SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT: Huw Evans - From Pasture to Productive Orchard
Published on January 2, 2025 by Dan Hasler - Manchester Fruit Tree Coop
SPEAKER: Huw Evans
TITLE: From Pasture to Productive Orchard
SPEAKER PROFILE: Huw Evans set up Sheffield Organic Growers in 2010 on 12 acres of grassland. It now provides a home for 6 businesses run by different growers, supplying fruit, vegetables, salads, flowers and fruit trees. Much of the produce is packed on site and delivered to customers in weekly bags and the rest is sold locally to other businesses. The site area has now increased to 20 acres and has quite well-developed infrastructure, but is still completely off-grid. There is a small 'care farm' project on the site, and many tours are offered each year including to local schools and to all veg bag customers at an annual Open Day.
SPEAKER PROFILE: Huw Evans set up Sheffield Organic Growers in 2010 on 12 acres of grassland. It now provides a home for 6 businesses run by different growers, supplying fruit, vegetables, salads, flowers and fruit trees. Much of the produce is packed on site and delivered to customers in weekly bags and the rest is sold locally to other businesses. The site area has now increased to 20 acres and has quite well-developed infrastructure, but is still completely off-grid. There is a small 'care farm' project on the site, and many tours are offered each year including to local schools and to all veg bag customers at an annual Open Day.
TALK OUTLINE: From Pasture to Productive Orchard. This talk will describe the design and development of 'Hazelhurst Fruitery', the three acre orchard at Sheffield Organic Growers. Covering soil survey and orchard design choices, selection of varieties of apple, pear and plum, dealing with pests and diseases organically, encouraging wildlife, ongoing regular maintenance tasks and harvesting, storage and sale of fruit into local markets. The orchard is now successfully in full production, but not all of our original decisions were the right ones!