The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist |  | Author: Michael Phillips
Publisher: Chelsea Green
Category: Book
List Price: $40.00
Buy New: $25.91
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Seller: BooKnackrh
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 34,124
Media: Paperback
Edition: Enlarged 2nd
Pages: 360
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 8 x 0.9
ISBN: 1931498911
Dewey Decimal Number: 634.1184
EAN: 9781931498913
ASIN: 1931498911
Publication Date: October 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The definitive guide to growing apples wisely, naturally, and with gentle impact on the earth. For decades fruit growers have sprayed their trees with toxic chemicals in an attempt to control a range of insect and fungal pests. Yet it is possible to grow apples responsibly, by applying the intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of modern scientific research and innovation. Since The Apple Grower first appeared in 1998, orchardist Michael Phillips has continued his research with apples, which have been called "organics final frontier." In this new edition of his widely acclaimed work, Phillips delves even deeper into the mysteries of growing good fruit with minimal inputs. Some of the cuttingedge topics he explores include: * The use of kaolin clay as an effective strategy against curculio and borers, as well as its limitations * Creating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem through understory management of plants, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms * How to make a small apple business viable by focusing on heritage and regional varieties, value-added products, and the "community orchard" model
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 21
The Apple Grower by Michael Phillips February 22, 2006
Fedco Trees (Waterville Maine)
33 out of 35 found this review helpful
The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist
by Michael Phillips, 320 pages, 8x10, softcover, 2nd
edition. Whether you consider yourself to be a novice
or an experienced orchardist, if you want to grow
apples organically, this is the book for you. For many
decades apples were high in toxic residues, but
thankfully, that is finally changing. A great deal of
research is underway on lessening the use of synthetic
poisons in the orchard. The results in the past few
years are heartening. Since The Apple Grower first
appeared seven years ago two important products for
the organic orchardist, Surround and Entrust, have
become available. It is now quite possible to grow
very decent apples organically. This revised and
expanded version includes apple growing basics from A
to Z, as well as the latest research and strategies
for successful organic orcharding. A lot of us have
been begging Michael to update his book and we're
thrilled with the result. He has read the studies,
done the interviews, tested the products and found an
effective way a way to organize the information and
communicate it to the rest of us. Even if you already
have the first edition, you still need this
substantial revision.
Fabulous Resource! January 26, 2008
Lynetta Anne (San Francisco, CA United States)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
I LOVE this book.
I'm particularly impressed with the density of information: too many hobby farm/small farm books take a once-over-lightly approach, but this one is deep on detail. I also appreciate the discussion of seedling trees: typically I've seen them ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. The discussion of root stock is a help too; before this I've seen it only discussed in terms of it's limiting factor on size, but this also introduces issues of hardiness and climate appropriateness. The book is incredibly thorough while reminding the reader that there are no "cook books" to growing organic orchards, it's still an art and science that is being developed.
I spent the first few years of my life on an old-fashioned orchard and have never recovered. Now, after 30 big-city, corporate years the world is circling back to the kind of orchard I've always longed to have, and this book is filled with invaluable information on how to proceed. Next year I'm headed back to the country, this book in hand, to make a home and create a backyard cider orchard. I know it's hard work and the best of it may happen after I'm gone, but this book gives me the courage to begin and information to guide me as I figure it out.
I hope within 5 - 10 years I'll be toasting the author with my own apple cider!
Good find for apple growers, or potential growers! July 26, 2006
The Local Farmer (MN)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I think this a very well written, well laid out book that could help you get started in the apple orchard business. The thing that I find most interesting about this book is that you don't need to be dedicated to organic methods to learn an enormous amount from this book. It is full of general information to aid in the whole process of growing apples.
A Must for all Apple Growers March 12, 2007
Sheila L. Garrett (Rindge, NH USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've heard about this book for several years and it is truly a must read, everything I was led to anticipate. It is loaded with facts and experiential info. It's also fun to read. Don't be intimidated by how much info there is. Just use it and keep going back into it as you get more familiar with Michael's approach. I teach at The Meeting School, a little Quaker farm school in southern NH. I'm definitely using this book with my students from here on in. Happy orcharding.
Love it! July 12, 2007
Debbie Beckwith (Jefferson City, MO USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have only read the first few chapters, (and have browsed ahead), but so far it's great! They really go into detail about how apple trees grow.
It reads a little like a textbook, but not too dry. We have 9 apple trees in Mid-Missouri and are hoping to expand and improve in the future. I think this book will be a big help. If you just have a couple trees in your yard and just want to know how to prevent disease, repel bugs, or what fertilizer to use, this book may be a little more in-depth than what you're looking for. No doubt you would find useful information here, but it may be a little more detail than you needed.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 21
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