Classes will be held on Saturday mornings, most from 9:30 to 11:30, in our Fruit Garden, located at 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA unless noted in class description. All classes are free with current membership. Each class has a separate registration in Signup Genius, which must be completed 7 days in advance of the class date for our planning purposes. Use this link NW Fruit Saturday Classes to register for one or all the classes. To become a member of NW Fruit use this link Become a Member.
Classes meet in the Pavillion located in the Master Gardener area at 9:30 AM unless otherwise noted. If you have questions about any of the classes, contact Jake Jacobson.
Registration opened January 1st for these classes
February 21 – Grape Pruning & Training with Bill Pierce
Class is full.
March 7 – Blueberry Care with Beth Jones
Both Morning and Afternoon Classes are Full. Watch Signup Genius for Cancellations.
March 21– Whip Grafting with Larry Crum.
Class is Full. Watch Signup Genius for Cancellations.
March 28 – Introduction to Growing Your Own Fruit with Bill Pierce
What kinds of fruit can be grown in our maritime climate? What are some different ways to grow them? What’s involved in keeping fruit trees, shrubs and vines and what kinds of tools will I need? Which pests and diseases are most common, and how are they controlled? This tour-based class for the beginning orchardist will use our experience in the Fruit Garden to answer some of these questions and raise new ones. Class size is limited to 25 members.
Registration opened February 12th for these classes
April 18- Top Working with Larry Crum.
Top Working is described as using bark grafting to add a scion of a different variety to an existing established tree. You will see a demonstration on how to perform this graft (different from a splice graft) and then practice doing the work yourself, under the team’s guidance. Bring your grafting knife. Important Note: If you have plans to top work a tree at home after the class, you will need to secure your new scion wood earlier in the year and store it in the fridge (keeps it dormant) until ready to graft. Do not bring it to the class. Class size is limited to 20 members.
Jun 6 – Apple Thinning and Insect Pest Control in the Backyard Orchard with Scott Terrell and Colleen Sanders.
We will demonstrate how to thin your fruit to improve fruit size and quality. Techniques for “organic” insect control in your home orchard will be discussed focusing on sticky traps, fruit footies (maggot barriers) and tree netting. We will demonstrate, with your participation, fruit thinning and the use of sticky traps, fruit footies and tree netting. Class size is limited to 25 members.
June 27- Annual fruit tree pruning with Steve Gaber.
We will discuss specific pruning cuts, “where to cut” and “how much to remove”. We will then move to the orchard for actual hands-on pruning practice, so review the study materials sent out one week before the class and bring your pruning tools. Steve is on our NW Fruit orchard pruning team and conducts maintenance pruning for three Whatcom County public agencies as a volunteer. Class size is limited to 15 members.
There will be more classes offered in August!
