Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar
March 2nd
CAMPTON HILLS, IL: Learn how to grow your own antique apple trees at
Garfield Farm Museum’s 27th annual Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar on
Sunday, March 2nd at 1:30 pm. For $30, participants take home 3 grafts of
heirloom varieties to plant in the spring. The class begins at 1:30 pm
located 5 miles west of Geneva, Ill off ILL Rt. 38 on Garfield Road.
Reservations are required by calling (630) 584-8485 or e-mail
info@garfieldfarm.org.
Apple tree expert Dan Bussey leads the
seminar and will bring several different antique varieties of scions. His
efforts have been recognized over the years by the Seed Saver’s Exchange of
Decorah, IA, as Mr. Bussey serves as Orchard Manager for their orchard
of heritage apple varieties.
With the great interest in
knowing where one’s food originates, planting an apple tree in the backyard
can’t get any more local. Although one must be patient for several years
before one sees the first apple, the results are worth the wait. Most
store varieties have been bred for appearance, ability to survive early
picking and shipping across country or half the world, so taste is not as
important.
What makes the grafting process so important is
that it attaches a root to the old stock, preserving the old stock’s unique
genetic traits. An apple seed will not grow into the same exact type of tree
from which it came. Like animals, most plants, such as apple trees, require
genes from two parents. Just planting the seeds of a tree doesn’t guarantee
the genetic signature of the tree will be saved. Only grafting can preserve
the exact type. The grafting process itself has been used for thousands of
years. The process itself is relatively simple. A small branch or “scion” of
the desired tree is attached to a small rootstock. The root used for the
seminar is a smaller, semi-dwarf variety that is good for a backyard or
small orchard.
Different varieties of apples are good
for various things. For instance some are better for cider, while others may
be better for baking. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were
over 7000 different varieties of apples. Now there are less than 2000
varieties available. Not only is keeping a multitude of apples in existence
important for our heritage, but also for their many of uses. The mass
markets of today are looking for good multi-purpose apples. With the farmer
population and orchard acreage dwindling it is important to be pro-active.
Dan Bussey has been the
instructor of the seminar since its inception twenty six years ago. He will
bring scions to graft to root stock that is raised especially for grafting.
He will also instruct participants on how to care for their grafts
until they are planted. If time allows, the group will go out to the
museum's orchard and be given instruction on pruning their trees once they
are established. Mr. Bussey graciously donates his time and grafts to the
farm to make this event possible.
There is a $30 donation for the
class and reservations are required. Participants are asked to bring a sharp
knife for cutting. Call the museum at (630) 584-8485, or email at
info@garfieldfarm.org. Garfield Farm Museum is located 5 miles west of
Geneva, IL off ILL Rt. 38 on Garfield Road. The 374-acre site is a
historically intact former 1840s farm and teamster inn being restored as an
1840s working farm museum by volunteers and donors from around the country.
For more information about Garfield Farm send an e-mail message to: info@garfieldfarm.org
or call 630/584-8485.
