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Progress and Development Efficient development hinges on time and cost management. Since it takes about six years for a standard apple tree to produce an apple and around two years for a vine to yield grapes, our priority is planting trees in the ground. Then, while God grows the trees and vines, we can focus on building the home and improving other residential aspects of the project. In order to get the orchard started, we need a pasture (with no stumps), machinery, and animal barriers. Thus far, we have cleared the barnsite, the orchard, and about one tenth of the planned vineyard. We have also surveyed our future homesite. We have also begun clearing hardwoods from the entire lot in order to allow sapling pines to thrive in a less competitive soil. We are actively planning our barn's construction, followed by emplacement of a three-dimensional orchard fenceline. We will plant vegetation in thick hedgerows around the perimeter of the orchard immediately adajacent to a manmade fence. The vegetation will increase the height, depth, and strength of the fence in order to canalize deer and bear away from the planned orchard area. The fence will also condition the animals to use habitual travel lines away from our crop. Later, we can emplace a solar powered electric fence with apple-scented baits so that probing animals learn apple scents are a bad idea. Habitual lines of drift will lead to feed plots to the sides of the orchard so that game trails will reward animals with food alternatives. Once the fence is in place, we will begin planting trees. Once we get at least 50 trees in the ground, we will begin plating vines on the adjacent ridgeline. Should the animal control measures fail, we intend to grow standard-sized trees so that most of the apples will be out of reach of animal foragers. In the fall of 2008, we will begin actively soliciting clients who are in need of apples and grapes. The purpose of this coordination is to gain insight into the types of grapes and apples that are most in demand from potential regional clients in targeted markets. If your business uses apples or grapes and would like to provide input into what kind of fruit you need, please Contact us. |
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