We’ve planted over 100 fruit trees on the farm, including many heirloom varieties of apple, pear, peach, plum, persimmon, and paw paw.  Most of our fruit trees are dwarf or semi-dwarf trees that are 2-3 years old, and our apple orchard below the goat meadow is still in its first year. We also have an old full-sized apple tree that we inherited; it produces a hefty crop of small green apples that make delicious apple sauce.

Last year, a late freeze killed all of the blossoms and prevented any of our trees from bearing fruit. While it was disappointing, it probably helped our young trees grow stronger in the long run by encouraging them to put all of their energies into building strong roots and shoots (instead of the energy-intensive process of producing fruit).

We’re harvesting our first fruits from young trees this year. Most exciting is the peach tree, which is so loaded with peaches that some of the limbs have bent to the ground. Peaches have become a new favorite snack for River, and last weekend, Emily baked an amazing peach-blackberry cobbler.