[MartHale7]

I recommend this book.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256037461880?epid=109193715&hash=item3b9d059f78:g:HDUAAOSwEpVkMaSk&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8KsU4RVdJLPmTiWi0U5I0WtqcYTEutlx8%2FcKheVsPQC6LVBtH1cPvGFlcdZhUAq4K6brK8R%2BLPbJ9W%2FMkDfGtvCcZ5rNhhmmUoxQZG2JIr4spxYHoZ9xCp3wE46Zn0W%2BY0rnipClEmFaeaQV8crv7msRwU4HvIZxadnp24Crm7aqPtuKTo2VT6YW6ZMRH%2B7DbrGk%2BDb3DSNlky%2B7DowYta92e8SD92qloC130%2FwypFXdzscMsNcdN9W%2BkeKKaxsOtulgetmYh6FOhZT7OAl8SHeuN%2Bv6PtOAUmCSN7KZX9N031gU0nfD1bSEyKBixAtypw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-zvhPnuYQ

You are still spraying, but with substances that will not hurt you…. Lots of preventative work.

Also “The permaculture Orchard” Film is well worth buying.

[FlapdoodleFarm]

Thank you! I will check out both!

[Lburky]

The link for the book came up with a “we didn’t find what you were looking for” page. Would you give the title so I can look it up please?

[MartHale7]

The Holistic Orchard.

This link should work for you, sorry the other one broke..

https://thriftyhomesteader.com/holistic-orchard/

thriftyhomesteader.com

Book Review: The Holistic Orchard

If you’re starting your own orchard or are looking for ways to improve your techniques, 'The Holistic Orchard' deserves consideration.

[Life-with-Mike-and-Jenn]

Look at Stephen Sobkowiak, The Permaculture Orchard. He has great info. I did no spray for 8 years before we moved to bare land recently.

[FlapdoodleFarm]

Thank you, will do!

[MartHale7]

I also recommend his video, and his youtube channel.

[nottina]

try groworganic.com I have gotten 20 plus trees from them look for trees from dave wilson nursery great info on youtube

[FlapdoodleFarm]

Thanks so much!

[FaithK]

I hear tell that spraying with kaolin clay is great for pest control (feeding and laying eggs), as well as helping with too-strong sun, and I think fungal diseases iirc. Fungal diseases are probably from the decreased pest pressure and damage, I’d think. Plus, it’s edible itself, so if it isn’t cleaned off completely, no biggie. May even be a benefit for consuming kaolin clay, but I totally can’t remember right now.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  FaithK. Reason: Forgot about the edible-ity. lol

[FlapdoodleFarm]

Great info FaithK, I will look into that!

[AlphaDelta]

It depends on your conditions. I’m in South Texas. I have a bunch of fruiting trees and plants in the middle of a huge range land area, so there are very few disease vectors around me. As such, I don’t spray my trees at all, with the exception of the aforementioned kaolin clay. It helps with our intense sun. I do have blight issues, but trees that don’t tolerate it die and I replace them with another variety. There are parts of the country where chemical spraying is mandatory, or you’ll never get fruit. The upper Eastern seaboard being one of them.

[FlapdoodleFarm]

The clay seems like a great place to start more research and seems like I need to find more locals! Thanks!

[MaryBeth]

Thanks for sharing. I want to look up how to use the clay. I just purchased a product from IV Organics. It is made of diatomaceous earth and essential oils. You paint it on the bark to protect from insects and the sun. I can’t give a first hand report yet, but a YouTuber from Houston that I follow speaks very highly of it.

[FlapdoodleFarm]

Thanks MaryBeth, that sounds promising 🙂

[Lburky]

Check out JADAM natural farming

https://youtube.com/@JADAMORGANIC

I have all 3 of their books (not the edible wild herbs one). This method seems to be working well for our trees. David Good as well as several YouTubers also use this method.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by  Lburky.

[FlapdoodleFarm]

Thank you! I got the JADAM organic farming one and will start it this week 🙂

[jeffR]

I agree with AlphaDelta depends where you are. I spray very little if needed. This year I have sprayed jap beetles on grapes apples and raspberries a couple times. Most years none.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

Look up Stefan Sobkowiak – The Permaculture Orchard – YouTube

youtube.com

Stefan Sobkowiak - The Permaculture Orchard

My goals for this channel are: To bring the WOW factor back into growing food while attracting wildlife. With the launch of our new VIRTUAL TOUR, viewers from all over the globe are now able to tour The Permaculture Orchard … Continue reading

[Hippocrates_Garden]

It’s possible, but few are willing to do what it takes, to get there. too “different”.