Pruning the Edible Forest Garden March 31

Hands on- Fruit and Nut Tree Pruning

A day long exploration of the science and practice of ecological tree crop management for diverse yields.

Willow Crossing Farm

Johnson, VT

SUNDAY, March 31

Click Here to Register

10 am – 4 pm

Join Tree Farmer Keith Morris for a day of hands-on practice with fruit and nut tree pruning, in a diverse permaculture forest garden setting.  Spend the morning in the large yurt learning the science and ecology of how trees lose limbs and ‘heal’, and explore the deep traditions of how humans beings observe and interact with this phenomenon.

We’ll synthesize a variety of pruning ideas, strategies, and techniques to help you develop your own philosophy, understanding, and confidence to go out and work with trees in your landscape in a regenerative and yielding way.   After lunch and some hot cider we’ll go outside to explore one of VT’s oldest permaculture designed food forests- a reforestation of old pasture and hayfield in the floodplain of the Lamoille River.

We’ll briefly tour ‘Productive Buffers’, wildlife corridors, and stop to work in zones of Plums, Apples, Peaches, Pears, Berries, Vines, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, and more– driven by the group’s interest, and discussing pruning techniques for trees both young and old. We’ll look at and evaluate previous years of pruning decisions and ensuing consequences, and explore some natural tree injuries and healing responses, helping participants to better understand the implications of our pruning decisions over varying periods of time. We’ll finish the day practicing with different tools to cut wood cleanly- with an eye towards maximizing production, fruit quality, ease of future maintenance, and minimizing pest and disease pressure.  We’ll also set the stage for top-working, multi-variety grafting, species changes (i.e.. Peaches on Plum roots), and other forms of propagation.  In preparation for our April 7  Grafting Workshop and Scionwood Exchange We’ll also prune mature, bearing Hazelnuts and manage black locust, walnut, butternut/ buartnut, pecans, and more for nuts, firewood, high-value lumber, succession, aesthetics, and other long-term aims.

We’ll pass around, demonstrate, and allow you to trial favorite tools, including pruners, saws, pole saws, etc.; speak to their selection and maintenance, and discuss hygienic practices to promote orchard health and reduce cross-contamination.

This workshop kicks off our series for 2018!  

Please enter your email in the box on the right hand side of the page, or ‘like’ us on Facebook to get the calendar and details for our other offerings such as:  fruit tree grafting (April 7), nursery plant sale, natural beekeeping workshop, nut production, diverse understory planting, spring development for gravity fed irrigation, natural building, compost heat, season extension, earth oven construction, stone masonry, and more. Our Nursery Plant Sale pre-orders are open now, with plant pick ups scheduled to begin April 23.

Our 2018 Permaculture Design Certification Course will be offered July 22- August 3, and they are filling quickly.  Applications for our Advanced Permaculture Design / Build /Grow / Teach internship, and APDC guided portfolio development will now be accepted on a rolling basis!

Event is $40-60 suggested donation/ sliding scale, including warm or cold cider during lunch and a round of hard cider tasting (21 and over) afterwards.  No one will be refused for lack of funds.

*We are looking for photographers or videographers to help document the event, or create a short educational video.*

Please pre-register, and dress to spend the day outdoors.

REGISTER HERE!

We’ll need your email address if you’re planning on coming because the weather will determine where we’ll have people park.  Feel free to bring your *clean, sterile, and sharp* pruners and saws.

Felco’s F 13s- the pruner of choice for large hands, or thick branches

Keith Morris has been collecting and experimenting with rare fruit and nut trees for 20 years, and teaches ecological design throughout the northeast.  He has worked to help create resilient, diverse, socially just, and economically viable food systems around the world since 1996. Please spread the word to potentially interested friends and networks. Thank you for your support of our work!

Thanks, Keith and Crew Willow Crossing Farm www.willowcrossing.org

For rideshares, conversation, or sharing with facebook friends- please visit the event page here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/270680720016950/

You can view some photos from last years event HERE.

Grafting Workshop and Scionwood Exchange

It’s really starting to feel like SPRING!

Please Join our

7th ANNUAL Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop and Scionwood Exchange!

At Willow Crossing Farm in Johnson, VT

April 7     10am – 2pm     2018

(Thank you for sharing this with potentially interested friends and networks)

Join us for a day of hands-on fruit tree grafting!  We’ll begin the day in the classroom understanding the science of grafting, and practice bench-grafting apples, pears, plums, and other stone fruits.

Everyone will have the opportunity to graft their own trees to take home!

After lunch, we’ll go out and tour grafted and ‘multi-grafted’ fruit trees (including peaches grafted onto plums) and ‘top work’ multiple varieties onto pears, apples, plums, and other stone fruit. We’ll discuss some pruning basics, different grafting strategies for ‘fruit salad trees’, healing damaged trees, reworking new varieties, revitalizing old orchards, enhancing cross-pollination, and space considerations. We’ll also look at and evaluate both successful and failed past grafts.

We’ll contextualize our work in briefly telling some history of our farm and touring our incredibly diverse collection of nuts, berries, vines, nitrogen-fixing plants, and debt-free natural buildings.  We’ll also explore the incredible history of grafting, the range of grafting possibilities, and practice with professional grafting tools which make for more successful grafts by novices and experts alike.

Each attendant will leave with an apple or pear variety of their choosing on semi-dwarf or standard rootstock, or a stone fruit variety of their choosing on native american plum rootstock.

$60 suggested donation sliding scale includes cider and tea, and your own grafted fruit trees to take home. No one will be refused for lack of funds, but everyone must pre-register.

Visit the Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/468266296716690/

Due to the popularity of this event, you must PRE REGISTER HERE. There is a possibility of another event later in April, please send an email to express your interest.
Please RSVP by filling out the registration form and submitting payment via paypal (Keith@ProspectRock.org), Facebook Messenger (easiest), or sending a check to:

‘Prospect Rock Permaculture’

P.O. Box 426

Jeffersonville, VT 05464

We must get your email address from you, as the weather will determine where we park cars. and we will also send you some information about how to best collect scion wood if you want to propagate some favorite fruit trees.

The workshop will be taught by:

Nicko Rubin is the owner of East Hill Tree Farm, where he has been growing and propagating hardy fruits and nuts in the foothills of the Groton Mountains. He completed the master’s program for sustainable landscape design at the Conway School.

Dave Johnson is a timber framer with a passion for fruit trees. His competence with sharp tools and wood translate readily into many successful grafts and a legacy of multi-grafted old wild apples throughout the hills of Vermont.

Keith Morris has been collecting and experimenting with rare fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants since 1996, and is professor of ecological design at the University of Vermont. He’s slowly built his family’s farm debt-free with sweat equity and has contributed to creating resilient and diverse food systems on 5 continents.

Thank you,
Keith
(802) 734-1129

Willow Crossing Farm
Johnson, VT
http://www.WillowCrossing.org

REGISTER NOW for our 11th Annual Permaculture Design Certification Course: July 22 August 3, 2018.  Farm and Nature Immersion!  World Class Ecological Design Education and Portfolio Development for new and experienced practioners.  Full scholarships for income eligible Vermonters.  Available for up to 5 credits through the University of Vermont.

Our Fruit, Nut, Berry, Vine, and Medicinal Plant Sale pre-orders are open now! Plant pick ups begin April 23 and continue through May 22.

2016 Plant Sale!

Glad you found this page!  Here is the descriptions from our 2016 offerings.  Many of these may still be available- so please inquire!

You can find the most up to date list HERE!

Hi Friends!

Apologies, as I know some of you have been waiting for an updated list with this year’s offerings.  It’s here and the plants are ready for pickup!

We’re excited to offer a few new things we’ve been expirimenting with, as well as some proven favorites.

BARE ROOT is a naked tree and wants to be planted as soon as possible, prices are determined by size (diameter caliper or length) and rarity of tree or variety.  Please arrange pickup as soon as possible.

POTS are ONE GALLON and $20 EACH unless otherwise stated.  They would love to be planted into their permanent home sooner than later but can ‘hang out’ for several weeks if necessary.

Please reserve your quantities ASAP, as we imagine most of these will sell out quickly.

Plants are available for pickup BY APPOINTMENT- I will be deriving some plants into Burlington, some are at the farm, some are in cold storage downtown Jeffersonville- so please call or email to confirm availability and arrange a time and the right locationto get your plants.

We will try to hold trees, but without cash in hand there are no guarantees- first come first served, especially with bare root as we want them planted asap.  Feel free to PayPal or Facebook Messenger money for a guaranteed reservation.

CHERRIES (very large and soon to bear):

LAPINS 5/8″ dia. Bare Root Trees $25

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.

NORTHSTAR 5/8″ diam. Bare Root Trees $25

A unique and tasty pie cherry from Minnesota. This self-fertile, naturally dwarf tree bears heavy crops of large, tasty, bright red fruit with red flesh and red juice. Northstar grows to 6-8 ft. in height and is hardy to minus 40°F.

FEIJOA aka PINEAPPLE GUAVA!  Gallon Pots (Acca Sellowiana form. Feijoa Sellowiana)

This sub tropical evergreen with beautiful edible flowers and ‘minty pineapple’ guava fruit is a carefree plant that tolerates freezing down into the teens.  It can be taken indoors as a houseplant for winter months.

BLACK SPANISH FIGS!  1-2′ Bare Root Trees $20 (Ficus Carica)

One of the favorite figs for container culture, this reliable and productive variety bears abundant crops of dark mahogany colored fruit. The very sweet, juicy, and firm fruit is great for fresh eating, preserves, and drying. A naturally dwarf tree can be taken indoors as a houseplant, or stored in a basement or root cellar during dormancy.

________

APPLE PRISCILLA ON M26:  3/4″ Diameter Tree!  Large and ready to bear. $25

You can enjoy growing this virtually disease-free variety and feast on its delicious, red-blushed fruit. A product of a Purdue University breeding program, Priscilla features crisp, sweet and flavorful flesh. Great for fresh eating, Priscilla ripens in early September and can be stored for 3 months or more.

Considered a dwarf rootstock, Apple trees on M-26 typically grow 8-12 ft. in height and are usually spaced 8-12 ft. apart. M-26 induces early bearing, usually in 2-3 years after planting (less with such a large caliper tree at transplant), and grows well in most soils, except very wet and poorly drained ones. On windy sites, trees grafted on M-26 may need staking.

ELDERBERRIES  Gallon Pots $20  A favorite for herbalists, wine making, jam, syrup, battered flowers and beauty and pollinator support- this was one of the most important plants for Native Americans and Colonial Vermonters and is now seeing a resurgence. Elderberries have very high antioxidant levels, they are rated as 14,500 on the ORAC Scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. Blackberries, in contrast, are 5347 on the ORAC scale, and sweet cherries are 3365.) In addition, the particular antioxidants found in elderberries happen to have an antiviral effect.  Our named varieties are best for production.

BOB GORDON:  Bob Gordon Elderberry was found growing wild in 1999 near Osceola, Missouri. the Bob Gordon elderberry produces huge clusters of 1/4 inch berries. Pendulous flower heads prevent birds from getting all the fruit, too! Bob Gordon is unusual as an elderberry, it’s fruit grows on new canes, so can be cut to the ground yearly. This will make a lower (5 to 6 foot tall) easier to harvest plant. Fruit ripens in July.

YORK:  A beautiful ornamental and fruiting shrub, York’s very large clusters of striking, creamy-white flowers are followed by huge crops of large, purplish-black berries and lovely yellow fall color. York’s berries make delicious pies, jelly, and wine.  A favored variety for elderflower and berry production.

BLACK WALNUTS Juglans nigra:  4-5′ tall Bare Root Trees  $25

The most valuable lumber tree in the the northeaster forest, and long-lived producer of delicious nuts. Mature trees can be tapped for syrup, a favorite for silvopasture design. Not recommended near areas where tomatoes or potatoes are grown.

MANREGION WALNUTS Juglans Regia:  4-5′ tall Bare Root Trees $30

The hardiest variety of English Walnuts- the largest, tastiest, and easiest to crack of the family- this tree is experimental in our region.  It does best in deep soils and warm microclimates.

KOREAN PINE NUTS!  One Gallon Pots $20

Finally!  We are able to release some of our favorite trees for an evergreen windbreak- the producers of PINENUTS.  Almost all Pinenuts in the supermarket are Korean Pinenuts grown in China.  A beautiful tree with whorls of dark-green needles, this very hardy Pine is an attractive and stately tree planted singly or in groups. Its large and tasty nuts are gathered in Korea and eastern Russia and are greatly prized for their rich flavor, nutritional value, and high economic worth.

We also have some potted SEA BERRIES (German and Russian Varieties), CURRANTS, GOOSEBERRIES, KIWIS, and more- call for availability Here is a list of some varieties.

(802) 734-1129

Our 9th ANNUAL PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE is almost full!   Join an incredible group of students and the most experienced teaching team in North America for FARM AND WILDERNESS IMMERSION and HANDS ON TRAINING in ECOLOGICAL DESIGN at the longest running permaculture site in Vermont!  Early Bird Rate includes all farm-sourced meals and camping accommodations, expires May 15.

Click HERE for more information!

Thank you for sharing this with your networks and supporting our work to make the world more fruitful and in healthy relation to ecology and each other!

Keith, Family, and crew

Willow Crossing Farm

Nuts for the Northeast at NOFA NH

Nuts for the Northeast- Keith Morris presenting at NOFA NH Saturday, January 30, 2016

Snowy Greetings!

We’ve been taking some time away from the computer- but now that the days are getting longer, our minds are on spring and all of the great things we have in store!

Nuts for the Northeast

NOFA NH Winter Conference

With Keynote by WES JACKSON!!

Rundlett Middle School, 144 South Street, Concord, NH

     Since the dawn of time, nuts have been some of the most important food plants for human beings.  Nut trees and shrubs offer some of the most nutrient dense foods, provide habitat, show the potential for a ‘carbon-negative’ and flood resilient agriculture, and are economically valuable for a variety of products in addition to nuts themselves.

Join with grower and international farm designer Keith Morris to explore the fascinating ecology and mythology of a few nut trees particularly suited to growing on farms and in neighborhoods throughout in the northeast.  We’ll focus of hardy proven nuts, and introduce some of the breeding, trailing, and hybridizing happening at Willow Crossing Farm in Johnson, VT to select for disease resistance, organic production, high quality timber, oils, medicinal properties, and to migrate some important nuts typically grown in warmer regions.  Participants will leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of some trees commonly found in towns and hillsides, and be introduced to promising less common nuts.

Keith Morris is the founder of Willow Crossing Farm and is Professor of Permaculture Design at the University of Vermont.  As a grower, builder, and designer, he has created ecologically regenerative and economically viable food systems in New Zealand, Colorado, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Quebec, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nigeria, Ghana, Denmark, and the Netherlands- working regularly throughout New England and in New York City.  He has spent over 20 years developing permaculture with farms, towns, schools, indigenous peoples, squats, activists, and in solidarity with exploited populations.

Willow Crossing Farm is Vermont’s longest established permaculture research and education facility, and a debt-free ‘financial permaculture’ working family farm.   We host one of the most diverse collections of tree crops in the northeast, offer farm-based dining and educational opportunities to the local communities, and host annual events that attract people from across the country and a surprising variety of international students. We grow a variety of fruits, nuts, berries, and vines in an organic nursery; experiment with new crops, techniques, and regenerative farm infrastructure; manage production to create wildlife refuge and pollinator sanctuary; and have been focused on developing ‘productive buffers’ to reforest floodplain and riverside banks with marketable production.

 

Also- subscribe to our blog (just enter your email above to the right) to receive announcements about Farm Tours and to view our fruit, nut, and medicinal plant collections, view the listing for the Nursery Sale, and other related workshops and conferences.

_____________________________________________________

Medicine Womyn’s Winter Retreat– February 6, 2016  SOLD OUT

In the heart of the winter, we are invited to go deep within and learn different ways to heal and connect with ourselves and our community. Join us for a day of connection, of inspiration, of nourishment, healing and sisterhood.  We will be offering many amazing workshops throughout the day – some based on Botanical medicine aka Plant magick: Aromatherapy, Flower Essence and Herbalism…some based on different types of Art; Fiber arts-Weaving/Felting….some based on Movement and Yoga. There will be Kirtan, music and sacred song. There will be herbal teas, healing broths, yummy foods, and nourishment all day long. This amazing space has saunas that we can use, and hot tubs to soak in…

Stay in touch for more info about the Summer Medicine Womyn’s Summer Retreat August 13-14

1st Annual Medicine Womyn’s Retreat – 2015

_____________________________________________________

Pruning the Forest Garden- February 27, 2016   REGISTER NOW

Hands-on in Vermont’s most diverse collection of Fruits, Nuts, Berries, and Vines!

https://prospectrockpermaculture.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/hands-on-fruit-and-nut-tree-pruning-in-vermonts-most-diverse-orchard-sunday-march-2-2014/

_____________________________________________________

5th Annual Grafting Workshop and Scionwood Exchange- April 2, 2016   REGISTER NOW

Learn how to make more of your favorite apples, plums, peaches, pears, and more- and go home with your own grafted fruit tree!

https://prospectrockpermaculture.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/grafting-workshop-postponed-new-date-tba-asap/

_____________________________________________________

Our 9th Annual Farm and Wilderness Immersion PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE- July 17-29, 2016     REGISTER NOW

An unparalleled learning experience- with the most experienced teaching team in the northeast and beyond!

https://prospectrockpermaculture.wordpress.com/2014-pdc/

_____________________________________________________

FRUIT, NUT, BERRIES, VINES, and MEDICINAL HERB PLANT SALE!  Pre-orders open now, for pick up beginning April 23.

https://prospectrockpermaculture.wordpress.com/2015/05/01/plant-sale-details/

Thank you for reading and sharing with your friends and networks!  Look forward to seeing you.

Best,

Keith and Family

Art Exhibit and Hands-On Wild-Crafted Paints and Paintbrushes with Nick Neddo of ‘The Organic Artist’- May 30

“Hummingbird talks to Bear” by Nick Neddo- with wildcrafted walnut ink and bear fur paintbrush.

We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be offering an opportunity to study and practice the creation of wild-crafted art materials hands-on with Nick Neddo– author of recently published book “The Organic Artist”!

Art Exhibit and Free Public Talk  

Saturday, May 30     7:30 pm 

Wild-Crafted Paints and Paintbrushes

Saturday, May 30     10 am – 4 pm

at Willow Crossing Farm in Johnson, VT

REGISTER HERE

Learn to make paint from stones! We will hunt and gather rocks from the landscape and grind them into powder. From there we process and refine the rock powder into a fine pigment and transform it into paint!

We will also approach the art of making paintbrushes from a variety of angles, using a wide variety of natural materials found on the living landscape.

Some of Nick’s ground stone paints.

Some of Nick’s wildcrafted paintbrushes.

You will also be able to purchase “The Organic Artist” directly from the author, and have him sign your book (with a wildcrafted pen and ink 😉

The workshop is sliding scale- suggested donation $80 with materials provided.  No one will be refused due to lack of funds!  However- space is limited and registration is required regardless.

Wild-Crafted pens made from feathers, reeds, sticks, bamboo, antler, random found twigs made by Nick Neddo. Photo courtesy Quarry Books.

About the Instructor: 

Self-Portrait- Nick Neddo. Wild-Crafted Pens and Berry Inks.

Nick Neddo is a sixth generation Vermonter who has been making art since he could first pick up a crayon. He grew up exploring the wetlands, forests and fields of his bioregion and developed a profound curiosity, respect and love for the community of life around him.

He makes his art supplies from materials that he gathers from the landscape, which is the topic of his new book: The Organic Artist. Nick enjoys clean air, water, food and dirty hands.

As a young teenager Nick identified primary focuses that would become life-long pursuits: study of the natural world, Stone Age technology (popularly known as primitive skills) and creating art. Trusting the inherent value of these skills, he continues to embrace their pursuit with a ravenous appetite fueled by a genuine love of the living world and the creative process. He has traveled the country extensively, visiting the last great wildernesses, seeking traditional skills and experiencing the landscape’s majesty, which are common themes in his artwork.

Nick has been teaching wilderness survival and living skills, tracking, drawing and nature awareness professionally since 2000, although he considers himself a perpetual student. He currently instructs at Roots School in Vermont, as well as other venues. You can find his latest artwork, other creations, and purchase a copy of ‘The Organic Artist” at www.nickneddo.com.

About Willow Crossing Farm:

Willow Crossing Farm is Vermont’s longest running permaculture research and education center.  We are committed to fostering ecologically regenerative culture, and sharing our efforts to meet human needs while increasing ecological health.  We are an entirely community supported, debt-free farm, incredibly diverse tree and medicinal herb nursery, wildlife refuge, and pollinator sanctuary.

__________________________________________________________________

Please SUBSCRIBE to receive relatively infrequent notifications about other similar events by entering your email on the right hand side of the webpage.

You can also follow us on Facebook.

__________________________________________________________________

June 6-7 is our COMPOST TOILET DESIGN BUILD WORKSHOP- email to reserve your space stay tuned for more details.

There is still space in our farm-based Summer Permaculture Design Certification Courses!      Click HERE for more information.

Details for our annual Nursery Plant Sale can be found HERE.

The full calendar of events can be found HERE.

__________________________________________________________________

We are still accepting applications for Internships, Apprenticeships, and looking for a Vegetable Production Partner and Chef.  Opportunities can be found HERE.

‘Swamp Dancers’ by Nick Neddo. Wild-Crafted Cattail Pen, Pine Soot Ink, Cattail Paper

Grafting Workshop / VT Scionwood Exchange March 18

Hi Friends,

Please share this with potentially interested friends and networks. Hope to see you!

Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop and 5th Annual Scionwood Exchange

March 18, 10 am – 4 pm

Willow Crossing Farm
Johnson, VT

Join us for a day of hands-on fruit tree grafting. We’ll begin the day in the classroom understanding the science of grafting, and practice bench-grafting apples, pears, plums, and other stone fruits.

Everyone will have the opportunity to graft their own trees to take home!

After lunch, we’ll go out and tour grafted and ‘multi-grafted’ fruit trees (including peaches grafted onto plums) and ‘top work’ multiple varieties onto pears, apples, plums, and other stone fruit. We’ll discuss some pruning basics, different grafting strategies for ‘fruit salad trees’, healing damaged trees, reworking new varieties, revitalizing old orchards, enhancing cross-pollination, and space considerations. We’ll also look at and evaluate both successful and failed past grafts.

We’ll contextualize our work in briefly telling some history of our farm and touring our incredibly diverse collection of nuts, berries, vines, nitrogen-fixing plants, and regenerative DIY farm infrastructure. We’ll also explore the incredible history of grafting, the range of grafting possibilities, and practice with professional grafting tools which make for more successful grafts by novices and experts alike.

Each attendant will leave with an apple or pear variety of their choosing on semi-dwarf or standard rootstock, or a stone fruit variety of their choosing on native american plum rootstock.

$80 suggested donation sliding scale includes cider and tea, and your own grafted fruit trees to take home. No one will be refused for lack of funds, but everyone must pre-register.

Due to the popularity of this event, you much pre-register. There is a possibility of another event later in March or in April, please send an email to express your interest.
Please RSVP by filling out the registration form and submitting payment via paypal to: Keith@ProspectRock.org, or sending a check to:

‘Prospect Rock Permaculture’

P.O. Box 426

Jeffersonville, VT 05464

We must get your email address from you, as the weather will determine where we park cars. and we will also send you some information about how to best collect scion wood if you want to propagate some favorite fruit trees.

The workshop will be taught by:

Zach Leonard is a master horticulturalist and as been the farm manager of Elmore Roots Nursery for 15 years. He and his family have created High Hopes Farm, a diverse off-grid homestead.

Nicko Rubin is the owner of East Hill Tree Farm, where he has been growing and propagating hardy fruits and nuts in the foothills of the Groton Mountains. He completed the master’s program for sustainable landscape design at the Conway School.

Dave Johnson is a timber framer with a passion for fruit trees. His competence with sharp tools and wood translate readily into many successful grafts and a legacy of multi-grafted old wild apples throughout the hills of Vermont.

Keith Morris has been collecting and experimenting with rare fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants since 1996, and is professor of ecological design at the University of Vermont. He’s slowly built his family’s farm debt-free with sweat-equity and has contributed to creating resilient and diverse food systems on 5 continents.

Thank you,
Keith
(802) 734-1129

Willow Crossing Farm
Johnson, VT
http://www.WillowCrossing.org

As a reminder- only a few spaces remain for our 9th Annual Prospect Rock Permaculture Design Certification Course,  July 17 – July 29, 2016

Our Fruit, Nut, Berry, Vine, and Medicinal Plant Sale pre-orders are open now!  Plant pick ups begin April 23 and continue through May 22.

RISING APPALACHIA in JOHNSON! With Barika, Tenderbellies, Farm Tours, Herb Walks, Yoga

Rising Appalachia with Barika!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Gates 2:30 pm

We are so excited to announce a day long farm-based mini-festival, with special guests; irie food vendors; labyrinth walks; permaculture, wild-crafting, healing arts, yoga, and herbal workshops; and opportunities to connect with various environmental and social justice campaigns.

When: Sunday, August 23.  Gates at 3pm.  Tickets include camping Sunday night and Yoga class Monday morning.

Where:  Willow Crossing Farm.  2780 Route 15 West, Johnson, VT 05656.  Google Maps: “Willow Crossing Farm”.  Beautiful riverside organic venue- an incredible retreat in itself!

Tickets:  $25 in advance, includes camping.  12 and under free- family friendly event.  $20 Student, Activist, Farmer Discount.  $30 Day of Show- discounted tickets must be purchased in advance.  Tickets available by paypal to keith@ProspectRock.org, at the Flynn Theatre Box Office (and online or by phone through Flynn) http://www.flynntix.org/see-description/rising-appalachia/Details?perfNo=12713&perfCodePrefix=OPF16R , at Downtown Pizzeria & Pub in Johnson, VT, and The Farm Store in Jeffersonville, VT.

Facebook event page (for most up to date details, questions, carpools, camping packing list, and other announcements): https://www.facebook.com/events/1633723003574469/

_____________________________

 

Sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith are multi-instrument virtuosos, who grew up in a southern appalachian string band musical tradition and have gone on to create a unique sound blending folk, funk, world music, african polyrhythms, spoken word poetry, and simple, beautiful harmonics.

They are known for headlining music festivals all over the world- but their connections with the Vermont herbalist, organic farming, permaculture, and activist communities brings them to play an intimate show for a few 1000 people on a small family farm in Johnson.

As young buskers, performers, and traveling community activists, they were taken in by legendary Vermont based herbalist and author Rosemary Gladstar and have since embraced medicinal herbalism, and wild plant based supplements- to which they attribute their ability to stay happy, healthy and well adjusted while facing the rigors of the road in an internationally touring musical act.  Their most recent hit song ‘Medicine’ is dedicated to Rosemary and other herbalists.

Slow Music:  Their albums are entirely self-produced and self funded- including crowd-sourced, community-based financing.  Rising Appalachia advocates a “Slow Music Movement” approach to touring – an effort to promote sustainable touring practices and to be immersed in local communities. “It’s an effort to take the glitz and glam out of the music industry and bring performance back to its roots. A place where musicians are not just part of fast-paced entertainment, but instead influence the cultural shift as troubadours, activists, and catalysts of justice,” explains Leah. The ‘Slow Music Movement’ encourages musicians to try out ‘non-industry standard’ ways of bringing music into the world by “linking to local communities and staying with local friends; pursuing alternative venues for performances and supporting local businesses with farm-to-table hospitality; providing local non-profits at each show a platform to display information; exploring alternative methods of travel including train, bike, low impact vehicles, boat, horse, or simply focusing on regional touring; and encouraging concert goers to take in more than just the catharsis of the music.”

 

They’ll be joined by Barika, a Burlington based band which plays traditional Malian (from Mali) music, infused with a funk and psychedelic undertones.  Their latest album was declared by Seven Days to be “among the finest local albums you’ll hear in this, or any other, year. Really.”   Horns, drums, bass and keys compliment the N’Goni- an ancient african form of harpsichord, and predecessor to the american banjo.   N’goni master Craig is a native Vermonter who spent years studying as a percussionist in Africa and now also plays for the Mike Gordon band.

Willow Crossing Farm is Vermont’s longest running permaculture research site- focused on exploring the connections between food, culture, and ecology.  Started in 2000 by Keith Morris, WCF now holds the most diverse collection of tree crops in the northeast, exploring in particular the potential of nuts, fruits, berries, vines, and herbs, to create ‘ecologically regenerative’ and ‘carbon negative’, and flood resilient agricultural systems.  The farm serves as a classroom (and Keith is a professor) for the University of Vemont, Sterling College, St. Michael’s college, the Yestermorrow Design Build School, and other community groups.

Rising Appalachia Website:

http://www.risingappalachia.com

Rising Appalachia Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Appalachia

Barika Website:

http://www.barikamusic.com

Contact:

Keith Morris

keith@ProspectRock.org

(802) 734-1129

Herbal Labyrinth, Sacred Geometry, and Holy Defecation!

Herbal Labyrinth Design and Construction

with the GREEN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF DRUIDRY

at Willow Crossing Farm

JOHNSON, VERMONT

May 24  9 am – 5 pm

Ariadne- Mistress of the Labyrinth

Join us for a day of hands-on practice in the design and construction of a medicinal herbal labyrinth- and explore and practice the history of their sacred use.

with Ivan McBeth and Fearn Lickfield of the Green Mountain School of Druidry

and Kori Gelinas of Willow Crossing Healing Arts and Botanicals

$60. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.  

A full day of learning, practice and co creation of a new 7 circuit herbal labyrinth! Participants will learn the history and mythology of this ancient spiritual tool, as well as the principles of sacred space, earth energies, spirit of place, design and dowsing.

Hands on learning will include dowsing practice, and installation with stone, herbs, wood chips, and compost. We will complete the day with a ceremony of blessing for the Labyrinth.

Today- Saturday will be an open work party day.  Sunday will be be a classroom presentation and hands-on labyrinth design build learning workshop.

To register contact Kori Gelinas:  Kori@WillowCrossing.org

More details and car pools, etc. in the discussion HERE.

____________________________________________________________________

NEXT WEEKEND!  Join Nick Neddo – author of The Organic Artist – for hands-on wildcrafting your own Paint and Paintbrushes!   Details Here

PLANTS FOR SALE!  We still have beautiful berries, fruit trees, nut trees, and more!  Click HERE

JUNE 6-7!    Hands-on Design Build and Classroom/ Studio Study of the GAP MOUNTAIN MOULDERING TOILET  with co-designer (and Gap Mountain Permaculutre Co-Founder) DOUG CLAYTON!  We’ll study and evaluate a wide array of COMPOST TOILET TECHNOLOGY for regenerative use of waste, and full-circle NUTRIENT CYCLING!  More details will be announced very soon.  Call or email to reserve your space in this weekend workshop.

The Gap Mountain Mouldering Privy- Designed by Doug Clayton, drawing and design contributions by Dave Jacke

JOIN OUR PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE!

There are very few spaces remaining in our JUNE 20 – JULY 2  *or*  JULY 10 -31 offerings

FARM-BASED, WILDERNESS IMMERSION, HANDS-ON PRACTICE IN ECOLOGICAL REGENERATION

and FARM SCALE ECOLOGICAL DESIGN!

Develop INDIVIDUAL DESIGNS for your own property or URBAN/ SUBURBAN HOMESTEAD

FOODSHED to APARTMENT PERMACULTURE SCALE

And relish in beautiful RIVERSIDE CAMPING and ALL FARM-SOURCED ORGANIC MEALS

While Learning with NORTH AMERICA’S MOST EXPERIENCED TEACHING TEAM 

REGISTER HERE

Stay tuned and subscribe for details about SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS- FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC as always!

CALL OR EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS.

FULL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR INCOME-ELLIGIBLE VT STATE RESIDENTS.

Fruit and Nut Tree Pruning Workshop- March 15

Hands on- Fruit and Nut Tree Pruning

A day long exploration of the science and practice of ecological tree crop management for diverse yields.

Willow Crossing Farm

Johnson, VT

Sunday, MARCH 15

(Please note- new date!)

10 am – 4 pm

Join VT’s Master Horticulturalist Zach Leonard and Tree Farmer Keith Morris for a day of hands-on practice with fruit and nut tree pruning, in a diverse permaculture forest garden setting.  Spend the morning in the large yurt learning the science and ecology of how trees lose limbs and ‘heal’, and explore the deep traditions of how humans beings observe and interact with this phenomenon.

We’ll synthesize a variety of pruning ideas, strategies, and techniques to help you develop your own philosophy, understanding, and confidence to go out and work with trees in your landscape in a regenerative and yielding way. After lunch and some hot cider we’ll go outside to explore one of VT’s oldest permaculture designed food forests- a reforestation of old pasture and hayfield in the floodplain of the Lamoille River.  We’ll briefly tour ‘Productive Buffers’, wildlife corridors, and stop to work in zones of Plums, Apples, Peaches, Pears, Berries, Vines, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, and more- driven by the group’s interest, and discussing pruning techniques for trees both young and old.

We’ll look at and evaluate previous years of pruning decisions and ensuing consequences, and explore some natural tree injuries and healing responses, helping participants to better understand the implications of our pruning decisions over varying periods of time.

We’ll finish the day practicing with different tools to cut wood cleanly- with an eye towards maximizing production, fruit quality, ease of future maintenance, and minimizing pest and disease pressure.  We’ll also set the stage for top-working, multi-variety grafting, species changes (i.e.. Peaches on Plum roots), and other forms of propagation, in preparation for our March 21 Grafting Workshop and Scionwood Exchange.

We’ll also prune mature, bearing Hazelnuts and manage black locust, walnut, butternut/ buartnut, pecans, and more for nuts, firewood, high-value lumber, succession, aesthetics, and other long-term aims.

We’ll pass around, demonstrate, and allow you to trial favorite tools, including pruners, saws, pole saws, etc.; speak to their selection and maintenance, and discuss hygienic practices to promote orchard health and reduce cross-contamination.

This workshop kicks off our series for 2015!  

Please enter your email in the box on the right hand side of the page, or ‘like’ us on Facebook to get the calendar and details for our other offerings such as:  fruit tree grafting (March 21), nursery plant sale, compost toilet design/ build workshop, natural beekeeping workshop, nut production, diverse understory planting, spring development for gravity fed irrigation, natural building, compost heat, season extension, earth oven construction, stone masonry, and more. Our Plum Flower Festival and Nursery Plant Sale is scheduled for May 3.

Our 2015 Permaculture Design Certification Course will be offered June 20- July 2 OR July 19- 31, and they are filling quickly.

We have full scholarships available to income-elligible Vermont State residents, and are presently fundraising for gender and diversity leadership scholarships for out of state residents- please be in touch if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Applications for our Advanced Permaculture Design / Build /Grow / Teach internship, and APDC guided portfolio development are accepted on a rolling basis.

Event is $60 suggested donation/ sliding scale, including warm or cold cider during lunch and a round of hard cider tasting (21 and over) afterwards.  No one will be refused for lack of funds.

*We are looking for photographers or videographers to help document the event, or create a short educational video.*

Please pre-register, and dress to spend the day outdoors.

REGISTER HERE!

We’ll need your email address if you’re planning on coming because the weather will determine where we’ll have people park.  Feel free to bring your *clean, sterile, and sharp* pruners and saws.

Apple Blossoms at High Hopes Orchard

Zach Leonard is a master horticulturalist and was farm manager of Elmore Roots Nursery for over a decade.  He and his family have created High Hopes Farm, a diverse, off-grid homestead, where they preserve heirloom apples, sheep, and more.  He runs High Hopes Tree Care, Vermont’s most experienced orchard restoration and maintenance service specializing in Organic Management.

Felco’s F 13s- the pruner of choice for large hands, or thick branches

Keith Morris has been collecting and experimenting with rare fruit and nut trees for 14 years, and is professor of ecological design at the University of Vermont.  He has worked to help create resilient, diverse, socially just, and economically viable food systems around the world since 1996. Please spread the word to potentially interested friends and networks. Thank you for your support of our work!

Thanks,

Keith and Crew

Willow Crossing Farm

www.willowcrossing.org

You can view some photos from last years event and share this via social media HERE.

Tonight! Social Permaculture with Lisa DePiano (Weds. July 23)

TONIGHT!

7:30 at Willow Crossing Farm, Johnson, VT

FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC

Farm Sourced Organic Dinner at 6 pm by reservation only.

From designing and installing the greywater system at Occupy Wall Street to co creating one of the first edible forest gardens on public land to piloting the countries only city wide- bike powered trash and recycling coop Lisa DePiano has been innovating what she calls “socially engaged permaculture”. Through story telling and slides come hear her reflect on the last 14 years of applying permaculture to both public and participatory design solutions.

Lisa DePiano is a certified permaculture designer/teacher faculty member for the the University of Massachusetts and a research fellow at the MIT media lab. For the last 14 years she has taught permaculture to hundreds of students in dozens of courses. She  co-founded  the Montview Neighborhood Farm,  one of the first human powered urban-farm and edible forest garden in the country and worked to establish the bicycle powered compost program while riding with the worker-owned collective Pedal People. She received her masters degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts and loves working with communities to create the world they want to live in.  She has studied permaculture with Starhawk, Penny Livingston Stark, and Dave Jacke and has taught all over the U.S including the Menominee Nation,  Homer, AK, New York City, Miami, FL the University of Vermont, University of Massachusetts, and Wesleyan University. She runs the Mobile Design Lab which specializes in participatory permaculture design and installation.

___________________________________________

This is a series of events which will be open to the community over the next few weeks as we host people from all over the country (and world) for our 7th Annual Permaculture Design Certification Course.

We’re so excited to continue of tradition of sharing our most excellent guests and bringing folks in to share in the experience of one of the nation’s most highly regarded Permaculture Courses!

All evening lectures are FREE and start at 7:30, donations to support farm reforestation and ecological regenerations are gratefully accepted and shared with our guests.

ALL ORGANIC FARM-SOURCED DINNER is served at 6 pm, and available by reservation only for a sliding scale fee of $12-20.  We are happy to meet the needs of vegetarians, vegans, wheat intolerant, ethical omnivores, and localvores.

To join us for dinner, please contact Head Chef Emily Wheeler by phone or text message at

(802) 505-8882

For questions or driving directions, please contact Keith@ProspectRock.org or call (802) 734-1129

MONDAY, JULY 28- MEGHAN GIROUX of VERMONT EDIBLE LANDSCAPES

Interested in attending the course?    Next year’s is already beginning to fill!

It will be July 19-31, 2015.

Thanks for SHARING this with your friends, interested networks and listservs, and on social media!

Please ‘like’ us on Facebook, and add your email address on the right hand side of this page to be kept in the loop of other events.