Participants in Orchard People Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop 2013

Why cut down an old fruit tree just because you don’t like the taste of the fruit? At Orchard People‘s Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop on April 20th, we learned how easy it is to renew an old fruit tree. In the early winter, you take cuttings from another tree that produces fruit that you enjoy. You keep those cuttings cold over the winter. And then in the early spring you can graft them onto your tree where they will grow and produce the fruit of your dreams.

Orchard People Grafting Workshop Hosted By North York Community House at their Lotherton Pathway Orchard

Most of the grafting workshop participants came from outside Toronto, driving up to 4 hours to come to learn these skills from our grafting expert Ron Rutt. After learning the theory and practice of grafting, we went out and grafted some branches onto a local resident’s fruit tree (with her permission of course!). It was a wonderful day and if there is interest, we will happily run the workshop again next year. Interested? Email us at info@orchardpeople.com.

Lynn and a Plum Tree that is soon to blossom!

As for the update from Ben Nobleman Park….our fruit trees are now starting to blossom and our daffodils are in full swing. The playground is hopping and stewardship is amping up with volunteers working in the park twice a month. We have also updated our www.communityorchard.ca website with a stewardship and event calendar where you can see when we will be in the park. If you want to join us, it’s best to RSVP by sending an email to Lynn at growingforgreen@gmail.com.

Susan, Sherry and Lynn in front of Pollinator Garden in April 2013