In eastern Kentucky, we are seeing a decline orchards and fruit tree operations. As a result of this, a lot of locally produced apples are going away, as well as heirloom varieties. One solution to the preservation of these is grafting new trees. Hopefully as a result, the public will grow interest in growing fruits of there own as well.

The Lawrence County Cooperative Extension Office has provided a yearly tree grafting class for some years now. We provided 4 different disease resistant apple varieties, of which two were heirlooms. Participants were able to pick which trees they wanted, and graft as many as they wanted. They were taught proper care, differences in rootstocks, varieties, and more. Everyone left prepared to start there own backyard orchard, or add additions to there existing crop.

There were 18 participants at this particular workshop. Of those 18, around 50% had 5 trees or less. 25% of the audience were youth. 6 out of the 18 total had also attended last years grafting class. More then half of the group decided they would come back next year. With these additional trees being planted every year, we hope to see a preservation of Appalachian tree growing. I hope that the youth have been impacted as well and will ensure this for years to come.