Antique Apple/Pear Tree Pruning Workshop and Seasonal Orchard Caretakers

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This activity occurs the first Friday afternoon in May, but check with the park historical architect as additional pruning activities occur throughout the year. In 2014, the event will be expanded to included grafting. The park will again be hosting a pruning workshop on the first Friday afternoon in May in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. (Pruning can occur any time of the year to remove dead materials from fruit trees. If interested contact the park for more information at other times during the year. ) The workshop will be held at one of the Farmsteads in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District 4 miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22, and follow the signs to the workshop site. The workshop will focus on maintenance of neglected apple and pear trees and how to bring them back into production, and maintain their health. The course will include 1) how to identify and properly remove dead materials from abandoned trees 2) proper pruning of the canopy for optimum maintenance and fruit production, 3) maintaining tree health, 4) how to maintain ground cover under the tree, 5) watering and care of the tree, and 6) equipment safety.

The park is pairing with the Leelanau Conservation District, MSU Northwest Michigan Horticultural Station, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the County Extension Master Gardener Program to offer this hands-on training workshop. Experts from the County and State offices will provide the technical information and the park will serve as the host for this annual event. This marks the fifth year that these organizations have come together to participate in this.

Additional volunteers who would like to work in the apple nursery and orchard throughout the year are also welcome to contact through this offering. Training, tools and directions are provided. If you are interested in helping the park maintain an antique apple nursery and promoting the replanting of vintage apple varieties back into the historic orchards in Port Oneida this is the opportunity for you.