Fruit Tree Pruning - Moonacres Farm Series, Saturday 20 August
- Duration: 6 Hours (approx.)
- Location: Robertson, NSW
- Product code: Farm
This full-day course is an introduction to fruit tree pruning for improved production. Begin your fruit tree literacy journey with us and learn how to grow and manage healthy trees using industry-best practice, with Olivier Sofo, Farmer and Consultant at Moonacres Farm
What you will learn
· General tree knowledge
· Best tools and equipment to use
· Reading and assessing a tree to confidently make appropriate pruning, fertility and health decisions for your orchard
About Olivier...
Olivier spent 15 years working in restaurants as a chef, including 5 years in France, Italy and the UK. After meeting with biological vignerons in Italy, Olivier’s passion for farming lead him out of the kitchen and into the field. His first pruning job was at Cascina Degli Ulivi, in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, the wine zone of Gavi.
Over the last 13 years, Olivier has worked extensively in organic and biodynamic agriculture in Canada, Australia and Italy. He has managed commercial vegetable farms and fruit tree nurseries as well as run a family vegetable operation with his talented wife, Falani, in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
Olivier has been involved in fruit orchard and olive grove design and set up, as well as tree work from commercial orchard pruning to contract grafting of pomme and stone fruits.
Olivier is passionate about trees; pruning is his favourite winter activity! He is also passionate about teaching and learning and has taught numerous educational courses focused on biological agriculture. He recently moved back to Australia from Canada with his family and is currently consulting and working with Moonacres Farm.
The day will begin at 9:00am for 9:30am at Moonacres School.
Olivier will address a range of concepts/approaches and key learnings in this full-day workshop:
Tree literacy: A holist and reductionist approach. What is a tree and how does it function. Why do we prune?
- Tools, and pruning cuts
- Genetic, Environmental and Agricultural factors that influence fruit production
- Establishing a young tree & pruning an older tree
- Managing biennial fruiting cycles, water and fertility
Olivier will cover all this plus more, as part of our time 'in the classroom' .
There will be breaks for morning tea and time for questions and discussion.
We will sit at our feast table by the fire for lunch then jump on the bus for our field work at Moonacres Farm.
At the Farm
A practical pruning session in the field, with Moonacres fruit trees.
Meet Moonacres Farm Manager James Ashwood and hear about the Moonacres Farm philosophy.
After a walk through the orchard, there will be a pruning demonstration followed by a student pruning activity.
This is a hands-on pruning session where you will put what you have learnt into practice.
We will return to the School for a debrief and wrap up with some afternoon tea and final questions.
Resources and notes from the class will be provided. The day runs from 9.00am to 4pm.
What to Wear
Please wear comfortable, warm clothing with layers
- Gumboots or comfortable boots
- Appropriate clothing for weather
What to Bring
Required equipment:
- Set of loppers/Secateurs (sharpened) - see below
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses (for eye safety)
Optional equipment
- Pull saw
Equipment details
If you have a pair of loppers or secateurs, either/or will be fine - be sure to sharpen them before the class.
See below this link to a local business in Mittagong who are a really great resource. They have very well priced tools and we love to support local small businesses.
https://www.telopiatools.com.au
If you are in the market for a new tool, these are Olivier's 4 recommendations of industry used tools at the low to middle end of the price spectrum.Cutabove 50cm Loppers $49.90
https://www.cutabovetools.com.au/lopper-lightweight-bypass-lopper
Corona 26 inch Bypass loppers with Aluminium Handles $95.00
ARS 48cm or 63cm Bypass loppers $117.00
Barnel 66cm Loppers $125.00
https://www.forestrytools.com.au/products/barnel-or26a-66cm-lopper
