Want to create a backyard or neighborhood orchard? There’s a workshop for that

From the press release:

(HENDERSONVILLE, NC, February 22, 2012) – One of the best investments WNC residents can make is not in the stock market, but rather their own backyard or community food market. Fruit and nut trees offer valuable nutrition, save thousands of dollars and provide a wonderful habitat for birds and other animals. Join ECO, the Environmental and Conservation Organization and Permaculture Designer and Useful Plants Nursery Founder Chuck Marsh in a workshop on March 6th on how to grow fruit in your back (and front!) yard and in neighborhood spaces. In this session you will learn the requirements for organic fruit production for various gardening styles, including selecting varieties for disease resistance and growth habit, siting and spacing plants for increased yield with less work, planting to minimize transplant shock and increase fruit yield, watering for successful establishment, managing pests with Permaculture approaches, and pruning for improved plant health and yield. In addition to providing you with home grown food and potential income, cultivating biological abundance has far-reaching ecological and economic benefits for your community, and the world.

According to Marsh, “One of the things our community lost during the industrialization of agriculture is the sense of community that comes from growing and sharing food. We also lost the resilience that comes from becoming more self-sufficient and the substantial cost savings when food comes from the yard or neighborhood rather than from stores that sell food from thousands of miles away. One of the most economically sound and environmentally safe ways to protect our family and our community is through developing orchards that can survive for 150 or more years, produce 150-300 pounds of fruit a year when its mature, offering thousands of dollars in dividends with a small initial investment.”

*** SPECIAL OFFER ***
Participants at the Backyard Orchard Workshop can pick up fruit, nut trees, vines and herbs from Useful Plants Nursery at the workshop for immediate planting. More details will be provided when you pre-register.

Chuck Marsh is a long time bioregional inhabitant, permaculture teacher, designer, and consultant, and elder activist. He is a co-founder of Earthaven ecovillage, the founder of Useful Plants Nursery, senior partner in Living Systems Design group, and all round advocate for cultural transformation. This class is offered by advanced registration only and a $15 registration fee is required. The course is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30 PM. The workshop will be held at the ECO Conference Room in downtown Hendersonville. To register, contact ECO 692-0385 or register online at www.eco-wnc.org.