Putnam County Master Gardeners Fruit Tree Fundraiser

For Immediate Release;

Chuck Talbott

WVU Extension Agent for Putnam County

3389 Winfield Road

Winfield , WV 25213

304-586-0217

Chuck.Talbott@mail.wvu.edu

Master Gardeners to Conduct Fruit Tree Fundraiser

The Putnam County Master Gardeners are conducting a Fruit Tree Fundraiser during the month of January and February.  The public is invited to place their order for trees from Adams County Nursery, Inc. in PA with a bulk order placed by the local Master Gardener program.  Order early as some trees run out early.  Pending on the total number of trees that the group orders, typical savings per tree (when ordering 100 trees or more) are $18/tree for apple and pear varieties and approximately $17/tree for peach, plum and cherry trees.  Last year we ordered 150 trees and trees averaged $12-$15 per tree.  Orders and payments must be received by February 28^th.  Price breaks, premium charges, disease resistant varieties, rootstocks and pollination considerations are located at the company’s website (http://www.acnursery.com/acn_trees.php).  A limited number of catalogues are available at the WVU Putnam County Extension Office.  A $22 donation to the Putnam County Master Gardeners will be collected for each individual order; payment includes tree wraps.  To place an order or for further questions call Town and Country Supply (Rock Branch) (304) 755-3520. 

Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status.

WVSU Extension Service Hosting Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Service will present a workshop to help landowners properly maintain fruit trees Tuesday, March 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rebecca Street Orchard in Charleston. Pre-registration is required, along with a $5 registration fee.

“This workshop will focus on the pruning of fruit trees and the traditional methods of how to properly care for and maintain them,” said WVSU Extension Agent Brad Cochran, who will present the workshop along with Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurs (SAGE).

Designed for all experience levels, the workshop will focus on all aspects of fruit tree care and upkeep. Instruction will be followed by a hands-on demonstration of proper pruning.

SAGE is a farmer-training program that teaches participants how to grow large amounts of sustainable produce in urban spaces. WVSU Extension Service and SAGE, along with several others, have been collaborating on garden activities and implementation practices at the Rebecca Street site since last year, including installation of a high tunnel season-extending system last week.

To register, contact Cochran at (304) 541-3301 or bcochran2@wvstateu.edu.

The orchard is located on Rebecca St., between Kemp Ave. and 6th Ave. on Charleston’s West Side.