Winter Fruit Tree Pruning with Olivier Sofo Sunday 28 July

Sunday 28 July

This full-day class is an introduction to fruit tree pruning for improved production. 

Olivier Sofo, farmer and consultant, Living Earth Farm in Young NSW will demonstrate and guide you to build your understanding of general tree knowledge, the best tools and equipment to use and reading and assessing a tree to confidently make appropriate pruning, fertility and health decisions for your orchard.

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 14 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 he runs a market vegetable operation, Living Earth Farm with his talented wife Falani.

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. 

The class will begin at 9:00am for 9:30am at Moonacres School.   Olivier will present the class overview and address tree literacy: a holistic 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 and pruning an older tree and managing biennial fruiting cycles, water and fertility.

After a lunch by the fire at the school, we will head by bus, to Moonacres Farm. Olivier will talk about the farming process at Moonacres and will then walk you through the orchard, undertake 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 with some afternoon tea and Q&A. Resources and notes from the class will be provided and the class will conclude by 4pm.

Once you have confirmed your place in the class, we will send all details of what you will be required to bring on the day.

Olivier and the team at Moonacres school and farm look forward to seeing you soon.