Saturday, March 3, 2018

Heirloom apple tree grafting opportunity

On the 24th of March, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Inland Northwest Food Network will offer an opportunity to obtain rare or heirloom apple tree starts. The "Scion Exchange" will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, located at 15319 E. Eighth Ave., Spokane Valley. Scions, which are the young shoots or twigs of an apple tree, can be grafted to modern apple root stocks to produce those delectable apples no longer available in today's supermarkets. Scions will be available for sale, along with many types of root stocks, and appropriate grafting supplies. I will be offering a grafting workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will be a hands-on experience on why, when, and how to graft scions to root stocks, using the "whip and tongue" grafting technique. The grafting class will cost $40, and students will receive two root stocks, scion wood, and the necessary supplies, as well as my personal attention :). Some of the rare or heirloom apple varieties available as scion wood include many names not seen in generations:  Fall Jeneting, Frazier's Prolific, Lubsk Queen, and dozens more. Class size is limited, and registration is required: you can call the food network at 208-546-9366 for more information, or to register for the class.  

Refreshments will be available on a donation basis, and proceeds will be used to maintain the heirloom fruit tree orchard of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection.  

Other organizers of the Scion Exchange include the Washington State University County Extension Service, and the Spokane Edible Tree Project.

See you there, 

Jim

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