Customer Reviews

The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist (Chelsea Green's Master Grower Gardening Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a budding backyard orchardist, I found this book to be very practical and a thoroughly enjoyable read - although I hasten to add that family farm commercial growers should find it invaluable. The book is a highly authentic testament that packs years of wisdom, written by a "man on the ground" with a generous spirit and a desire to share. Michael Phillips is an apple guy. He is particularly good at revealing the delicate balance between organic approaches to farming and the financial realities of being a farmer. Although the book includes plenty of hard-tack technical information, it is also anecdotal and thoughtful. Great bibliography and resource section at the back of the book.

The Apple Grower is, foremost, a guide to orcharding. It is not, and is not sold as, a how-to manual. Phillips clearly explains his experiences with organic orcharding and offers innumerable tips on managing, marketing, and maintaining an organic orchard. He covers the topics in a nicely organized and logical manner -- from selecting land for the orchard, to planting, care, and marketing of the product. At first, I lamented the lack of very specific and concise how-to information. However, as you read the book as a whole, you realize that you are learning far more than a simple how-to book. Phillips becomes almost an experienced mentor and gives real insight into why things work and the ramifications of practical actions. Phillips makes it clear that there will be bad times and that organic orcharding requires work. The rewards, however, are clear.

Phillips has a very engaging writing style and uses relavant anecdotes to underscore important points. The Story of Babs (pp148-149), one of the mini-anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book, is one of the funniest short stories I have read in quite a while.

In all, this is a good practical guide written by an experienced orchardist.

A great book on small orchard management. It is especially helpful for a person interested in growing apples for the first time. The book guides you through orchard planning, care, pest control as well as marketing strategies for the small orchardist.

Most gardening books tend to be fairly dry, with step-by-step instructions, lots of tables, etc. This book is the opposite. This book reads like a long story told by the fire which happens to be about serious apple orcharding. And maybe a bit like a sermon, but I mean that in a good way, not preachy. Those with wisdom should impart it. After reading so many impersonal gardening books, this one is a breath of fresh air and reminds me why I love gardening.

Even though the book is not facts-in-your-face, it does impart an incredible amount of information. But, you need to re-read since the information you need may be buried in that story somewhere. There are a couple places where more tables and diagrams could have helped. The chapter on pest and disease control for instance could have used a problem --> solution kind of table. This chapter also was over my head in spots, almost like he switched to telling his story to another seasoned organic orchardist and not a beginner like me.

The book really does impart wisdom about orcharding. Stories can contain subtle shades of grey you just can't cram into a table. Mistakes will happen, but after reading this book they won't seem quite so painful. In that sense it is invaluable.

The book is more directed at the commercial organic orchardist, and I am a home orchadist. At first I was a little annoyed at having to read about the commercial aspects, but after awhile the story got so good that I was enjoying those parts just as much as the stuff I needed to know. Also, he does direct some comments at the home orchardist. I expect I will be re-reading this book many times over the years.

This is an excellent book for the innovative commercial orchardist or backyard grower. Phillips explains the concepts behind various approaches to pest control and fruit tree management. The sections on marketing are some of the best I've ever seen for any crop.

In (old) England where I live we are losing our orchards, especially small family ones, as the apple trade looks overseas to places with low wages, constant sunshine and scant environmental controls. Michael's book was a relief!

As a small grower, I have collected many apple books over the years. Some are purely instructional, some dreamy/inspirational, the ones I like best are both. This is one of that sort.

There is a good mixture of basic science simply explained, apple history and culture, storytelling, how-to plant, graft, prune and grow apples and do peripherals like cider, vinegar and preserves plus helpful tips on small scale local marketing. The whole thing is wrapped together with a delightful humanity and a good number of pictures, diagrams and quotes from the literature of the apple. Also many references at the back on the book although these are all American, forgiveable in an American book I suppose. There isn't a British book like this although I would recommend the new "Apples-a field guide" by Michael Clarke for the English grower, ISBN1-873580-57-6.

I try to grow apples with as little pesticide as possible but find it impossible to do without. Michael is organic, but does not dismiss growers who feel the need to use some pesticide in the desultory and unhelpful way of some zealots. His philosophy is generous.

Anyone who loves the dream of the apple and wants to join in the green conspiracy against the global industry that wants to manage what we eat for maximum profits without regard to taste, heritage or planet should read this.

This is probably a "must-buy" for anyone interested in organic orcharding. However, think of it as more a philosophical treatise than a technical document. You'll need to search ag extension websites (Cornell's in particular) for real concrete information. Phillips' writing frequently sacrifices clarity for a bohemian twang. That's his style, which is great, but I find myself reading certain passages 2-3x to figure out what he means to say. I also turn elsewhere for truly "USABLE" information on managing the orchard... In the end, I'd spend the money on attending a conference where Phillips is presenting rather than on his book. That said, if you want a good philosophical read that gives a general overview of the orchard process, here you got it. It's great in the "orchard library," but just know what you're buying.

This is the best orchard book I have read. If you have inherited some old apple trees (as we did) or are planning on adding apple trees to your garden/orchard (as we are), you must read this book. Even if you have one tree. Its the kind of really specific, helpful information that every new orchardist is dying for. I think experienced orchardists who are looking to transition to organic practices will find this helpful as well. And this book is well written, VERY well laid out and fun to read. I read it cover to cover, even the footnotes. (The section on orchard chores broken down by season and fruit stage is SO useful!) Thank goodness for this book!

I could not put the book down. It reads more like a conversation between friends than a step-by-step how to. The author is present several schools of thought on organic farming and encourages others to try different approaches. A goldmine of information, it is comprehensive in its treatment of the organic apple growing. I highly recommend it to any one interested in raising apple trees for fun or profit.