About this episode
Learn how to grow fruit trees naturally by leveraging historical knowledge and organic, regenerative, and ecological practices with Lindsay Engers. Lindsay is a horticulturist, lecturer, and founder/owner of Chiltern Heritage Orchards (CHO) in the UK. Lindsay operates his orchard with 3 simple principles: Historical knowledge of reliable cultivars and growing requirements. Organic and regenerative growing techniques which produce highly flavoured, nutritious and pesticide-free crops. Use diverse ecological environmental practices to support the crop through beneficial insects, birds and bats. Lindsay believes this is a very exciting time for agriculture "if you can persuade yourself to forget some of the things you learned in the past, and you open up a little bit to the idea of being a biological grower." The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com . Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books She is also the creator of five-star rated premium online fruit tree care education at: https://learn.orchardpeople.com HOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST The show airs on the last Tuesday of every month on RealityRadio101 at 1:00 PM ET! While it’s no longer live, you can still watch or listen anytime—and catch the recorded podcast anytime afterward. 📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist . 🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs. 🌐 Article: Read the article linked to the show "Growing Fruit Trees Naturally" and find the video and podcast links there too! ✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/ For premium fruit tree care education visit: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/ . FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE: ✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees: https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/ 🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases: https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/ 🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees: https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/ 🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow: https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/ 🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees: https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/ MORE PODCASTS TO EXPLORE WITH RELATED TOPICS: Relationship with trees Know Your Fruit Tree's Name with Jason Adkins, and Brown Turkey Fig Trees in Philly with Erica Smith Fichman Custom Fruit Tree Spray Recipes with John Kempf Why Pests Can't Attack Healthy Plants with Thomas M. Dykstra How Good Bugs Can Protect Your Fruit Trees From Pests with Jessica Walliser and Brian Spencer Growing Perennial Vegetables with Ben Caeser Cover Crops with Christina Currell Bee Garden Design and Fruit Trees with Lorraine Johnson Edible Landscaping & The Use of Animals with Gary and Joel Salatin These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support! (00:00) - Introduction and Overview (00:02) - Defining Natural Fruit Tree Care (00:59) - Interview with Lindsay Engers: Natural Fruit Tree Care (02:40) - Understanding Regenerative Growing (03:11) - Organic vs. Regenerative Agriculture (04:05) - Historical Techniques and Varieties (04:53) - Challenges and Market Realities (06:43) - Nutrient Management and Soil Health (08:09) - The Role of Microbiome in Plant Health (14:57) - Practical Soil Preparation Techniques (21:04) - Managing Grass and Mulching (23:10) - The Benefits of Rock Dust (30:18) - The Plant Health Pyramid and Pest Management (31:38) - The Benefits of Not Spraying (32:15) - Healthy Plants and Pest Resistance (32:48) - The Importance of Covering Soil (35:38) - The Role of Cover Crops (39:14) - Foliar Sprays for Tree Health (45:03) - Grazing Animals in Orchards (48:47) - Deer Protection Strategies (54:46) - Transitioning to Natural Growing Methods (56:37) - Exciting Times for Agriculture (58:56) - Final Thoughts and Resources