Growing Fruit in a Healthy Orchard Ecosystem with Michael Phillips

The Organic Land Care program of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) welcomes homeowners, landscapers and orchardists to learn about fruit production at an in depth workshop titled “Growing Fruit in a Healthy Orchard Ecosystem with Michael Phillips” on March 9.

Michael Philips is the Northeast’s leading expert on organic orchards.  Mr. Phillips owns the Lost Nation Orchard in Groveton, New Hampshire and is the author of “The Holistic Orchard” and “The Apple Grower”. 

The classroom portion of the program will start at 9:00 am at the Connecticut Forest and Park Headquarters on at 16 Meriden Road (Route 66) in Middletown.  In the classroom, Mr. Phillips will discuss building a healthy orchard system to create favorable conditions for growing delicious, healthy fruit.  He will instruct on holistic fruit growing methods like deep nutrition, competitive colonization and organic pest balance.

After lunch the class will move out of the CFPA Headquarters to High Hill Orchard in Meriden (about a ten minute drive away).  High Hill Orchard’s owner, Wayne Young will join the workshop to also share his expertise and show students his orchard.  In the field Mr. Phillips and Mr. Young will teach about forest edge ecology, embracing the biology of a yard or orchard, and root cycles concluding around 4:00pm.

The workshop cost (including lunch) is $155 with discounts available for NOFA members, Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals and for early registration (before February 17).  For more information about Michael Phillips, visit his websites at www.herbsandapples.com and www.groworganicapples.com.  To learn more about the workshop please visit NOFA Organic Land Care’s website, www.organiclandcare.net.  Registration is available online, or by calling the office at 203-888-5146.