Starting a Community Orchard in North Dakota Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Blueberry 18 Bush Cherry 18 Chapter 2. Starting Your Orchard Currant 19 Selecting your site 2 Elderberry 19 Preparing the land 3 Gooseberry 20 Buying plants 3 Grape 20 Planting 4 Honeyberry 21 Pruning 5 Fertilizing 5 Juneberry 21 Watering 5 Raspberry 22 Mulching 5 Rhubarb 23 Staking 5 Seaberry 23 Trellising 6 Strawberry 24 Wrapping and painting 6 Chapter 4. Starting Your Organization Managing wildlife 6 Structure 25 Spraying 7 Liability 26 Pruning and training young trees 8 Rejuvenating old apple trees 10 Chapter 5. Community Orchard Projects United States 27 Chapter 3. Fruits for North Dakota United Kingdom 34 Tree Fruits Apple 11 Chapter 6. Ten Steps to a Community Apricot 13 Orchard 36 Cherry 13 Appendixes Cherry plum 14 1. Sources of Plants and Supplies 38 Crabapple 14 2. Sample Budget 39 Peach 15 3. Funding Opportunities 40 Pear 15 4. Sample Contract for Land Use 42 Plum 16 5. Sample Bylaws 43 Small Fruits 6. Sources for Technical Advice 45 Aronia 17 Blackberry 17 Literature Cited and Photo Credits 46 Written by Thomas J. Kalb, Ph.D., Extension Horticulturist, North Dakota State University Extension Service Contact information: North Dakota State University 3715 E. Bismarck Expressway Bismarck, ND 58501 Tel: (701) 221-6865 [email protected] This publication is produced with the support and cooperation of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Grant Program. The author is grateful to Chuck Fleming of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture as well as Chris Boerboom, Stevan Sagaser, Ron Smith, and Todd Weinmann of the NDSU Extension Service for their assistance in envisioning this publication. The author appreciates the contributions of Ellen Crawford, Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, Kathleen Wiederholt, and Todd Weinmann of NDSU in edit- ing the document. Publication H-1558 March 2011 This publication may be copied for noncommercial, educational purposes in its entirety with no changes. Requests to use any portion of the document (including text, graphics or photos) should be sent to <[email protected]>. Include exactly what is requested for use and how it will be used. North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, status as a U.S. veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, or public assistance status. Direct inquiries to the Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach, 205 Old Main, (701) 231-7708. County Commissions, NDSU and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, (701) 231-7881. Chapter 1 Introduction Community orchards are growing all across usually are open and accessible to the community America today. These orchards are being estab- at all times. As well as enjoying the surroundings, lished by local organizations looking to beautify local people can share the harvest or profit from their land and grow healthful food for their people. its sales, taking responsibility for work in the or- chard (Common Ground, 2011). A community orchard is owned, leased, or held in agreement by a community group or local au- Community orchards can be valuable assets to thority. Community orchards can provide a place communities in North Dakota. Our people need to for gardening, relaxation, pleasure, and healing. eat more fruits. Only 30 percent of North Dako- tans consume the recommended amount of fruits The orchards can be found anywhere, includ- needed for good health (two servings per day). ing parks, schools, churches, hospitals, jails, and This deficiency stunts the mental and physical farms. Activities in these orchards are as diverse growth of our children. This deficiency makes us as the groups who manage them: more susceptible to infectious diseases (such as • Some orchards focus on fruit production colds and flu) and chronic diseases (such as dia- while others serve as outdoor classrooms for betes and cancer). This deficiency contributes to education. obesity and related health concerns (CDC, 2009). • Some orchards are developed for youth pro- North Dakota is one of the leading agricultural grams while others are developed into a liv- states in America, yet it ranks 47th in fruit produc- ing museum honoring a community’s history. tion (USDA, 2009). An increase in locally grown • fruit will increase our access to fruits and encour- Some orchards serve as the center of a com- age greater fruit consumption in our daily diets. munity festival while others serve as an al- cove of peace and tranquility. Community orchards can be used to grow fruits • for profit. A 2008 survey of North Dakota’s farmers Some orchards are fenced to keep wildlife markets showed a great need for more farmers out while others try to attract wildlife. and fruits at the markets. The success of a community orchard will de- Many of our communities have open parcels of pend on the commitment and resources of the lo- land with access to water. These plots could be cal people who manage it. Community orchards future sites of orchards where communities can host local events plus grow food for their families. This publication is a guide to help North Dakotans start community orchards. We discuss the basics of establishing the orchard and selecting cultivars. We describe organizational structures, financial considerations, and highlight the activities of other orchards. Orchards can provide a setting that brings communities together for celebration and for healthier living. Let’s get growing! 1 Chapter 2 Starting Your Orchard The exposure of the slope is important, too. A Selecting your site south-facing exposure experiences more tempera- The first step for success in a community orchard ture fluctuation than a north-facing exposure. Trees is to select the proper place. No spot in North Da- on a south-facing exposure will be more likely to kota is perfect. We all know this is a tough place to break their dormancy during a warm spell in late live for us and our plants. Use the information be- winter; then, when cold weather returns, these buds low to find the best spot for your community or- will be killed. Trees on a south-facing orchard will chard and make adjustments as needed. more likely suffer sunscalding and cracking of their trunks in winter. Fruit trees and shrubs demand full sun (at least eight hours per day) to flourish. North- and west-facing slopes will be more sub- ject to harsh winter winds. A shelterbelt would be Fruit trees and shrubs need good drainage. especially helpful in this situation. Plants that sit in water for extended periods will suffer from root rot. North Dakota is famous for its winds. A shel- tered location is preferred to prevent the ripening Orchards often are planted on slopes not suited fruits from falling before they are ready to harvest. for row crops. Avoiding low spots where frost ac- A sheltered area also will be less likely to suffer cumulates is critical. A killing frost (28 degrees) in from bud-killing temperatures in winter. late spring can kill flower buds, which will eliminate your crop for that year. A killing frost early in fall will As stated earlier, trees on a north-facing slope damage fruit before it is ripe. will be slower to bud out in spring and thereby be less affected by late-spring frosts. This is benefi- Avoid the top of a hill because the plants will be cial, but trees on a north-facing slope may not get fully exposed to strong winds. Plants exposed on enough heat during the growing season to ripen top of a hill may be subject to more hail damage the crop before the first killing frost in fall. In this and exposure to fire blight disease. case, early ripening cultivars would be advised. Hilltops are exposed to strong winds, winter chill injury, and hail damage. They pose a risk of eroded soil and Gentle slopes are best, Low spots are frost susceptibility to drought. but avoid south-facing pockets that may slopes that can warm freeze flower buds in prematurely in the the spring and fruit in spring. the fall. They pose a risk of poor drainage and root rot. Figure 1. Considerations when selecting a site for your community orchard. 2 Starting a Community Orchard in North Dakota A community orchard should be easily acces- plications of compost to the soil can improve the sible to the community it serves. structure and moisture-holding capacity of salty soils. Mulching will prevent evaporation and sub- A community orchard is a major investment of sequent accumulation of salt. Also, planting on a time and money. A nearby source of water is re- slope where salty water does not accumulate can quired for at least the first two years. help. If possible, seek a better, less saline loca- Clean, cultivated areas away from brush favored tion. by deer and other wildlife are preferred. In an urban area, you need to be cautious of Now that we have found the ideal spot, we have the possible presence of lead from old paint or to make sure the site is available and stays avail- heavy metals from waste products. Old buildings able. A common problem of community garden or piles of debris should be warning signs. A soil projects is their land is taken away from the project test to evaluate the presence of heavy metals after a couple of years, often after the project has would be wise for this public gathering place. made significant improvements to the site.