Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar March 4th
CAMPTON HILLS, IL: Learn how to grow
your own antique apple trees at Garfield Farm Museum’s 25th
annual Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar on Sunday, March 4th at
1:30pm. 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 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 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 five 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.
