Fruit Tree Grafting Class 2024

  Learn how to graft your own fruit trees!

March 23 Fruit Tree Grafting Class

$55 Registration includes three grafted apple trees.

Saturday, March 23
Minnesota New Country School
210 Main Street, Henderson MN 56044
Time:   9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost:    $55 / participant

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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.

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

On the Drive Home from the Butcher

Brought a group of beautiful pigs to market this morning. I don’t really even know why I am sharing this publicly, maybe it’s to clear my head, I don’t know……on my drives to the butcher with pigs it gives me a lot of time to reflect on the animals I am bringing there, often times there is a strong feeling (cannot place the right adjective to describe it) that runs through my whole body, toes to head. I think about taking the life of an animal and how taking the life feeds others and our family. I think about the time I had with them, the daily chores, their birth and now them going on to the next pasture. Last night in preparation I had a couple beers with them, talked to them and gave lots of scratches. The daily routine of raising livestock, feeding, moving on pasture, housing, farrowing, etc is the easy part, the end of their lives is the hard part. I often tell myself if I have no emotion about this part then it’s maybe not right for me to be raising livestock. There is a heavy weight that goes along with this part. I am not looking for any sympathy or “sorrys,” but rather just expressing my thoughts. I am honored to be the caretaker of these creatures. There is just a lot more to this operation than inputs and outputs, hell of a lot more.

John