Explore the basics of creating and caring for an abundant and healthy backyard fruit tree orchard suited for our Southern California climate!

Join US in this workshop and together we will:

• Learn hands-on about backyard ecological fruit tree orchard design
• Learn about the step-by step process to start, establish and maintain the orchard
• Gain insights about fruit tree choices suited for your garden, site and soil preparation, planting, irrigation set-up, seasonal pruning, natural disease & pest control and other techniques to ensure the health of your orchard
• Observe and interact with a fully functional ecological and diverse fruit tree orchard at The Ecology Center
• Create a first draft design or plan for your backyard ecological fruit tree orchard

All attendees will receive 1 or 2 informational hand-outs to complement the subjects covered in the workshop, and take home their own free small starter fruit tree!

Southern California’s climate allows for a myriad of fruit tree types to be grown and produce an overflowing abundance of the best tasting fresh organic fruits right in our own backyards. With the appropriate ecological orchard design integration and more than 2 fruit trees adapted to our regional environmental conditions, you got yourself an orchard!

A backyard ecological fruit tree orchard provides many benefits for your home, community and the environment in general. Among other things, here are some of the benefits:

• fresh organic fruits (15-30 lbs of nutrient dense food & medicine per tree every season)
• mulch & shade for the garden (reduced garden water evaporation & irrigation needs)
• shade and cooling for your home (home energy savings)
• absorption of CO2 and other air pollutants
• oxygen production
• no need for chemical pesticides and herbicides
• garden & neighborhood ecosystem biodiversity (community resilience)
• habitat for beneficial native birds, insects and animals (local ecology conservation)
• improved soil water retention and healthy local hydrology (resilience to drought)
• natural therapy & healing (less trips to the doctor)
• reduced trips to and dependency on grocery stores (money savings / independence)
• increased property values

With the right steps, tools and techniques, an ecological backyard fruit tree orchard is easy to start, establish and maintain. Beyond the personal benefits, a backyard fruit tree orchard grower is a promoter and supporter of a healthy, abundant and sustainable future for all!

Instructor: Dr. Doug Hibbard

Instructor Bio: Dr. Doug is a Chiropractic applied Kinesiologist and Certified Permaculture Designer. As an important part of building an urban homestead, he has been growing and testing different fruit tree varieties in his local home orchard in Laguna Niguel for the past 25 years. He brings extensive experience and insight into what it takes to have a flourishing urban orchard in coastal Southern California and beyond.