May Plant Sale!

The most up to date info for plant availability is HERE

This is Spring 2014 data for reference- many of these varieties (and more) will be available for pre-order and pick up in April – May 2015

 

CHERRIES     NUT TREES     CURRANTS     GOOSEBERRIES     SEA BERRIES     PEACHES     PEARS     BLUEBERRIES     GRAPES     HARDY KIWIS      NITROGEN FIXERS    MAPLES     CRANBERRIES     HONEY BERRIES     HOPS     ASPARAGUS     MEDICINAL HERBS

Please pre-order and read below for details.

Vermont’s oldest Permaculture Research and Education Institute is pleased to announce the details for our annual Nursery Plant Sale!

We’re excited to share some of our favorite Vermont-Proven Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Vines, and Medicinal Herbs, and the results of almost 15 years of breeding, selection and tree crops research here in Northern Vermont.  Our trees are specifically selected to be valuable additions to your yard, garden, or landscape, and intended to be components of diverse

Edible Forest Gardens, Edible Landscaping, Specimen Trees, Windrows/ Hedgerows, Wildlife Corridors, Deer Yards,  Riparian Buffers, Vineyards, and Productive Orchards.

We also offer some of our favorite Medicinal Herbs as Companion Plants and Understory Plantings, and a variety of

 Nitrogen Fixing, Nutrient Accumulating, and Pollinator Feeding support plants.

100% of the Proceeds from this sale further Permaculture Research, Education, and Productive Reforestation for Vermont’s Fields, Farms, and Floodplains- supporting more diverse, resilient, and nourishing tree crop propagation for cold climates.

Willow Crossing Farm is working to demonstrate and spread Climate Resilient, Multi-Generational, Ecologically Regenerative, Carbon-Negative, Income Producing, Nutrient Dense, Valuable Sugar and Lumber Producing, Pollinator Supporting,                     Soil Building, Flood Tolerant Tree Crops for Vermont’s Farms, Yards, Gardens, and Cities.

Plants will be available for pickup Friday May 2, Saturday May 3, Friday May 9, and Saturday May 10.

Please SHARE this with your friends and networks who may be interested!

Some plants will also be available at The Farm Store in Jeffersonville, VT and larger orders are able to be delivered into Burlington.

It is strongly recommended that you Pre-Order plants, as many will sell out.  Some Bare Root plants will only be available during earlier pick up dates, and some of the Medicinal Herbs may not be available until the later dates.

* Asterisks indicate experimental plants for our region- typically, these are plants that can survive Vermont winters, but may not reliably bear crops every season.  Most are suited to the Champlain Valley and some of Vermont’s warmer microclimates, and will be more marginal in colder microclimates.  All are bering grown here in the Lamoille River Valley of Johnson, VT.

Please ask about quantity discounts for orchards, nut groves, vineyards, and working farms.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2014 OFFERINGS:

All plants are in VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES- its best you CONTACT US if you’re coming for anything in particular.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

CHERRIES (few remain):

Kristin Cherry:  1″ caliper diameter, bare root.  Developed in Geneva, NY- Kristin is hardier than most Sweet Cherries, and has withstood temperatures to minus 25°F and below, and is generally considered the hardiest sweet cherry.  Kristin produces abundant, large, dark burgundy fruit with flavorful, firm and juicy flesh.  Best with Lapins or another sweet cherry as a pollinator.  $35

*Lapins Cherry:  5/8” diameter, bare root.  Very large, dark purple, delicious and self-fertile, Lapins is one of the best Cherries available.  From brilliant white blossoms to the dark red fruit to beautiful foliage in fall, this tree provides multi-seaon interest.  Introduced by Dr. Lapins at the Summerland Research Station in British Columbia, Canada, Lapins is a favorite with commercial growers. Lapins is also an easy to grow and very productive variety for the home gardener.  On Colt rootstock- semi-dwarfing (80% of full size ~12-15′).  Colt is adapted to most soils and is hardy, vigorous, productive, and forms a well-branched tree.   $30

PEARS:

“Aurora”: 5/8″ caliper diameter, bare root.  One of the best tasting pears you can grow, Aurora was developed in Geneva, NY and keeps well into December.  $30

“Nijiseiki”  5/8″ caliper diamter, bare root.  One of the most popular Asian Pears, Nijiseiki is a large, crisp, juicy and flavorful, yellowish-green variety. The fruit often found in markets in mesh bags, Nijiseiki ripens in late August into September.  Can pollinate and be pollinated by European Pears.   $30

APPLE:

‘Lodi’ 3/4″ caliper diamter, bare root.  The “early bird” of the orchard. Be the first in your neighborhood to enjoy homemade pies, cider and applesauce. While similar to Yellow Transparent, these apples are larger and keep better. Resistant to powdery mildew. Cold-hardy. Ripens in July.  A licensed vareity of Cornell University.  $40

___________________

NUT TREES

Black Walnut:  2-3′, Bare Root.  A stately ornamental and the most valuable timber tree, Black Walnut grows very well- capable of growing to 100 ft. or more in height, Black Walnut’s broad spreading form is awe inspiring. For timber production, trees should be planted close together or within rings of Black Locust, Sea Berry or other N Fixers to encourage upright growth, straight trunks, and help fertilize the soil.  Black Walnut nuts are rich, flavorful, and nutrient dense- high in beneficial fats, oils, and proteins.  Great for fresh eating and in baked goods. Able to be tapped for syrup.  These 3 year old seedlings are 4-5 ft. in height and well-rooted.  $20

Shagbark Hickory:  3-4′, Bare Root.  A beautiful and interesting tree, the shagbark hickory bears delicious nuts and is valuable to wildlife, serving as a summer roost for VT’s rare bats.  Valuable lumber, firewood, and able to be tapped for syrup.  $25

Butternut: 12’18”, Bare Root.  Lamoille Valley’s native White Walnut.  A beautiful specimen tree, valuable lumber, able to be tapped for syrup, and produces delicious oily nuts.  This species is listed as endangered and most are succumbing to the Butternut Canker- lets plant more and select the survivors!  $20

*Hardy Pecan:  2-3′, Bare Root.  Created by using wild tree germplasm from the Northern-most parent plants found in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan.  Selections are based primarily on the early ripening characteristics.  Trees are surviving well in Northern VT, but may or may not be able to fully ripen their nuts. $25

*Carpathian/ English Walnut:  2-3′, Bare Root.  This is the species of walnut used in commercial walnut production- high quality nuts, thin shelled, full flavored.  We are propagating from zone 4 survivors.  $25

*Manregion Walnut:  4’5′, Bare Root. This hardy form of English Walnut is prized for its large, easy to crack, and delicious nuts. Plant with other J. regia for cross-pollination.  This is highly experimental for northern VT, and is recommend for trials in the Champlain Valley, Southern VT, MA, NH, etc.   $25

Hybrid Hazels:  12-18″, Bare Root.  The parents of our strain of hazelnuts come from breeding programs in Alberta, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and upstate New York.  Our breeding goals include: high yields, pest & disease resistance, suitability for low-input and certified organic conditions.  Our seed is open-pollinated, and selected from the top producing plants in pollen-controlled breeding plots.  Beautiful ornamentally, suitable for hedges, windbreaks, privacy screens, and living snow fence.  Nuts rich in beneficial fats, proteins, and oils.  $15

Jefferson Filbert:  1 gallon pots.  One of the latest selections from Oregon State University, this disease-resistant european filbert bears abundant crops of very large, delicious hazelnuts. Derived from Barcelona, the main commercial variety, Jefferson is even more productive and immune to Eastern Filbert Blight.  Plant with other hazels for cross-pollination.  $20

Seedling American Chestnut: ~18″ Bare Root.

Xanthoceras (Yellowhorn) 3-4′ Bare Root.

___________________

SEA BERRIES 

Sea Berries, or Sea Buckthorn, are a promising new crop for VT.  As fruit-producing Nitrogen Fixing plants, they are also excellent additions to any fruit, nut, or berry planting, literally bringing Nitrogen out of the atmosphere and making it available to plants in the soil.  Bred extensively as a superfood in Russia and Germany, sea berry is increasingly being used in a variety of health foods, juices, hair products, and other supplements.  Hardy to -40º.

Check out our friends and clients: The Vermont Sea Berry Company.   All Varieties: $20

Leikora (F):  2-3′ Bare Root.  Prized for both its fruit and its striking branches, often used in floral displays.  Leikora bears abundant crops of high quality  large, juicy, flavorful, bright orange berries, ripening in early Sept. and remaining on the plant even after heavy frost. 

Radiant™ (F):  1 gallon pots.  A valuable Siberian variety, Radiant™ is prized for its large, juicy and flavorful fruit, which is particularly high in Vitamin C. Radiant™ forms a compact, attractive shrub growing to about 8 ft. in height.  

Russian Orange™ (F):  1 gallon pots.  A particularly attractive, vigorous, and productive, medium-size shrub, Russian Orange™ bears abundant crops of very large, flavorful, dark orange berries. Russian Orange™ also features unusually lush, grayish green slender foliage.

Titan™ (F):  1 gallon pots.  One of our favorites and most popular varieties, Titan™ bears abundant crops of very large, bright orange berries. Very flavorful and aromatic, they make delicious juice and preserves and grow to about 10 ft. in height.  Russian Selection.

Male (M): 1 gallon pots.  An attractive ornamental shrub and important pollinator for the many varieties we offer, our Male is covered with striking large, dark golden-brown flower buds in winter and spring. One Male plant can pollinate up to 8 female plants.

__________________

HARDY KIWI

These attractive, vigorous, disease and pest free vines can quickly cover a wall, fence, arbor, or trellis.  Their delicious, lime-green (and fuzz free) fruit is sweeter and more flavorful than the store-bought Fuzzy Kiwi, and can be eaten like grapes!  Once established, they survive the coldest winters.  All varieties $20, Anna is $15.

Andrey (M): 1 gallon pots.  A super hardy (-40ºF) Eastern Russian male pollinator.

Anna (F):  3.5″ pots.  The most popular variety for commercial production- bearing abundant crops of large, very sweet fruit.

Hardy Red (F):  1 gallon pots.  A unique variety with attractive red-fleshed sweet-tart kiwi berries.

Rossana (F):   1 gallon pots.  An Italian variety, and favorite from our trials.  Good crops of large, red-blushed delicious fruit.

Male (M):  1
gallon pots.

RIBES:

Ribes are all of our currants, gooseberries, and jostaberries.  Some of the best shade-tolerant fruit, all the ribes make excellent understory plantings beneath fruit trees- a traditional pattern in the community gardens throughout Eastern Europe.  They are rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidants, and make for excellent tart fresh fruit, jams, jellies, juices, vines, dried berries, and other preserves.

CURRANTS:

Black Currants:  “Blackdown”, “Consort”, Jostaberry

Red Currants:    “Cherry Red”, “Perfection”

White Currants:  “Blanka”

GOOSEBERRIES: “Captivator” and “Pixwell”

GOJI BERRY:

 “Crimson Star” 1 Gallon Pot.

ARONIA:  

“Nero”  1-2′ Bare Root.

HONEY BERRY:  

“Berry Blue”  2-3′ Bare Root

“Smokey Blue”  2-3′ Bare Root

PAW PAW:

“NC-1”    Deep Pots.

“Pennsylvania Golden”  Deep Pots.

Seedling 

CRANBERRY:

“Pilgrim” 1 Gallon Pots.

ARTICHOKE:

“Green Globe”

GRAPES:

“Concord”, “King of the North”

APPLE:

“Lodi”:     3/4 Diameter bare root

PEACHES:

“Reliance”  3/4 diameter Bare Root.

“Early Red Haven”   3/4 Caliper Diameter Bare Root.

BLUEBERRIES:

“Jersey”

“Berkeley

STRAWBERRIES:

Seascape

HOPS:
“Nugget”

JUNEBERRIES/ SASKATOON:

Saskatoon Serviceberry 2-3′ Bare Root.

NITROGEN FIXERS:

Black Locust

Siberian Pea Shrub

Please check back later as I will continue to update prices and the varieties for Asparagus, Medicinal Herbs, and more!

Please share this email or link to this webpage via your networks!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

June 21-22:  NATURAL BEEKEEPING WORKSHOP!  With SAM COMFORT of Anarchy Apiaries, and a special focus on Native Pollinators.

July 20 – August 1.  Our 7th ANNUAL PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE!

Thanks- look forward to seeing you at the farm this spring!

 

 

 

Nov. 15- Keynote Presentation in NH and Comments for FSMA!

New Hampshire- 2100

Farms for the Future

Ecological Regeneration and Economic Viability for Northeastern Farm Legacy

FRIDAY, November 15, 2013

     6:00 PM    —    Newport, NH

     As the 21 century gets underway, it appears ever more likely that we will face continued challenges and change at an unprecedented rate- likely even greater than experienced during the 20th century.  As we face uncertainty in regards to climate, energy, government, and the global economy- we can fear change, scramble to react, or adapt appropriately and with intention.

Join with professional farm designer Keith Morris to explore how the study of ecology, history, and ecological design can help us act on the tremendous opportunities we have at present to make our farms more resilient, ecologically regenerative, and economically viable with an eye towards healthy communities and a lasting legacy into the future.

We’ll look to a few inspiring examples from here in the northeast and beyond of farms using permaculture to create health and abundance by combining tradition with new crops and techniques- focusing on the intersection of social and ecological health, and caring for future generations.

On Friday, November 15 at 6 pm, you are invited to join us for the 67th Annual Awards Dinner for the Sullivan County Conservation District.  There will be a farm-sourced meal, recognition for stand-out farms and educators, and an opportunity to  weave connections between area veteran farmers, young and new growers/ homesteaders, extension agents, and state and local representatives looking to engage in making a viable agricultural future for the region.

$15 Includes Dinner and Award Ceremony, to make a reservation, please contact Lionel Chute, ASAP

lchute@sullivancountynh.gov

6:00 PM  in the Sugar River Bank Community Room

     10 N. Main St.  in Newport, NH

_______________________________________________________

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT FSMA (the Food Safety Modernization & Safety Act)!?

Comments are due by NOV. 15!

The rules, as currently proposed, have the potential to be very damaging to many farms – especially those who are focused on veggies and fruits, or concerned about Food Sovereignty.

RURAL VERMONT, NOFA VT, UVM EXTENSION,  New England Farmers’ Union, and the VT Agency of Agriculture have pulled together some of the best analysis of what you need to know and what you CAN DO to add your voice to the protest over how these proposed rules could devastate small scale agriculture in the northeast.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR AN AWESOME COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ON HOW TO LEARN MORE AND SUBMIT EFFECTIVE, INFORMED COMMENTS!

_______________________________________________________

We’ll also be presenting with MARK SHEPARD (whose farm is pictured in the flyer above) during this Winter’s NOFA MASS Conference on January 11.

AND with NOFA VT on February 15

_______________________________________________________

LASTLY- Our internationally recognized, farm-based PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE will be held this summer July 20 – August 1, and is already beginning to fill!  Please reserve your space now, and feel free to share course information with potentially interested friends and networks.

Happy Harvest-

Keith and Family

MARK SHEPARD in MONTPELIER, VT

TONIGHT- MARK SHEPARD in MONTPELIER!
7 pm at the UU Church located at 130 Main St.

Mark is one of the nation’s foremost large-scale permaculture and reforestation farmers.

Author of ‘Restoration Agriculture’ will be giving a talk and doing a book signing at 7:00pm TONIGHT Sunday September 22nd. “Restoration Agricultural” explains how we can have all the benefits of natural, perennial ecosystems and create agricultural systems that imitate nature in form and function while still providing food, building, fuel and many other needs. This is a rare opportunity to hear one of the leaders in broad acre sustainable agriculture speak about his experience on 106 acre New Forest Farm in Wisconsin. Donations for rental of the space and gas money will be appreciated, but no one turned away for lack of funds.
Thanks!