Farm Focus: Pruning with the Pros

DSCN1997 (1)

This week at the farm, we were lucky enough to have a pruning workshop with Janet Caprille, the Contra Costa County University of California Agricultural Extension Advisor. Janet paid us a visit to discuss pruning techniques,  particularly for training the young Frog Hollow apple and cherry trees.  Frog Hollow has 2 acres of heirloom apple trees, containing 12 different ancient and unique varieties.  This year,  Farmer Al has entrusted two of his assistant farmers, Kristin and Marlene, to care for the apple orchard. The first step of this task is to learn heirloom apples, so they turned to Janet at the Ag extension for advice.

So, what exactly is the UC Agricultural Extension?   The program is state funded, and involves a network of researchers and educators that are dedicated to creating and spreading knowledge about agriculture.  With  200 local advisors and 700 researchers, the agricultural extension is an amazing and free resource for farmers in California.  For various reasons, many states have either reduced extension programs or closed them completely. Fortunately, California’s program has been expanding ever since it was initiated in 1913.

Even with 35 years of farming experience under our belt, Frog Hollow always has more to learn.  Farmer Al is dedicated to ongoing education for himself and his employees.  He explains that “many aspects of farming are still a mystery;” in order to be sucessfull farmers “we must continually pay attention, ask questions and educate ourselves.”  A significant part of this knowledge building involves education about current research and present issues facing the farming community.  Advisors like Janet can help by providing farmers like us with information about trending diseases, pests and sustainable agricultural practices.

Posted in Blog, Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • Recipe: Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
    via Martha Stewart

     
    Ingredients:
    6 bone-in pork chops (loin or shoulder), cut 3/4 inch thick
    Coarse salt and fres…

  • Farm Focus: The Buzz with Bees

    Spring is synonymous with blooming flowers and where there are blooming flowers there are bees! And while most people think  of European honey bees, we  w…

  • Fruit & News of the Week: April 9, 2018

    This Week’s Fruit:
    Minneloa Tangelos
    Twin Girls Farm, Dinuba, CA
    The Tangelo is a cross between a mandarin and grapefruit. Its skin is easy to peel and its f…

  • Recipe: DIY Orange Soda

    Via Food52

    Ingredients:

    4 oranges
    1 lime
    1 cup granulated sugar
    Lemon lime seltzer water

    Method:

    Zest the oranges and the lime and add all o…

  • Farm Focus: Jim Churchill of Churchill-Brenneis Orchard

    Jim of Churchill-Brenneis Orchard, never imagined himself becoming a farmer, though he grew up walking through friends orchards on weekend trips from LA. His pa…