Episode 173: Growing a Food Community: Insights from Susan Poizner on Fruit Tree Care and Community Orchards

About this episode

Susan Poizner discusses her insights on fruit tree care and the role of community orchards in promoting food resilience.

In this episode, Susan Poizner shares her journey into urban orchards, emphasizing the importance of understanding and caring for fruit trees. Her insights are especially valuable for community groups, schools, and individuals committed to food resilience and ecological harmony. Key Topics The crucial minimums needed to keep fruit trees healthy and productive How to select climate-appropriate fruit trees and the importance of native and disease-resistant cultivars The role of community orchards in building sustainable food systems Community-driven strategies for orchard maintenance, pest management, and soil health Practical tips for planting, spacing, and protecting young trees The emotional and ecological bonding with trees as living beings How to integrate food growing into small spaces, urban environments, and large properties The legacy aspect of perennial trees and their role in family and community traditions The influence of rootstocks—dwarf vs. full-size and their implications for care Strategies for pest and disease control using organic methods like dormant sprays Susan Poizner’s Resources & Links Susan Poizner’s Website Growing Urban Orchards Book Designing a…

People in this episode

Host: Kody Hanner

Guest: Susan Poizner

Topics covered

• fruit tree care
• community orchards
• food resilience
• ecological harmony
• urban gardening
• sustainable food systems

Keywords

• fruit trees
• community gardening
• pest management
• soil health
• urban orchards
• native cultivars
• organic methods

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Orchard Conversations, Homestead Education Curriculum

Products: Growing Urban Orchards Book, Fruit Tree Grafting Book, Organic Dormant Sprays

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