Antique Apple
Tree Grafting Seminar March 3rd
CAMPTON HILLS, IL: Learn how to grow your own antique apple trees at
Garfield Farm Museum's 26th annual Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar on
Sunday, March 3rd 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 at the farm museum
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 varieties of scions from his orchard in
Edgerton, WI where he propagates over 350 rare and endangered varieties. His
efforts have been recognized over the years by the Seed Saver's Exchange of
Decorah, IA. In fact, Mr. Bussey just recently took over 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 hard to duplicate with the generic store varieties
that have been bred for appearance, ability to survive early picking and
shipping across country or half the world.
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 may 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, 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 370-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.
