary |
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