Crops Evaluated

In 2009 I began the foreseeable lifelong journey of planting and experimentation with fruiting trees and shrubs; my main intent thus far being home-scale production and research & evaluation. The primary reason this project sprouted was out of my lack of satisfaction with mainstream fruit growing culture, in terms of the crops being grown and how they’re being grown. To make it plain and simple— I love all types of fruit. I long for diversity, uniqueness, and contrast that just sometimes isn’t available. To give an example as common as the apple— thousands of named varieties exist, some good for baking, some for cider, and some for fresh eating. They all have unique flavors, different growth habits, and varying tolerances to pests and disease. This is the level of varietal diversity I’d like to see amongst not only apples but all other fruits… and so far one of the most viable ways to do that has been growing it myself. I prioritize ecologically sound production methods which eliminate the reliance upon synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Another production goal is to create integrated and diversified cropping systems that restore ecosystem health (build soil, purify water, provide wildlife habitat) and reduce the need for offsite inputs. The major species selection criteria are as follows: