Think in the Container for an Orchard

Several years ago I wanted my husband to have something he had wanted a long time - an orchard.

Now I like to garden and he liked an orchard.  Through the years our homes were never located in a good place to make that dream come true.  I had created our backyard into a huge patio.  Then I filled it with garden pots for veggies and flowers.  One day I said to myself - Why not an orchard.  I looked around and could not find anyone that had material on the subject.  Finally I told him - let's just do it anyway.

Wa La!  The beginning of a fun journey. 

Fortunately I decided we needed pictures of the adventure.  The result is this blog and the YouTube videos.  Each year in the Spring the number of people that watch the videos and follow the blog have increased.

Here is the first video.  You can find the others listed on the side bar.

Spring has sprung - consider a Potted Container Orchard for your backyard!  Judy

Just as I was Thinking "Spring Garden" IT SNOWED

Just as I was thinking "Spring Garden" IT SNOWED!

My grandson is playing in the snow in the garden today.  Now this is March 13.  Usually it is raining.  I always start "wanting to plant" about now.  Western Washington State has a rule - Do not plant before Mother's Day....that is 2 months away.  I know though it will not be long before radishes, spinach and kale can be planted.

I notice at a garden center the neatest container garden 4'x4' with the cover for frosts.  I keep looking at my garden and wondering where can I put it.  Room is a premium in the patio garden. 

This year I want my grandson to help Grandma plant a garden for him to nurture, harvest and enjoy.  That is where the 4'x4' container garden would be handy.  Then he would have his and Grandma would have her pots. 

This year the garden will have added features one way or the other.  His slide and tower needs worked into the patio garden as well. 

If you want to see the garden and orchard through the years, here is the link.  You will see why I can't wait to plant!

http://thoughtsfromwisdom.blogspot.com/search/label/Garden

Here is my link to the Winter Garden.  http://thoughtsfromwisdom.blogspot.com/2012/02/gardens-and-orchards-are-for-winter-fun.html

Still wanting the new container garden LOL!  Judy

Gardens and Orchards Are For Winter Fun!

Gardens and Orchards are for Winter Fun!  It seems we only think of the Gardens and Orchards for Spring, Summer and Fall.  Yet, they really are for all year around.  This is the Winter of 2011 but it shows how much fun a Winter Garden and Orchard can be!  Enjoy!  Judy

 

February Is Time to Look at Planting a Potted Orchard

Radom Pictures of the Fall Garden

Here are a few random pictures of the Fall Garden.



It is the middle of October. The apples are getting ripe.

The rest of the garden is settling in for a long winter's nap.

I will miss the warm sunny days of the summer. 

Yet I am already thinking of Spring.  Judy

Fall in the Orchard and Small Garden

 Good Morning to all!

Fall is here in the Puget Sound Region.

  The Cows are enjoying the morning mist fog here.  You might enjoy a previous post about them.  Pastoral Life at Its Best in a Small Garden!

APPLE PICKING

We checked the apples this am again to see
if more were ready.

GRAPE PICKING

The last of the grapes need picking before the critter that has been enjoying them as well eats the last of them. We finally added the netting but he/she still found away around it. 

 

Blueberries and Roses 

     The Blueberries and Roses are still giving a wonderful display and tasty food.

IN THE DARK

Our grandson keeps wanting to play outside in the dark.

We have street lights that help.  All of the other children are inside.  He just needs to be outside though. As I walk around him letting him play, he just cannot let go of summer.  

He wants the sunshine and the fun with friends playing outside.  A neighbor got out of her car and as she walked to her door I said - He just can't let summer go.  She said - All of us wish it would linger longer.  Fortunately he has Halloween to look forward to!

Climate change or just a natural cycle, Western Washington State

did not get the long warm  lingering fall.  Rain and cool weather arrived early. 

Going to enjoy the fall day anyway! Judy



Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men - Orchard Video

This is an update on more garden and orchard videos.  I have the Cherry Trees video [3rd year of the Contain/potted Cherry Trees]  almost finished.  A grandson's birthday on Saturday blew last week away.  Between that and me recovering it has been a slow process. 

I will say the sunshine that finally arrived at 4:30 pm is nice today.  Western Washington State is having a mild summer. 

Hoping to get the videos done by the end of the week!  Judy

Close Up of the Fruit - Cherries, Apples, Pear, Blue Berries and Grapes in the Container Potted Orchard

Cherries

Apples



Pear







Blue Berries

 The fruit is growing every day.





















Grapes are Growing as well!

It is fun watching a Container Potted Orchard Grow!  Judy

Take a Peak at the Container Garden and Orchard

Welcome to the Container Garden - 2011! 

This is a view from the sliding door. 

Ever bearing strawberries are in the "car". 

The row of trees against the fence are the Columnar Apple Trees. 

Blue Berries are in front of the garden building. 

Tree roses are against the building.

This is the Potted Cherry Trees on the right. 

The center is the Seedless Grapes, of course in a 1/2 barrel. 

A Potted Pear Tree is on the right.

More Potted Apple Trees - Columnar and dwarf apple trees. 

Tomatoes in the front. 

Thanks for coming by!  Judy

2nd Year (2010) Potted Fruit Tree Orchard in Contain Gardening

Finally you will find the YouTube Video of the 2nd year of the container garden potted fruit tree orchard. See it on the left column under YouTube Videos.

Enjoy! Judy

More on the Potted Orchard

I have this nice list of activities to share about the Potted Orchard:

1. Create the video of 2010 growth and crop.
2. Create the video of Spring 2011 growth and process of working with the trees.

Now I have the pictures. It is just getting the videos put together for YouTube. Hopefully next week I can actually do this now that I have shared my plan.

Judy

How Did We Do This, Why and What are Our Plans

1. We grew up with families that canned, froze and enjoyed fresh food in the 1950s and 1960s with stories from the depression fresh from Grandparents and Parents. We married in 1965. The Vietnam War stepped into our lives from 1967-1969, In the 1970s we lived in Eastern Washington State. The energy crisis put us into high gear. We lived on a 1/3 of an acre with an orchard. We froze, canned and ate fresh. Then life took us to Miami and Boston. It was difficult to live the prepared life there. We would purchase food once a month to keep a supply on hand. Then we lived 12 years on 40 acres of logged land in a log house with barns and animals [sheep, goats, horses and chickens] in SW Washington. The kids had a great time. Gardening though was not successful. Now we live in an urban neighborhood with a homeowners association. Our neighbors though are younger people with a good sprinkling of military and retired state workers. Some are prepared minded. We view our home as an ‘urban farm’. We do not plan to add animals though. Our goal is to eat fresh in the summer and fall and eventually extend the food season.


2. In 2007 I got the bug to paver the back yard. It is about 1000 sq ft. We put in a 10x20 carriage house [storage building] with a patch of grass and a fountain as a center piece. This way we could actually use and enjoy the “patio/yard”.


3. 2008 put us into high gear on gardening. The first year we just had a great time as you can tell from the videos putting in a huge container garden. We bought a green house, yet to be put up and a 6x8 garden shed. We also increased our long term food storage and a strong 3 month supply. Bought all cars emergency kits. Bought kits and food supplies for our kids (2 sons and their families]. Bought camping equipment, tent , camp stove, etc. for emergencies. The kids thought Mom had gone over the top. After all of the earthquakes lately they are not thinking I am quite so crazy. LOL. We live in earthquake country. Fortunately, we live in the West and people are a little more preparation minded.


4. The year of 2009 was when we put in the orchard, blueberries and grapes. 2009 we bought a 1978 Argosy (made by airstream) travel trailer. As a kid I had seen them. We completely rehab it. We have been recyclers from childhood. Our down fall is technology. We have lots of it and make our living from the Internet teaching online for Universities and a College. [smile]


5. The summer of 2010 we decided we should go to the Airstream Club International Rally in Gillette, Wyoming. We were gone 3 weeks in July. Therefore all we could do was work on saving the orchard. It still produced 30#s of apples. The blog lay quiet. My husband just loves the orchard. I love the garden. The hard part is we have to pay a water bill. We have decided though it is worth the enjoyment and the joy of our fresh food. We are into keeping things in miniature. That is why this yard/patio has been perfect. It turned out that 2010 was a terrible year for the gardens in our area - Western Washington.


6. This year 2011 our plan is to be home and garden. Our grandson just loves the garden, orchard and berries. We eat and eat fresh all summer/fall. At this point we purchase our longer term food storage and 3 month supply items and just eat fresh from the garden. Our plan is to extend the season with a green house. We have had it purchased and approved by the home owner’s association for 2 years. We were working so hard teaching we have not had time. This year we hope to have it up for fall.


7. The blog will continue following our progress in our adventure of an urban “farm” and living a sustainability life in miniature. Judy/Jesse

Dormant Spray for the Potted Orchard

Yesterday my husband was finally able to get the dormant spray on the fruit trees. He has been trying for the last week. It seemed between the sprayer not working and the rain something kept stopping him. We do not use insecticide spray on the trees. Last year we had a good harvest with several pears. This year we plan to pollinate them from a tree in the area that is a old farm pear tree. This way we would get the same or better results from the 1st year. We tried not pollinating last year the the "crop" was low.

Here are some pics of the potted garden as of today:

Early Blueberry -

Columnar Apple Tree -

Bartlett Pear Tree

Enjoy! Judy

How to Plant an Orchard (Fruit Trees) in Pots or Containers - Video

I finally put together the video of establishing an Orchard in Pots in Container Gardening. It takes the process through the steps.



Enjoy! Judy