If you want to know how to make cider on anything larger than a small domestic scale then you need to start with a good supply of apples and the best way is to plant or manage an orchard. So a prerequiste skill to cider making is cider orchard management and tree husbandry. You can learn a lot by watching “how to” videos on youTube but nothing beats a bit of hands on practice and live question and answers with the experts, so we bring notice of a series of workshops in Somerset for 2011:
Orchard Ground Force (the sister company of The Orchard Pig – Award Winning Real Cider & Apple Juice producer from Somerset) will be offering Pruning & Planting Workshops at West Bradley Orchards, Somerset in early 2011.
These are for anyone who wants to restore neglected trees, or to learn how to increase the yield of the trees they already have. The workshops will also be talking about planting new orchards and explaining how to go about it.
Workshops are a full day, with the morning being devoted to classroom-based learning, then lunch (included) and the afternoon being spent in the orchard for hands-on tuition.
Workshop dates for 2011 are as follows:
January 13, 20, 27
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
The final three dates in March will concentrate more on planting.Fees: £50 inc refreshments and lunch.
For more information visit Orchard Ground Force Blog:
http://orchardgroundforce.blogspot.com/
Or download brochure:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5724632/Pruning%20brochure2%20%281%29.pdfAlternatively call 01458 851222 and speak to Neil Macdonald.
Spaces are limited, so please do book early to avoid disappointment.