South Sound Fruit Society

Sunday, September 28th, 11 am, SSFS is hosting a tour of the 3 Dog Cider and Brewstillery orchard, with a tasting afterward. (Each person will pay for their own tasting.)

Description: “Year round tap room located in a barn built in 1932. We pour our exclusive, handcrafted, single varietal ciders by the glass, bottle, and flights. We have an estate cidery that consists of 300 trees we grafted from 67 different varieties, including “lost apples” from the lost apple project and heirloom apples.

Come sip either in the outside tasting area with views to Mt Rainier or come inside and enjoy the barn’s warmth and architecture.”

The plan is to meet at the brewery at 11 am, and drive to the orchard nearby. After the orchard tour, you’re invited to drive back to the brewery tasting room, located at:
2040 US Hwy-12
Ethel, WA
98542

Jerry: “We recently retired from the poultry business. Jerry’s new passion is raising fruit.
Come visit and discuss how we can raise fruit with less mistakes.
Let’s learn from each other.”

Location: 7429 85TH LN SE, Olympia, WA 98513

Microbiology and Plant Health video: The way nature has always done it.
Hand out: Sean Wood: Microbiology and Plant Health (pdf)
Hand out: Microbial Solutions for Gardeners (pdf)

Plants have evolved and partnered with microbiology for millions of years. Together, they form a supportive community for one another. Plants feed the microbes though photosynthesis, and in return, they acquire nutrients from the soil and air. Microbes also stimulate the plant’s immune system, suppress pests and diseases, and even connect plants so they can communicate with one another.
Microbes are also vital to human health, so let’s talk about how to improve the health of the food we grow, while simultaneously improving our own health.
Sean Wood is an avid gardener with over 20 years of experience in multiple horticultural fields. His recent focus is on microbiology and it’s impact on plant and human health. Join us for an exciting look at the secret world of microbes and how they are the key to a healthy and sustainable future.

View video on the SSFS YouTube channel.

Michael spoke about his 45 years of experience on growing fruit and nut trees in Western WA. Emphasis on those crops that have been most successful, with best potential for commercial as well as for homeowner’s use. Some featured plants included Mulberry, Kiwi Berry, Elderberry, Asian Pear, and Chestnuts. He also discussed experiences with other minor and unusual fruits and nuts.
View video on the SSFS YouTube channel.

We were pleased to welcome Marisha Auerbach as our speaker.
View video of Marisha’s talk.

Our next meeting is TODAY, September 5, 2023, at 7 pm, via Zoom only.

Location:  only on Zoom

Topic:  Resurrecting an Historic Orchard in Mason County

The pear trees in an orchard in the city of Shelton, in Mason County, some of which were planted by pioneers David and Frances Shelton, are in danger of dying.  SSFS has just begun a project to take scion cuttings of these old trees, graft them onto new rootstock, and plant them at nearby Pioneer School District’s campus.  Explore the reasons to save these species and other historic orchards in Mason County and what SSFS is contributing to the process. 

As always, we encourage members to bring their fruit-related questions to share at the meeting.

Zoom Link:  South Sound Fruit Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Time: Sep 5, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 7 pm, in person at GRuB and via Zoom. 

You are welcome to join us at 6:30 pm for casual conversation and questions about fruit!

Location:  GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty)

                  2016 Elliott Ave NW

                  Olympia, WA 98502

Our presentation topic will be about Quince fruit from Laura Sweeney (from Raintree Nursery and LaCamas Creek Farm)

Zoom:

South Sound Fruit Society’s Zoom Meeting

Time: Aug 1, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 879 2571 1701

Passcode: 063989

June 6, 2023: Topic: “Soils for Orchards and Fruit“
Presented by Stephen Bramwell
WSU Thurston County Extension Director
PDF of Soils for Orchards and Fruit
PDF of Orchard Fertility Management – May 2018

April 4, 2023: Topic: “Get to Know Your Mason Bees“
Presented by Mary Dessel
Mason County Master Gardener
PDF of Get to Know Your Mason Bees

March 7, 2023: Topic: “Permaculture and Food Forests in the Pacific Northwest with Emphasis on Fruit“
Presented by Marisha Auerbach
Instructor in Permaculture, Oregon State U.
PDF of Permaculture and Food Forests in the Pacific Northwest

The next meeting of South Sound Fruit Society is Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 7 pm, via Zoom.  

Our topic will be Get to Know Your Mason Bees, presented by Mary Dessel. 

Mary Dessel is a Mason County Master Gardener. She chairs the outreach and educational committees. She is very passionate about pollinators, in particular bees. Mary has completed a Master’s degree in Forestry with an emphasis in entomology and worked for 10 years as a park naturalist in the Hoh Rain Forest of Olympic National Park.

Topic: Get to Know Your Mason Bees

Time: Apr 4, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 853 5929 6803