March 22 Fruit Tree Grafting Class

This class fills up fast every year and space is limited!

March 22 Fruit Tree Grafting Class

$70 Registration includes three grafted apple trees!

Saturday, March 22
Minnesota New Country School
210 Main Street, Henderson MN 56044
Time:   9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost:    $70 / participant

 

In this class we will teach you how to propagate your own apple trees. We will discuss the time-tested techniques of fruit tree grafting including grafting tools, timing, proper scions and rootstocks. Attendees will practice what they learn by “Whip & Tongue” grafting different varieties of apple trees using modern day rootstocks.

Each participant will take home 3 newly grafted apple trees to be planted on your own property.  Additional rootstocks available for purchase at class. All materials and tools will be provided for the workshop. You can bring your own grafting knife if you prefer. We will bring a variety of apple tree scions to the workshop for grafting. We will graft to semi-dwarfing rootstock.

Optional: Bring scions of your favorite old apple tree if you would like to graft these at the class. We will send out tips for this as we get closer to class, as you don't want to do this too much ahead of time.

 

Register Here

 

You Bring:

• Large trash bag, & pot/bucket to take your grafts home in.
• Lunch or snack for yourself. (Coffee and a scone are provided in the morning.)
• Cash/check for additional rootstock purchase ($3 ea) or grafting knife purchase.

 

Registration & Payment:    

• Registration must be paid in advance.
• Register Here

Learn from John Knisley, of Alternative Roots Farm, a Certified Organic orchardist with 14 years of experience in the orchard. John is passionate about farming and the great outdoors.  At the farm he is most often found working at the orchard or with the herd of pigs.  In his spare time he is a forager, who enjoys fishing, hunting, canoeing and pretty much anything out of doors and hands-on. As a Master Naturalist he is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about environmental education, preserving and promoting our natural environment, and environmental stewardship.

March 1 Pruning Class

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

• Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

• March 1, 2025

• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
• More information on the Drummers website!
• 
  

Join Drummers Garden Center with John Knisley from Alternative Roots Farm of Madelia as we dive into fruit tree pruning, care, and maintenance for maximum production and tree health.

Alternative Roots Farm is a certified organic family farm and orchard offering organic apples, apple products, perennial produce, and winter greens. They also grow pears, plums, apricots, and tart cherries.

Registration is through Drummers Garden Center.

Vendor Day at Graze Coop Feb. 22

 

If you've been meaning to get out to the farm, but haven't this is a great time to meet me in town!! I'll be in New Ulm this Saturday, February 22 from 9-12 for one of their vendor days!

You can find our Organic microgreens and pea shoots regularly on the shelf over winter, apples in the fall. Occasionally other fruits in season! I'll have some of our canned goods, as well as our herbal wellness items with to check out!

Thanks for shopping local!

2025 Grafting Class

 

This class fills up fast every year and space is limited!

March 22 Fruit Tree Grafting Class

$70 Registration includes three grafted apple trees!

Saturday, March 22
Minnesota New Country School
210 Main Street, Henderson MN 56044
Time:   9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost:    $70 / participant

 

In this class we will teach you how to propagate your own apple trees. We will discuss the time-tested techniques of fruit tree grafting including grafting tools, timing, proper scions and rootstocks. Attendees will practice what they learn by “Whip & Tongue” grafting different varieties of apple trees using modern day rootstocks.

Each participant will take home 3 newly grafted apple trees to be planted on your own property.  Additional rootstocks available for purchase at class. All materials and tools will be provided for the workshop. You can bring your own grafting knife if you prefer. We will bring a variety of apple tree scions to the workshop for grafting. We will graft to semi-dwarfing rootstock.

Optional: Bring scions of your favorite old apple tree if you would like to graft these at the class. We will send out tips for this as we get closer to class, as you don't want to do this too much ahead of time.

Register Here

 

You Bring:

• Large trash bag, & pot/bucket to take your grafts home in.
• Lunch or snack for yourself. (Coffee and a scone are provided in the morning.)
• Cash/check for additional rootstock purchase ($3 ea) or grafting knife purchase.

Registration & Payment:    

• Registration must be paid in advance.
• Register Here

Learn from John Knisley, of Alternative Roots Farm, a Certified Organic orchardist with 14 years of experience in the orchard. John is passionate about farming and the great outdoors.  At the farm he is most often found working at the orchard or with the herd of pigs.  In his spare time he is a forager, who enjoys fishing, hunting, canoeing and pretty much anything out of doors and hands-on. As a Master Naturalist he is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about environmental education, preserving and promoting our natural environment, and environmental stewardship.

Yes, I am terrible at blog posts lately

We are still here! I just have been terrible at blog posts, but I'm all over the socials. :)

Find our certified organic microgreens, pea shoots and salad mix through March

-->Zesty & Arugula Micros, as well as Pea Shoots, are available regularly at the Graze Food Coop in New Ulm

-->Winter Farmers Markets in Mankato fall on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays at Bomgaars, from 9-12. These run through March!

-->Our on-farm store is open Tu-Fri 9-7 and Sat 9-2, or by appt. Where you can find our organic greens, canned applesauce, apple butter, seasonal jams and herbal wellness products!

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Winter Wellness CSA Openings!

 Winter Wellness CSA 2024

Greens are growing and the winter greenhouse is filling up at a good pace!

Last year our Winter Greens CSA evolved into our Winter Wellness CSA, which felt good and natural, and was well received. Let’s go again!!

 

As always, the highlight is our winter greens! Pea shoots, microgreens and salad mix will be accompanied by canned goods and herbal wellness items. This season the apple harvest WAS abundant, so apples will accompany the first 2-3 pick ups

Winter Greens Feature – organic pea shoots, zesty microgreens, mustard greens salad mix – one per pick up.

Canned Goods Feature – applesauce, apple butter, jam/jelly, pizza sauce, salsa – with 1-2 items in each share pick up.

Herbal Wellness Items Feature – one salve, lotion bar, elderberry syrup kit and more – holistic wellness comes from more than just food.

Produce Items Feature – apples 2-3x, garlic 1x, radish.

 

Winter Wellness CSA will have 7 pick-ups November—March. We like to start the week before Thanksgiving. Pick ups will look like à Nov(1), Dec(2), Jan(2), Feb(1), Mar(1), by my best estimate, pick ups per month. Greens are picked up at the farm store, or the Mankato Winter Farmers Market (ONLY if dates line up). Shares are roughly every several weeks, dependent on the growth of greens. I am better at anticipating this now, but every once and a while I may have to push back a week if growth is slow (clouds and cold and such). Flexibility is a must.

 

Investment is $290. $145 due up front for reservation, with remaining $145 due by first pick up.

 

Eggs – In the past I have reserved ahead but cannot this year. We have more regular, weekly farm store customers, so availability is more limited. As always, I will do what I can for you! I am at chicken maximum capacity, so I am a little at their whim!

 

Holler to reserve your share. There are only 9 available!

Send any questions our way.

Apple Sales Continue! (Farm Store Update)

 

Farm Store & Farm Updates Late October

It was a great year in the orchard, so apples are still available!!

The winter greenhouse is up and running and regular weekly harvests have started! Eat your greens! Varieties may change week to week. Watch the socials for updates, or be in touch. Salad greens will start in November.

The flavor of the season is
Apple Butter...move over
pumpkin spice.

What's In Store 

Apples - Multiple Varieties - 10/23: Fireside, Haralson, Cortland, McIntosh, Heirloom sampler quarts

Apple Cider - watch for our next pressing! Only 1 or 2 more times at the farm store.

Microgreens - Zesty Mix, Arugula

Pea Shoots - tastes like fresh spring peas!

Fall Radishes - Watermelon (milder, sweeter), Schwarzer Runder (black, spicier)

Eggs remain limited, grab them if you see them!

Canned items - Zesty Poblano Salsa (last call), Applesauce, Apple Butter

Herbal Wellness Items - Calendula Lotion Bar, Bruise Salve, Sore Throat Spray, Elderberry Syrup Kits, Herbal Tinctures (descriptions in store).

Coming Soon - Elderberry Jelly, various Jams, Knitbone Salve (muskuloskeletal), new items.

Winter Markets 

Brooke will be back at the Winter Mankato Farmers markets for her eighth year starting November 2nd! Winter markets run November - March on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at  Bomgaars, Mankato.