How to be an Orchardist

1. Own some land
2. Plant some trees

It’s really as simple as that. 

But if you want more information of how I am doing it… Here’s a list of the latest (full disclosure I have no idea what I’m doing)

Mow your backyard

My backyard is 4-5 acres, and has been cultivated for farming for as long as I know. This year, I didn’t have someone plant hay and, it grew some grass/weeds that really liked the rain. 

I have a troy-bilt tractor mower that did a really good job. Except when the grass was growing taller than the tires, it slowed down considerably then. It took about 6-8 hrs. And the mower was so loud I couldn’t listen to music. I had to enjoy nature. Here’s a short video of what it was like.

Disc your field

Did you know that places like All Star Rents have rentals on small tractors and a disc harrow?

I’ve never done this, nor planned on doing it. But, I can rent both a tractor and a the discs for about $400 for a day use. Not cheap, but hopefully only needed once. Also I reached out to people that disc professionally and they wanted $750 for my field. And I would be on their timetable.

Berm your tree rows (?)

What is a berm? Great question! It’s a raised portion of land for trees to be planted in. If you look at an orchard there is typically one there. Olives do not require it, but they would like it. Here is a good example of trees planted in a berm.

I had no idea how to solve was how to install a berm for each of my trees. I thought about not doing it, but with the latest flooding, decided it would be a good idea. Olives (and all trees) don’t like to be wet on their roots.

DIY Berms

I was blessed to find this video of a kindred farmer like myself. In it, he explains how he builds a berm for his fruit orchard that he is building. Using a Kubota Tractor, and some improvisation. 

He has some good videography and one thing he said really stuck with me

…This farming stuff is very easy to figure out. Our ancestors have been farming for hundreds of years… Farming is the easiest thing you can learn and do yourself. Don’t let anyone intimidate you by telling you that you don’t know this or you can’t figure it out. You can always do it yourself

Honda Accord as a farm-truck

With this knowledge I knew to google a “garden bedder” and found various results for the tractor part.

 I purchased from tractor supply.  And attempted to pick it up in my 93 Honda Accord.

IT FIT!

Still time to plant

If you would like to come and plant a tree on February 11th you still can! I am hoping/planning to prep my land in this week. I have taken work off to prepare myself and the land. Here is an invite!

See you then!