Permaculture Orchard Update

In the fall 2014 and spring of 2015 EarthDance began planting pear trees with the help of a SARE Farmer/Rancher grant. Initially, EarthDance planned a sixty tree pear orchard.  Following a period of continued research and reflection, EarthDance staff decided that planting a single area of the farm to only pear trees was not in line with the principles of organic farming or permaculture, such as “integrate rather than segregate” and “value diversity”.  With those ideas in mind, Farm Managers Matt Lebon and Monica Pless decided to integrate the pear trees into a much larger plan for establishing a diversity of tree crops planted throughout the farm.

The farm now boasts 250+ fruit trees, including pear, apple, tart cherry, peach, juneberry, mulberry, and pawpaw, planted in a unique sequence designed to support each tree’s pollination needs and minimize the threat of disease.   We can’t wait to taste our first slice of EarthDance-grown apple pie . . .  plus pear tart, pawpaw ice cream, and berry smoothie!

If you would like to read more about EarthDance’s Permaculture-Inspired Orchard, download our orchard Fact Sheet, which includes information about our carefully chosen varieties and our tree sources.