Is it an Apple Orchard or a Fruit Forest?

Aaron has dedicated his life to understanding what his orchard needs - how it behaves with the seasons. What makes his fruit thrive and what leads to a failed crop.

By working in tune with nature, Aaron sees his farm as teamwork with the landscape. He's not out to control pests and weeds with chemicals; he's building an ecosystem that works together to produce nourishing food.

NO SPRAY APPLES REQUIRE AN UNDERGROUND NETWORK OF NUTRIENTS

By cultivating beneficial plants between the trees, the dense soil gets opened up to pockets of air and held together by roots. It prevents erosion, compaction, and water run-off. Instead the earth can absorb water and hold it in, making it available to cover crops and the trees. The blanket of foliage out-competes weeds while their roots connect to the mycelial network - transforming atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable nutrients shared with the orchard's roots. 

Even though grasshoppers take their fair share, Aaron's chickens do manage to fend some off (resulting in protein-packed eggs for the family). Wild birds also feed on insects because Aaron doesn't net off his crops. He exhibits a kind of acceptance of birds taking a portion of his crop too. They are, after all, part of the natural landscape that works together.

REGENERATIVE FARMING IS ABOUT BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM

Plants are able to initiate a response to threats. They have vastly complicated methods of communicating with plants around them, messaging nearby trees to launch a retaliation to diseases or pests.

Because there are no chemicals on Aaron's property, the plants in a sense fend for themselves. With natural fertilizers and plant companions, they can use nutrients to fend of diseases. 

RESILIENT PLANTS PRODUCE NUTRIENT-RICH FRUIT

These adaptations can make for more resilient orchards, and more nutrient-rich and flavourful fruit.

As we transition into fall, it's the fruit of these labours that keep us nourished. Summer's delicate stone fruits go out of season, and it's the robust, long-lasting apples and pears that provide us with the vitamins and minerals we need as the season turns cold and crisp.