Blue Heron Middle School Orchard Clean Up and Thinning

Fruit orchard enthusiasts, Doug van Allen (left) and Seth Rolland (right) are digging out the deep rooted weeds such as thistle, dock, hemlock... and ripping up grasses / bedstraw which were encroaching on the 70 plus trees in Blue Heron Middle School Orchard.   Sonny Flores, Ruth Blyther, and Mary Hunt helped in the process. It's tedious, but much easier than mulching the entire orchard in January like what hasbeen doing for the past 10 years. As the trees have matured, the need for the yearly mulching isn't as needed.

In a couple of weeks, the fruit will be set and ready to be thinned. Due to our cold spring, the fruit set looks light and therefore the time it takes to thin fruit to 4-6 inches apart will be quick.

Thinning is a fun, once-a-year job that's right up there with trimming grape vines for a better harvest. Let us know if you'd like to participate this year.