Community Horticulture and Cider Making

 Volunteers for this project participate between 6 and 8 hours each month between mid January and late October. This commitment may vary with seasons and weather though we are continually attempting to use methods or technology that reduces the time required to complete our tasks. An important aspect of this project, is that the activities coincide with both the seasonal cycles of tree growth and fruiting, and the (repetitive) life cycles of pest and predator insects. What this means for volunteers and the project tasks, is that we must complete each task in sequence and at the correct time in order to obtain desired results.  This also means that we plan classroom instruction and fall pruning during the early evening hours, and we plan spraying for pests in the early morning, when the winds are quiet.  We use organically approved pesticide treatments and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods. We have not used chemical pesticides. Instead, we apply two different types of insecticidal bacterium (targeting caterpillar larva of the fruit pests). These products are labeled as "Acceptable for use on edible plants up to the day of harvest."  A portion of the CHCM volunteer training includes the use of protective clothing, safety equipment, and the safe use of hand tools needed for the work. Anyone considering becoming a Volunteer-in-Training for this project will need to be prepared for some regular study of the materials provided, for some strenuous physical activity, and for working in a small team with other people who share these common interests. 

 

The community Horticulture and Cider Making Project represents small scale fruit tree production.

The tree sites are not in orchards (no tractor work), but are in small groves 6 - 20 trees at a site. 

At this time we have enrolled 42 heritage apple trees (75 years and older) that have acclimated

to our climate and soils since the 1850s. Because of that adaptation, the flavor of the fruit is

unique to our region. These trees continue producing fruit. Some apples are known varieties,

others we will need to identify, others are unidentified at this time. This is typical of heritage

apples since tree nurseries only carry a tiny faction of the more than 4,500 estimated varieties

of apples that have been propagated in the United States since the country was founded. Many

of the oldest trees have become unknown varieties, making them a regional treasure that are

even more important to restore. Given all of this perspective, volunteers in training for this

project will embark on a kind of journey, to restore trees and hold secrets of Nevada's founding

history, and a portion of America's culinary legacy.  

 

As CHCM volunteers, we are responsible for pruning, spraying, and providing cultural practices at

tree sites with support and instruction of an ISA (international Society of Arboriculture) certified arborist who consults with  the project. Other site tasks may include raking, mulching, and piling limbs or painting and covering tree trunks, or release Lady Bird Beetles. Project and other volunteers will engage in harvesting the fruit and learning how to make sweet apple cider and how to store whole apples. Volunteers will be responsible for getting themselves to and from sites (carpooling is encouraged). The tools will be transported by the project manager (including ladders, sprayers, pesticides, saws, etc. Volunteers are responsible for their own snacks/water, clothing (including gloves, jackets, boots), health/accident insurance, and first aid (though a First Aid kit will be available on site) There may be other incidentals that volunteers will be responsible to provide but, given it is a pilot project, we will all be learning some of the unknowns together, as we do the work.