[Rach]

Hi there,

Does anybody know of any Organic Apple Orchards in Ireland,
North or South?
Prefereably run on a commercial basis, but those attached to old houses, state/national trust properties would also do.

I'm looking for somewhere to do a two week work placement in October.

Thanks,

Rach

[kinvarasustainableliving]

Hello there,
I help run a community garden that has planted up a walled in garden with 50 apple trees 4 years ago, there is also 20 other fruit trees and 6 original trees from 1870. I don't know what your interested in exactly, October is too early to prune, and most of the harvesting will be done by then, so the work would be weeding, strimming, some posts need re planting, and labels moved. The apples are all old Irish seed savers varieties, clearly labeled. etc. Have a look at the garden page on the website. This community garden could definitely do with a help out with the trees. It's on the site of a Youth Hostel, we could come to a deal re accommodation with the manager. Have you much orchard experience?

[Rach]

Thanks a million for getting back.

I'm a student on the Organic Horticulture course at the Organic centre in Leitrim.
As you said October is not great for the apples but it's the dates that have been assigned to us.
I've now got a placement for October with the National Trust in Fermanagh but I'd love to come over and work in your gorgeous Orchard, maybe in February. There would be more to do then and our course finishes in January.

As part of my apple project i get to look after 4 trees for the year (one of them seemed to get everything that was going, including some bad canker ).

On the course we've done summer & winter pruning, grafting - whip & tongue, chip bud, T-budding and general care and maintenance of the trees. I've also spent time maintaining the trees in Baldonnel Orchard in Dublin over the past few years.

Maybe I could contact you directly re. working with your apples.
Please contact by private message.

Also

If anyone else knows of some organically managed fruit orchards Apples/Plums/Pears etc., I'm always very grateful for any information.
Perhaps there's an old Orchard that needs restoring.
I can usually manage to drum up a few willing volunteers to help out.

Thanks again,

Rach

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