Seattle Tree Fruit Society

I’ve been busy organizing and having a ball doing it all.  My garden is neglected.  I am looking out at my Beauty plum in full bloom and watching for mason bees.  So far, I’ve just seen bumble bees and hover flies.  On top of working on the show in March, I’ve been creating an apple poster from my photographs of the last few years.  I’m excited about it and hope to have them finished soon.  Maybe for sale at our show!

The final stages of planning are happening for the March 14^th Spring Fruit & Grafting Show!  It is evolving into another wonderful show for us.  I can’t wait!  Volunteer time slots are filling up.  I’ve been wanting people to have time to stroll the show and hear lectures so the volunteer time slots are short - Saturday Set Up 3pm to 5pm, Sunday Set Up 8am to 10am, Sunday 10am to 12:30pm, Sunday 12:30pm to 3:00pm, Take Down 3pm to 5pm, and we are done.  We still have a few openings so email me.  seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

Things to keep in mind that day is that it is on a Sunday and the first day of daylight savings time.  So it will seem like an hour earlier than usual.  Also, Seattle Tree Fruit Society has no credit card sales so bring your check book or cash. Prices are now set - Tools Sharpened for a $1 donation please.  Grafting for $10, Rootstock $3-4, Scion Wood Free - please limit to five free then $1 each.  The Northwest Fruit Fertilizer will be $20 for a 20# bag.  Please bring all your plastic bags from home, we need your extra bags in the grafting area.                  

We have food vendors for this event.  We will have ‘Got Soup?’ from the local farmer’s markets, offering ~4 different soups using fresh, local, organic produce and local artisan breads.  Also, we have ‘Espresso First’ with beverages and bakery items. They will set up out on the patio and the food containers will all be composted.  The only non-composted items would be the recycle and plastic spoons.  Very cool!

In our Educational booth area we will have: our Literature Dept, Membership & Information table & Maggot Barrier Sales.  Marilyn and Dick Tilbury are preparing to try and answer questions on biology, cultural, and chemical control of insects and diseases of common tree fruit & berries.  They will have trap samples on display.  Roger Ledbetter is setting up a Mason Bee display with a few products for display with his friend Steve Brustkern.  There will also be Mason Bee houses, grafting knives, and finger protectors available from the Peninsula Fruit Club.  There will displays by Chinook Compost Tea, Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation, City Fruit, PlantAmnesty, Seattle Tilth, and Friends of Piper Orchard.  The South Sound Fruit Club will be selling a few of their blueberry plants (varieties Blue Crop, Jersey, Collins, Northland) in mixed bundles of 5 @ $50 to WCFS members, that mean us.  These plants are ~3′ tall, making this a great price!

I just took a break to go out and get the Sunday paper and see our ‘free’ ad, a bonus from advertising in the Flower & Garden Show Guide this year.  Here it is in the Pacific Northwest section, page 20 top.  I’m excited.  See you there.  Email me to volunteer.  Lori  seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

This year’s show, Feb 3-7^th was a pleasure to be a part of.  The new Flower Show owners did their best to continue the event as if nothing had changed.  It’s invigorating for me to smell the sweet spicy blossoms as I enter the show halls.  We shared the booth space with WWFRF again this year and worked like a well oiled machine on Set Up and Tear Down.  The WWFRF crew is a pleasure to work with and their booth displays of all the events up north are very noteworthy - like the March 6^th Field Day.

We added new table covers that  drape over the tables with a green fabric panel ‘Seattle Tree Fruit Society’ with apples and pears beneath.   They look very professional.  Judy Moritz, re-sewed for us a missing part to our grid wall backing on which we hang the large display photos.  We were lucky enough to find the same fabric and Judy was sweet to sew us a new piece to match the ones she had made last year.  Thank you Judy.

Bill Moritz had the idea of having a discounted Flower Show membership offer and that brought in 14 new members during the show!   The volunteers did a great job of taking new memberships and listening to people’s questions about fruit.  We ended up with a long list of questions to be answered.  Thank you to Marilyn and Dick Tilbury who knowledgably answered the show questions.  We will be printing up some of these great questions and the answers from the Tilburys in future issues of USP.

Set up would not have been so smooth for me if it weren’t for my husband Steve Brakken, driving me all over to get materials, storage items, and booth parts.  He’s a jewel.  And Jayson Akai, constant, quiet and very handy with set up.  Set Up went so smoothly, I have them both to Thank for that. 

We placed an ad in the Seattle Times in the Flower & Garden Show Guide.  It was a first for us at advertising in the Show flier and it also gave us a free ad in the Feb 28^th Sunday ‘Pacific Lifestyles’ section of  the Seattle Times about the upcoming Spring Fruit & Grafting Show on Sunday, March 14^th.

Thank you everyone for helping me on every task getting ready for the show.  I hope I have remembered all your names here and have spelled them correctly.  The show booth would not have happened without you.  You are important to the club and to the Seattle community who sought out information from our booth that was not really offered at other booths.

Booth Coordination and Design: Kristan Johnson, Rachel Petrich, Linda Knudson, Judy Moritz, Steve Brakken

Our new Table covers: Kim Siebert, Kristan Johnson,  Don Puerling at Impact Canopy, Bill Moritz

Booth Set Up: Jayson Akai, Steve Brakken, Kristan Johnson, Rachel Petrich,

Filling Volunteer Time slots:  Marlene Falkenbury

Development of Fliers and Booth Information: Bill Moritz, Linda Sartnurak, Laure Jansen,

Take Down: Greg Giuliani, Jayson Akai , Kristan Johnson

Staff in the booth - There were volunteers from our sister WCFS club on Vashon Island too!

Vagn and Marian Jensen, Sheila Barker, Betty Armstrong, Bragdon Shields, Michael Reinhardt, John Reardon, Vicky Thomas, Jack Pedigo, Gini Paulsen, John Roach, Kathy Lange, Christine Robertson, Winifred Becker, Barbara Burrill, Maggie Asplamp, Lory Armitage, Carolina Nurik, Hildegard Hendrickson, Sandy Bowman, June Schumacher, Carole Blakey, Marlene Falkenbury, Diana Donnell, Tracey Bernal, Joslyn Slaughter, Linda Sartnurak, Vickie Brodine, Claire Bronson, Jerry Packard, Michell Ramean, Donna Manders,  Dave Hanower, Eveline Takahashi, Doris Leavens, Nancy Perine, Trent Elwing,

Join us at the 2010 Spring Grafting and Scion Show, at the Center for Urban horticulture on Sunday March 14.   Click here to see the spring-show-flier for this event.

(Board meeting 9-9:30)

Member Meeting Feb 20th – Annual Grafting Class!

9:30-12:30, Center for Urban Horticulture, Douglas Classroom

REMINDER: Bring your scion wood cuttings for our Spring Grafting Show to this meeting for storage. gregs-scionwood-storage1

9:30-10 Member Questions and Sharing/Announcements

10-11 Beginners Grafting Class

11:15-12:30 Advanced Grafting Class

The 2010 version of our annual grafting class on Saturday, February 20th will take a slightly different approach this year. We’ll break the class into two components; a beginner’s class starting after club business is finished followed by a class for more experienced grafters seeking to upgrade their knowledge and skills. The beginners are welcome to stay on for the advanced class. We’ll spend about an hour covering basic tools, techniques, scion wood storage etc. for whip and cleft grafting, then break for refreshments.

The advanced class will cover a couple variations of modified cleft grafts, bridge and bud grafting technique. We’ll bring some root stock and scions for you to practice whip and modified cleft grafts. You will need to wait until August to give bud grafting a try.

Our goal is make you a more confident, successful grafter. Hopefully we will have several experienced grafters to help answer questions and oversee your work. BYOT. (Bring you own tools) grafting knife, tape, we’ll supply grafting bands and name tags. I’d like to take your finished grafts home with me, pot them and save for sale at the 2011 Spring Grafting Show.

Questions, e-mail Greg G. at seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

We have the Issacson classroom at the CUH reserved for the Member Meeting on Jan 16.  Our guest speaker will be Jacky King, from the Mt Vernon WSU research station.  Her topic will be ‘Best Fruit Varieties for the PNW’.  Our Librarian, Jack, will be bringing the book that Jacky authored ‘Fruit Handbook for Western WA, Varieties& Culture’ and will have them available for sale at the meeting.  This meeting on Jan 16^th is officially our Annual Business Meeting.  I, unfortunately, will miss this meeting and John Reardon, VP, has graciously said that he would lead the meeting.  The time schedule is as follows…

9-9:30 Board Meeting

9:30 -10:30 Member Business Meeting

10:30 - 11 Break , Jack sells ‘Fruit Handbook for Western WA, Varieties& Culture’

11-12  Jacky’s presentation

Our Treasurer, Bill Moritz, has worked up the agenda for the Business meeting and here it is…

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Seattle Tree Fruit Society will take place on January 16, 2010.  The meeting will be held in the Issacson Classroom at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41^st St, Seattle WA 98105, and start at 9:30 AM.

Among the items to be discussed are:

President’s Report – The President [VP in her absence] will provide an overview of the Society’s activities for 2009 including our monthly meetings, summer garden tours, the Spring and Fall Shows and our participation in the Seattle Flower and Garden Show.  Plans for 2010 will also be presented and ideas or suggestions from the membership will be solicited.

Treasurer’s Report – The Treasurer will report on the financial affairs of the Society including a summary of our income and expenses for 2009.  In addition, a membership report will also be included.

Election of  Directors: – Our Board consists of between 4 and 7 Directors, who are elected by the membership to 3 year terms, and the Officers who are elected by the Directors.  Currently we have four Directors with unexpired terms:  Position #3 – Linda Sartnurak (Expires 2012); #4 – Joslyn Slaughter [completing Jack Pedigo’s term] (2012); #5 – Marlene Falkenbury (2011); and #6 – Jayson Akai [completing Kathy Mendelson’s term] (2011).

At the meeting we have the opportunity to elect up to 3 additional Directors.  We are fortunate to have the following members who have agreed to be nominated for terms expiring in 2013:  Position #1 – Mike Ewanciw; #2 – Laure Jansen (USP Editor); and #7 – Jerry Packard (Magnuson Orchard).  Other nominations will be accepted from the floor at the meeting.

Other Business:  Members may bring up any other items of business.

STFS HOLDAY BRUNCH POTLUCK

& MEMBER MEETING

Join us at our next meeting for a potluck brunch, member meeting and a talk by Seattle Tilth on ‘Orchard Soils’. Bring your favorite brunch dish, and we will provide refreshments and utensils.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 12th

@ Center for Urban Horticulture

9:30 to 10:30 Member discussion and Questions & Answers

10:30 to 11:30 Brunch and Orchard Wassail Music

11:30 to 12:30 Presentation: “Orchards Soils”

by Seattle Tilth representative, Laila Suidan

Directions: Center for Urban Horticulture  3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98105 From Interstate 5 take exit 168B and merge onto WA 520 eastbound, toward Bellevue/Kirkland.  Take the exit for Montlake Blvd toward the Univ of Washington, turn left at Montlake Blvd E.  Continue as Montlake Blvd turns into NE 45th St.  Turn right at the east end of the soccer fields at Mary Gates Memorial Drive NE/Union Bay Dr. NE, continue and this becomes NE 41st St and the CUH is on the right at 3501 NE 41st St.

Learn more about our Fall Fruit Show - Speakers and Vendors - 2009 Fall Fruit Show Poster

Calling all Members! 

One of our major events is fast approaching - the Fall Fruit Show.

This is your chance to meet with other club members and the public who share an interest in fruit.

 We look for members to provide varieties of fruit they grow - in an effort to showcase what can be grown in our local area.  It also gives you the chance to taste varieties of fruit otherwise not available from a grocery store.  Some you may have heard of, but not tried - others could be completely new to you. 

 This event is open to the public- so that those with an interest in choosing, growing, harvesting and preserving fruit have an opportunity to meet the club members which serves as a way for those with an interest find out what our group has to offer them.

 Our “society” is diverse - from longtime members who have a wealth of knowledge to newer members, all looking to connect with others who share an interest in fruit.

 To help make this the best Fall Fruit Show ever, we need to hear from YOU regarding volunteer opportunities. 

Pre-Event Help Needed: 

Publicity - get the word out about this event!  Could you post a flyer in your neighborhood, at a nursery?  Could you contact TV or radio stations to see what is needed to get our event “air play”?  What about the various local publications or electronic forums available today - Please - “blog” or “tweet” if you are so inclined!  Click this link to view a printable poster:  2009 Fall Fruit Show Poster

Donate fruit - contact seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

Day of Event Help Needed:

Setup - 8:30-10am - set up tables and tarps, wash fruit, fruit display, or other tasks.

Session #1 [10am-12:35pm]  or  Session #2 [12:25pm-3pm]
Cut and serve fruit as needed, answer questions, help relieve our STFS tables [related to library, membership and barrier sales] demonstrate a skill you have related to fruit. 

Breakdown - 3-4pm -  Handle the remaining fruit - find location to donate, ensure it goes home with volunteers &/or gets composted.  General clean up of venue - tables & chairs returned.

Food for volunteers - can you help feed the volunteers and/or help in the kitchen?  Bring a potluck dish, or break out that favorite apple pie recipe!

If you can help - We need to hear from YOU - before the event - to schedule and ensure we have enough folks for the various duties/tasks.  Please give me a call or email.

Regards,

Your  2009 Fall Fruit Show Coordinator  seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

Calendar of STFS Events 

For more info contact seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

June 2009  - Fieldtrips, Thank you Sandra for coordination

July  -  Fieldtrips, Thank you Sandra for coordination

August – Fieldtrips, Thank you Sandra for coordination

August 15th - Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation’s Summer Fruit Festival   http://www.wwfrf.org/

      Booth by Jack P

September 12th Saturday - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting @ Seattle Tilth Harvest Fair

      Both by John R

October 17th Saturday - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting @ Bothell Police Station Community Room  

       Topic- ‘Fall Fruit Show’

Oct 31^st  Sat -  10am to 3pm Fall Fruit Show - Center for Urban Horticulture.  
           Contact Joslyn - seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com

November 14th Saturday - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting @ Center for Urban Horticulture.  

December 12th Saturday - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting @ Center for Urban Horticulture.  

       Topic ‘Winter Orchard Care’

January 16^th, 2010 Saturday - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting

       Topic - ‘What fruit to grow in the Pacific Northwest’

February 3-7th - Flower and Garden Show, Lori coordinating

February 20th- Member Grafting Meeting @ CUH 9:30-12:30

March 14th Sunday -  Spring Fruit Show Spring Fruit & Grafting Show

April 17^th (3^rd Sat) - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting

May 1^st &2^nd 2010- Master Gardener Plant Sale (MB sales/info table)

May 8^th & 9^th 2010– PlantAmnesty Festival of Trees (MB sales/info table)

May 15^th  - 9:30am-12:30 Member Meeting