Interested in learning how to graft apple trees? The Heritage Fruit Tree Project is offering two hands-on grafting workshops on Saturday, March 8th, at the Veterans’ Hall in Cedarville. Sessions will run from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. These workshops are designed to preserve Modoc County’s heritage apple varieties by teaching participants how to graft local scion cuttings onto certified rootstock.
What is Grafting?
Grafting is the process of joining a young branch (a “scion”) from a fruit tree onto a hardy rootstock to create a new tree. Modoc County is home to many heritage orchards with apple trees that have survived for generations despite harsh weather, drought, and pests. These trees, planted by early settlers, continue to thrive with little intervention, making them valuable for future orchardists. Apple trees grown from seed won’t produce the same type of fruit as the parent tree, which makes grafting an essential technique for replicating prized varieties.
What You’ll Get
Participants will work with scions from historic local apple varieties (such as Wolf River, Winter Banana, and Jonathan) which have been growing in Modoc County for over a century. $40 registration fee includes three newly grafted apple trees to take home along with valuable grafting knowledge.
How to Register
Send an email to Kay Antunez de Mayolo or Cathy Carlock at [email protected]. Include your email address, phone number, and preferred session (morning or afternoon). Or you can stop by the Modoc Harvest office in person on Thursdays from 11:30am-5pm. To secure your spot, participants are required to pay the registration fee upfront.
Scholarships for Local Youth
Two slots are available for Modoc County high school students. Interested youth should send an email with their name, contact information, and a brief explanation of why they would like to participate.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn a time-honored skill and help preserve Modoc County’s heritage apple trees!
