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Volunteers start rehab of Johnson Farm orchard

Published 10:24 am Sunday, August 7, 2016

The first of several planned pruning events took place last week at the Johnson Farm heritage orchard in an effort by Bainbridge Island Fruit Club and Friends of the Farms to improve the quality of those trees’ fruit and create healthier tree structures overall.
The first of several planned pruning events took place last week at the Johnson Farm heritage orchard in an effort by Bainbridge Island Fruit Club and Friends of the Farms to improve the quality of those trees’ fruit and create healthier tree structures overall.

The Bainbridge Island Fruit Club has joined with Friends of the Farms to rehabilitate the Johnson Farm heritage orchard.

Last weekend was the first joint pruning event, and included staff from Friends of the Farms, volunteers from the fruit club and donated manpower and pruning equipment from Westerlund Tree Service.

A significant number of the trees were pruned to improve the quality of their fruit and create a healthier tree structure for future fruit production.

The goal, explained Darren Murphy, president of the Bainbridge Island Fruit Club, is to slowly rehabilitate the trees for improved fruit production, expand the number of varieties (both heirloom and modern) and increase the educational value of the orchard.

Johnson Farm is a city of Bainbridge Island-owned farm and is managed by the nonprofit Friends of the Farms. The farm has a significant orchard of approximately 49 trees which are mostly apple, but also include various pear, plum, cherry, nut and grape varieties. Additionally, the farm site hosts a community garden P-patch, as well as commercial farming lease by Butler Green.

Visit bifruitclub.wordpress.com to learn more about the fruit club and volunteer at the next pruning event.

Further information about city farmlands and the Friends of the Farms organization can be found at www.friendsofthefarms.org.

 

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