Show all posts by user
Ask other growers about sprayers, mowers, scythes, pruning tools, tractors, row-mulchers, wood chippers, cider presses, fermenting vats, and more.
Wash & Pack equipment - 1 year ago
Hello folks, We have a 5 acre organic apple orchard and we are wanting to create some efficiencies in our post harvest system. We sell the majority of our harvest to grocers and high end distributors, so the fruit has to look good. Right now we inspect and buff each apple by hand. We are thinking a washer and some conveyers might help speed things up. Does anyone have any equipment company rby Rachel Ashley - Sensible Equipment
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs - 1 year ago
Anyone out there monitoring for the BMSB? What kind of traps/lures and or other monitoring tools are you using? Successes and failures? Thanks, Rachel Silvernail Farm & Orchard Philomath, OREby Rachel Ashley - Bug by Bug
Wynoochee Early Apple Scion wanted - 1 year ago
I am looking to buy scion for the Wynoochee Early. 15-20 sticks. Preferably from West coast location. Thanks, Rachel Silvernail Farm & Orchard Philomath, ORE, Zone 8by Rachel Ashley - Orchard Classifieds
Re: Farm Critters in the Orchard - 1 year ago
So far, we have tried geese, chickens, pigs, and sheep in our 10 acre, semi-dwarf orchard. Geese were good at mowing and fertilizing, but too obnoxious to be around and are poor at reproducing. Chickens are great at eating bugs, grass, and fertilizing. Both chickens and geese require predator control, at least for us. Pigs (Old spots) were not a good match. They tilled any area they were putby Rachel Ashley - Ecosystem Connections
Re: Rodents - Friend or Foe? - 1 year ago
Todd, it sounds like you have a lot of critters to contend with! You said that you have mesh guards on all your trees for voles. I am curious if you have found any other vole management strategies that have worked for you? We have 10 acres of apples and hazelnuts, and I would rather not put guards on all the trees, but the voles are doing some serious damage this year. Any helpful tips? Thby Rachel Ashley - Ecosystem Connections
Re: Compost Tea post dormant pruning? - 1 year ago
Thanks for the thoughtful reply Michael. Indeed, increasing microbial activity in general, as well as aiding in the breakdown of fallen leaves are our goals with winter-time compost tea applications. Although it hardly feels like winter here in the Willamette Valley. It was sunny and in the high 60's today. We are getting an ideal pruning window. We are trying to get our fungal diseases (sby Rachel Ashley - Pruning
Compost Tea post dormant pruning? - 1 year ago
As part of our scab management program, we are applying at least 2 winter compost tea sprays. We are entering our pruning window and it occurred to me that it might be beneficial to spray compost tea post pruning to help minimize colonization of undesirable fungus's on pruning wounds. Any thoughts or experience with this type of management? Rachel Ashley Silvernail Farm & Orchard Philoby Rachel Ashley - Pruning
Nutrient Balancing in Fruit and Nut Trees - 2 years ago
Greetings from Oregon, I have several acres of certified organic fruits and nuts (apples, Asian pears, hazelnuts and chestnuts), and recently received results from mid summer tissue analysis. There were some concerning results with regard to low levels of some nutrients and because of the approaching harvest season, I am wondering how and when to address some of these concerns. Does anyone havby Rachel Ashley - Just Talk