Book Review #1: The Holistic Orchard - The Book

In a recent post I gave a review of The Holistic Orchard.  While writing my post for that review I discovered there was a book, so naturally I checked it out from the library too! I've been reading it for about two months now, it seems, and have learned an amazing amount of knowledge!

Let me summarize and leave you with this...

READ THIS BOOK!

(I don't have any affiliate links or any affiliation with Michael Phillips (yet) btw)

He covers so much I won't even try to describe it... but here's what the Amazon description has to say:

"Many people want to grow fruit on a small scale but lack the insight to be successful orchardists. Growing tree fruits and berries is something virtually anyone with space and passionate desire can do - given wise guidance and a personal commitment to observe the teachings of the trees. A holistic grower knows that producing fruit is not about manipulating nature but more importantly, fostering nature. Orcharding then becomes a fascinating adventure sure to provide your family with all sorts of mouth-watering fruit.
The Holistic Orchard demystifies the basic skills everybody should know about the inner-workings of the orchard ecosystem, as well as orchard design, soil biology, and organic health management. Detailed insights on grafting, planting, pruning, and choosing the right varieties for your climate are also included, along with a step-by-step instructional calendar to guide growers through the entire orchard year. The extensive profiles of pome fruits (apples, pears, asian pears, quinces), stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums), and berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and elderberries) will quickly have you savoring the prospects.
Phillips completely changed the conversation about healthy orcharding with his first bestselling book, The Apple Grower, and now he takes that dialogue even further, drawing connections between home orcharding and permaculture; the importance of native pollinators; the world of understory plantings with shade-tolerant berry bushes and other insectary plants; detailed information on cover crops and biodiversity; and the newest research on safe, homegrown solutions to pest and disease challenges.
All along the way, Phillips' expertise and enthusiasm for healthy growing shines through, as does his ability to put the usual horticultural facts into an integrated ecology perspective. This book will inspire beginners as well as provide deeper answers for experienced fruit growers looking for scientific organic approaches. Exciting times lie ahead for those who now have every reason in the world to confidently plant that very first fruit tree!"

The Holistic Orchard, A Review

The Man: Michael Phillips

A few weeks back I was looking for information on plant propagation from cuttings, as well as grafting.  I checked out a lot of books and some videos, including this one.  At over 5 hrs long, it's not what I would call a fun flick to watch with your significant other, unless they happen to share your interest.  This is 5 hours packed full of "push play, push rewind" until you can write it all down.  This is packed full of great information and easily on the level of the college classes I took when I was getting my engineering degree.  Oh, one last thing before I get into it... grab a pen and paper before you push play... you'll need it!

Here's the trailer for the dvd...

I had a hard time finding the DVD set on the internet, but eventually ended up finding the book/dvd bundle on Amazon here and the book alone available here.  I can't comment on the book, but continue reading to learn more about the DVD.

While I'm working from memory, the education begins with comprehensive explanation about the process and a demonstration of bench grafting (grafting branches onto root stock to form new trees).  It then moves on to planting the tree, pruning, training, spraying, dealing with insects, thinning, picking and a discussion on various varieties of apples scattered throughout.  So how do you get 5 hours plus from all that?  Yea, I'm not sure... but I never really felt the need to skip over anything.

One of the things I thought was great about this was it covered everything I wondered about how to do with my home garden, and so much more!  Before I watched this people would tell me about how horrible the bugs were and how all I would grow is nasty bug infested fruit... and some say I can be pessimistic!  Well now I have answers those people, and they don't include the use of some really nasty chemicals! 

Some of you might know that I worked landscaping through college,  With that I spent a lot of time spraying various chemicals to treat what most people would call weeds, which I now love to have around to provide a healthier habitat for the pollinators and other critters that make the world work.  Getting back to the chemicals... have you ever read the caution labels on the chemicals you get at the store?  I don't think those things are good for me and if you read the label, you should come to the same conclusion.  If you think they are fine, that's okay... I would, however, challenge you to drink some.  Here's a quick demonstration for kick's and giggles...

Okay, back on topic...

There are a lot of different ways you can help your trees be successful, and a lot of things that are required to make them successful too.  Adding the right soil amendments, ensuring adequate pollination, insect traps, pruning (think about the future!) and training, thinning out the fruit so the tree can grow bigger healthier fruit, support plants (dandelions and comfrey), disease prevention... growing an orchard is a lot of work if you're going to make money at it! 

Well I apologize for the ranting and rabbit trails.  Hopefully what you got from this is the recognition that you might be missing a few things in your attempts to grow healthy apple trees and the motivation to do something about it.  If you check out the reviews om Amazon, you'll find out they have a lot of good things to say about this dvd too!  I can't say enough...

This one might have to make itself a new home in my library at home!