We will be removing deadwood and cutting encroaching vegetation at the Smith Homestead-Metolius orchard on the Deschutes National Forest. The Forest Service is letting us through the gates for the day.
Parking at the far end is limited, so we can only bring two vehicles in. Volunteers must commit ahead of time by RSVPing by email.
The orchard is about a 2 mile hike from where we park. Come ready for a walk with water, snacks, and sturdy shoes. Please bring work gloves, large pruners, and a handsaw if you can.
A ceremony at the Cyrus Orchard celebrating the installation of new interpretive signs at the Cyrus and McCoin historic orchards. Visitors walked among the trees, read the new signs, and tasted the apples.
Volunteers removed deadwood from heritage fruit trees around the Crooked River National Grassland, starting with the Lithgow Springs trees, to help them survive winter snows, then moved on to brush removal at the Cyrus Orchard.
Heritage Apple Corps had a booth at Oregon’s Archaeology Roadshow when it came to the Deschutes Historical Museum, sharing information about Central Oregon’s heritage fruit trees with visitors at the Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave, Bend.
Heritage Apple Corps had a booth at Bend’s annual Earth Day Fair & Parade at Alpenglow Park, sharing information about Central Oregon’s heritage fruit trees and how community members can get involved.
Five-day hands-on workshop at the McCoin and Cyrus historic orchards on the Crooked River National Grassland. Learn to steward heritage fruit trees with expert arborists.
Volunteers gathered at the Cyrus Orchard to remove debris from the orchard floor, daylight under the tree canopy, and remove encroaching sage and juniper.
Volunteers gathered at the Cyrus Orchard to remove debris from the orchard floor, daylight under the tree canopy, and remove encroaching sage and juniper.
Held at McCoin Orchard, this course provided local orchardists, arborists, Forest Service staff, and community members with essential skills to care for historic orchards. Sixteen participants—now known as “The Apple Corps”—pruned a total of 50 trees during the hands-on session. The event also featured a kickoff meeting to begin development of a long-term Orchard Management Plan.
Volunteers gathered at the McCoin Orchard to remove debris from the orchard floor, daylight under the tree canopy, and remove encroaching sage and juniper.
Volunteers gathered at the McCoin Orchard to remove debris from the orchard floor, daylight under the tree canopy, and remove encroaching sage and juniper.
Heritage Apple Corps