Author Archives: Trent Elwing

SCFS/STFS Growing Figs in PNW talk by Ingela Wanerstrand THIS Mon. (Sep 16th) 7 PM to 9 PM. In-person/zoom hybrid. Free to all.

Zoom connect link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81937049309?pwd=GafqJWTYV0KV0VWELzUa0OM8gSTd87.1

Questions? Please email SnohomishCFS@gmail.com.

For in-person attendees: Everett Firefighters Hall, 2411 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201, USA (map)

Growing Figs in the PNW with Ingela Wanerstrand covers the selection, care, pest control, and propagation of fig trees for a bountiful yield in the PNW.

Ingela’s fig talk will also be recorded and available via the SCFS YouTube channel several days after the program.

Sat Aug 10th 10AM to noon – Free in-person only summer pruning workshop focused on mature plum trees as well as full-grown free-standing apple/pear trees at Magnuson Park demo orchard adjacent to The Brig building.

Long-time STFS member and Edmonds College instructor Ingela Wanerstrand will lead workshop. Ingela led the dormant pruning workshop this past February which was bursting with helpful advice. This Saturday’s participants can practice pruning skills on demo orchard fruit trees with guidance from experienced horticulturalists.

All (STFS members, WCFS members and members of the public) are welcomed to attend.

In addition to pruning, participants can also help gather and dispose of prunings, weed beds, spread wood chips and help connect more drip lines to the existing irrigation system.

Saturday’s attendees are responsible for deciding their own level of masking, socially distancing and other respiratory-spread disease precautions. Onsite, there probably will be no access to interior spaces. Dress and be prepared for the weather. Bathroom facilities may be limited to outside portable toilets near the P-Patch.

Please bring: 1) Face coverings and other items that you need to help minimize possible spread of COVID-19. 2) Apparel and PPE appropriate for forecasted weather and gardening activities. 3) Pruners, loppers, and saws for fruit tree pruning. 4) Your own snacks and liquid refreshments. You can decide whether to share or not.

Also, bring your underutilized plant/tool/book/other fruit-growing resources to trade/barter/sell with other attendees. Bring what’s good for someone else and look for what’s good for you.

Updated Post: Recording of talk is now available. Rosy’s Soil Health online zoom presentation May 11, 2024 to STFS members is available for public viewing until May 11, 2025.

 

Rosy’s contact info: Rosy Smit, Agriculture Program Coordinator WSU Snohomish County Extension (Phone: 425.357.6024, Email:rosy.smit@wsu.edu Website:snohomish.wsu.edu)

 

Resources referenced in Rosy’s talk now available on the STFS resources webpage.

 

STFS USP newsletter 42 01 2024 Jan includes a list of soil health resources and soil testing resources previously provided by Rosy during an earlier Jan 2024 presentation.

 

Not a STFS member, but interested in growing fruit in the Puget Sound region? Consider joining STFS. Recent STFS USP newsletters are available online for background on STFS activities and resources.

All welcomed to attend. FREE. From Rosy: The presentation will cover soil health basics in Western Washington as well as how soil testing can provide valuable data to make informed decisions about soil management practices to improve soil health.  Learn how to take an accurate soil sample, soil testing parameters, where to send your sample(s), and how to interpret the results. Rosy is the WSU Extension Agriculture Program Coordinator for Snohomish County.  Previously, she worked on multiple local certified organic farms leading food system education programming and vegetable, perennial and livestock production, on various scales.  Passionate about soil, farm-based education and pollination, she loves fruit (growing and eating it) and comes from seven generations of farmers, was raised on a dairy in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, has an BSc in Agro-ecology and a MSc in Soil Science, both from the University of British Columbia. Rosy will be recording and controlling the zoom software through WSU Zoom Meetings. Join Zoom Meeting from computer or other smarter device: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/93683989664 Meeting ID: 936 8398 9664 Join by Telephone (long distance) Dial: US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 9128 Meeting ID: 936 8398 9664 Phone one-tap: US: +16465588656,,93683989664# or +16699009128,,93683989664# Share Screen/Content Wirelessly Go to https://share.zoom.us Meeting ID: 936 8398 9664 Guide on WSU Zoom Joining Meetings and Best Practices and more info at its.wsu.edu/zoom Plans are to zoom-record Rosy’s talk and make available to interested individuals unable to attend on 5/11. Any questions? Contact Trent (email trelwing@gmail.com DM/phone 206.517.3118).

Updated Post: Recording of talk is now available at:  Berries in Your Backyard – Growing Blueberries and Caneberries. (Passcode: J*=ywYD9). Resources referenced in DeVetter berry talk as well as talk visuals now available on the STFS resources webpage.

Not a STFS member, but interested in growing fruit in the Puget Sound region? Consider joining STFS. Recent STFS USP newsletters are available online for background on STFS activities and resources.

Sat Apr 13th 1000-1100 hybrid zoom presentation – Growing Blueberries, Raspberries and Blackberries in your PNW backyard.

All welcomed to attend. FREE.

Title: Berries in Your Backyard – Growing Blueberries and Caneberries. Presenter: Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Washington State University. Description: Blueberries and caneberries (raspberry and blackberry) are hallmarks of summer for many gardeners. This presentation will provide an overview of key horticultural aspects to grow these crops successfully in a backyard setting.

This is the same talk given in-person this past March up at NW Fruit’s Mt. Vernon spring event.

With the right dirt, these berry plants are relatively easy to grow yielding bounteous harvests of nutritional fruit that can be very pricey when store-bought (No idea why since these plants give so much for so little).

Plans are to zoom-record Lisa’s talk and make available to interested individuals unable to attend on 4/13.

Join Zoom Meeting by computer/smart device

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89026131817?pwd=SWZacGFvMW9MbElkeWxqWGM3dnFidz09

Meeting ID: 890 2613 1817

Passcode: 783000

Or on one tap mobile

+12532158782,,89026131817#,,,,*783000# US (Tacoma)

+12532050468,,89026131817#,,,,*783000# US

Or dumber phone

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 253 205 0468 US

Meeting ID: 890 2613 1817

Passcode: 783000

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbj6LXGbpl

Any questions? Contact Trent (email trelwing@gmail.com DM/phone 206.517.3118)

Like last year, the first in-person indoor STFS membership meeting for 2024 is set for this Saturday (March 2nd) but in the afternoon 2 PM to 4 PM at Sky Nursery (18528 Aurora Ave N Shoreline, WA 98133, Store open 9-6 Daily, phone 206.546.4851 email sky@skynursery.com) just north of Seattle.

Venue is a large, airy glass-enclosed greenhouse space with apparent good ventilation and probably will be cooler than comfortable so wear an extra layer.

Like we’ve done at past in-person meetings, please bring stuff to give away, barter or sell to STFS members including fruit-growing guides and journals, fruit-growing equipment, scion wood and other cuttings for plant propagation, plant starts, … Tables will be set up for this activity.

Please also bring any displays or other items to discuss any current fruit-growing successes or challenges you’ve encountered over the past several years. We all learn by communicating with each other our successes and challenges.

Please bring mason bee cocoons to exchange with other STFS members and spread genetic diversity.

STFS’s remaining inventory of maggot barriers will be available for STFS members. Same price as in 2022/23 ($12 per package of 100 maggot barriers).

Sky Nursery stocks numerous fruit plants, so maybe spend some extra time browsing onsite inventory.

If you adore roses, come early starting at 10 AM for free talks offered by the Seattle Rose Society. More details below.

And maybe take a break between rose and fruit growing talks to drive a mile or so north up Aurora to Shoreline and get your Costco including $19.99 bareroot single variety fruit trees (for example, shiro plum, honeycrisp apple, …) or $26.99 multi-variety (for example, honeycrisp/braeburn/gala/fuji apple, …) from a reputable area nursery additionally vetted by Costco as a purveyor of quality products that Costco members deserve.

From Sky Nursery Event page:

Roses for PNW Gardeners March 2nd, 10am-1pm

Join us in welcoming the experts from the Seattle Rose Society and come for one or all three segments of this FREE series on growing thriving, stunning roses in the PNW. 

Rose Pruning for Success 10-10:50

PNW Rose Variety Selection 11-11:50

Caring for Roses in the PNW 12-12:50

FREE CLASS
No Registration Necessary. Our greenhouse is covered, but still cool. Be sure to dress in layers!

Fruit for PNW Gardeners March 2nd, 2pm-3pm

Expert horticulturist and educator Ingela Wanerstrand will share her vast knowledge on the best fruit to grow in your NW Garden and how to go about growing it well. Whether you’ve got room for one blueberry in a pot or enough acreage to start an orchard, you won’t want to miss this seminar. 

Join the Seattle Tree Fruit Society afterwards from 3-4pm for their monthly meeting, including fruit tree discussion, display plants and more. All are welcome.

FREE CLASS
No Registration Necessary. Our greenhouse is covered, but still cool. Be sure to dress in layers!

Joint SCFS/STFS – Event!  

Blueberry Pruning Workshop

When: This Sat., Feb. 24, 2024 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Who: FREE to all WCFS members and the public.  (Donations are welcome)

Where:  Blueberry Glenn Farm –

14355 Kelly Road NE, Duvall, WA  98019

Site phone 425.780.5551

Site email blueberryglennfarm@gmail.com

Why:  To learn and practice how to properly prune mature blueberry bushes with guided instruction

The Seattle Tree Fruit Society and the Snohomish County Fruit Society are pleased to sponsor a Blueberry Pruning workshop at Blueberry Glenn Farm in Duvall, WA.  

Blueberry Glenn is an 11-acre farm with over 1,000 blueberry bushes, some over 70 years old.  Experienced instructors from both clubs will be present to lead this activity.  Saturday’s event will be your opportunity to receive guided pruning instruction on individual mature plants, including several classic heirloom varieties.

What you should bring:  Warm clothing, pruning equipment, water, snacks.  Rest room facilities will be available.

For more information, please call Mike Ewanciw, President STFS  206-683-9665.  Or email STFS at seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com.

The 2023_04_Fall BeeLine issue includes Reviving the BeeLine foreword, damson plums article, picking pears article, pear problems article, recipes, fig tree rescue article, and Grow a Little Fruit Tree book review.

Doors open 10 AM at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo. Free entry to all members of WCFS Chapters and the public. Donations accepted and appreciated.

Scion wood and rootstock sales in the FOWLER ROOM starts at 10 AM.

Only accepted payment methods: personal check and cash (ATM nearby).

Scion wood $2 per stick.

Rootstock prices vary; see attached price sheet.

Custom graft $4 per graft (scion wood and rootstock not included).

Tables set up in the FOWLER ROOM for attendee material and information exchange.

Free fruit talks in the ART ROOM from 1 PM to 3 PM.

More details from SCFS’s Jake Jacobson below.

FRUIT TREE GRAFTING CLASS

Saturday March 25^th, 2023 from 10AM to 1:30PM

At Rosehill Community Center.

304 Lincoln Avenue, Mukilteo, WA 98275

The Fruit Tree Grafting and Tree Care Workshop, presented by the Snohomish County Fruit Society (SCFS) & the Seattle Tree Fruit Society (STFS), will take place at Rosehill Community Center this Saturday, March 25, 2023.  Please refer to the link, “Grafting Workshop” for more details. (The Grafting Class is currently SOLD OUT.)

We are fortunate to have additional scion wood for grafting and sale on Saturday. This includes Grape and Persimmon scions, made available by Lori Brakken.  The complete list of the available scion is at link, “New Additions to Lori’s List – March 2023”. You can find the original scion lists, available root stock, and more information on the SCFS webpage 

**NEW** We are pleased to be able to offer custom grafting for folks who would like assistance putting their tree together.  

TREE CARE WORKSHOP – Free! Please see the attached link of “Afternoon Lectures” for more details

1pm   Apple Maggot Defense, Jim Holt. 

Learn how to control and mitigate the damage that can be caused by Apple Maggots (Ragoletis pomonella), a prevalent pest of pome fruits (Apples, Pears, and their relatives).   

1:15 pm  Selection and Care of Fruit Trees in the Home Landscape, Bob Baines.  

Learn what species do well in the Pacific Northwest, and which will be more challenging. Discover species that you didn’t know could be cultivated here. Get helpful hints on managing your fruit trees once you have committed to them. Find out what varieties are favorable in our climate.

2 pm   What’s Buzzing? Supporting Native Pollinators on your Property, Lisa Wasko DeVetter.   

Pollinators are essential for the production of nutritious foods, including fruits. This presentation will cover the essential role of pollinators, why they are in trouble, and what you can do to support them.  

We’ve attached a more complete description of the free afternoon workshop series for you, and updated the overall timeline of the day at Rosehill – please see the attached announcement. 

2:45 pm  Hydro-Mulching (Sprayable Mulch) for Sustainable Agriculture, Ben Weiss

Many Plants benefit from mulches, including fruit crops. Unfortunately, most mulches are made from non-degradable plastics that can pollute terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This presentation will introduce a new mulch technology, biobased and sprayable hydromulches, which are suitable for organic production and could be a more sustainable alternative to non-degradable plastic mulches.   

NOTE:  Bare root strawberries are sold out and will not be offered at the event. 

We hope you can join us on Saturday!

Snohomish County Fruit Society

A Chapter of the Western Cascade Fruit Society
http://snohomishcfs.wordpress.com/

From Airlie to Zlatna Resistenta, with Karmijn de Sonnaville and many more pomes in between, lifetime STFS member Lorine Brakken is bringing scion wood from her compact, extensive home orchard to the 2023 SCFS/STFS fruit grafting event at Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo Sat. Mar. 25th 9:30 AM to 3 PM. For full list of Lori’s scion wood, price per stick and how to pre-order, check out STFS’s newsletter USP 41 02 2023 Feb pages 4-8.

Selecting Fruit for PNW Gardens – What fruits make sense to grow in your own PNW garden rather than paying many dollars at the store? Even in a compact urban backyard, layers of fruit plants from alpine strawberry ground cover to dwarfing multi-cultivar fruit trees can convert sunlight into healthy fresh fruit at arm’s length. Experienced horticulturist and educator Ingela Wanerstrand dba Green Darner Garden Design will cover why you might want to grow your own, plants that consistently fruit in the PNW and ideas for fruit-growing in small spaces. In-stock Sky Nursery fruit plants will be featured during Ingela’s talk.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

When: next Saturday (March 4th) 10 AM to noon; 10:00-10:30 socialize, 10:30-11:00 STFS meeting & 11:00-noon Ingela’s talk. More details in attached handout.

Where: Sky Nursery (18528 Aurora Ave N Shoreline, WA 98133, Store open 9-6 Daily, phone 206.546.4851 email sky@skynursery.com) just north of Seattle.

Venue is a large, airy glass-enclosed greenhouse space with apparent good ventilation and probably will be cooler than comfortable so wear an extra layer. Sky has no COVID-19 PPE requirements, so participants need to take COVID-19 precautions they feel are necessary.

Please DON’T BRING REFRESHMENTS TO SHARE WITH OTHER ATTENDEES; Sorry, Sky has requested that due to public participation and lingering COVID-19 concerns, no refreshments be provided by STFS members to share potluck-style with other participants.