RE: [growingsmallfarms] Apples and worms
Tony Kleese
The local group that Jackie is referring to is the Triangle Fruit and Nut Club. It’s an informal collection of fruit and nut enthusiasts in the region. I’ve copied this post to the google groups address that we use to communicate with each other.
From: growingsmal...@lists.ncsu.edu [mailto:growingsmal...@lists.ncsu.edu] On Behalf Of Jackie Hough
Sent: Wednesday, May 3, 2017 10:31 PM
To: Michael Sorrentino <pleinel...@gmail.com>; growings...@lists.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: [growingsmallfarms] Apples and worms
If I remember correctly, there is a chapter in this area of a group called (not sure) Fruit Explorers or something like that. I have thoughts of a post awhile back -- Tony Kleese, I think -- mentioning a group that focuses on growing fruits. The members of that group might be able to help.
This article from a few years ago regarding Lee Calhoun mentions Mike Parker as a tree fruit specialist with NC State. http://wunc.org/post/preserving-old-time-southern-apples#stream/0
Further info about Dr. Parker's work here: https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/hort_sci/people/faculty/pages/parker.php
The Seed Savers Exchange Year Book always had tons of folks offering scionwood in the past. I imagine they still do. If you know someone who belongs, perhaps you could view their Year Book and see if folks in this region (or regions with similar conditions) suggest particular varieties. Contact information is always included in the Year Book so you could check in with growers who have offerings that sound promising.
As to overall culture, I very much appreciated the insights I obtained (and continue to obtain when I re-read and look things up) from Michael Phillips' The Apple Grower.
As to starting a worm bin, there are a lot of options described online and in a few books (the old standby resource Worms Eat My Garbage, by Mary Appelhof; the more recent The Worm Book, by Loren Nancarrow and Janet Hogan Taylor). A worm bin can be started in something as simple and as inexpensive as a Rubbermaid container. My vote (though it costs more) is the Worm Factory by Gusanito. It has about a 16" x 16" footprint, moveable trays, and takes advantage of the worms' desire to "eat above their heads" as many species do in nature. I have a couple of these worm factories. The worms work along quietly and the finished castings settle to the bottom tray. No battles trying to separate worms (and the egg cases of baby worms) from the castings. Once the compost in the bottom is clearly finished (dark brown and mostly uniform), remove and use the contents of that bottom tray, and move that tray to the top as the new food waste platform. Worth the price for the ease of use and harvest, in my opinion.
Jackie
On Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 1:03 PM, Michael Sorrentino <pleinel...@gmail.com> wrote:
Does anyone have experience growing apples here in the triangle? The varieties that work best and their needs. Would it be possible to come by and see what you have and also learn where you got them from. ( Lee Calhoun, David Vernon).
I am also interested in starting a worm box for the castings. I've done some reading but would like to see what others have done. Thanks, Bruno Sorrentino. I am an intern at the Farm at Penny Lane
Susan Emshwiller
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