Perennial Fruit and Berry Production in the Temperate Zone

Perennial plants have always played a large role in the human diet and are a very dominant group in natural plant communities. Often the production of these perennial crops are done in monoculture systems without much resemblance to the plant’s native ecology. This course focuses specifically on growing fruits, berries and nuts in the temperate zone for human consumption. Students will learn how to manage soil fertility, establish new plantings and how to maintain plant health through pruning and ecological pests management. The botany and natural history of major crop species will be introduced and used to understand the ecological niche for each plant as part of a polyculture system. Propagation techniques and genetics will also be explored and students will come away with the skills to begin growing their own perennial crops in a home orchard as well as in a small scale commercial system