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[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

Ceely,   We are fruit explorers.........don't let anyone tell you what is impossible or what you can't do.  There are many of us here that have done what we were told was impossible.  Back in 1990 they told my father-in-law he was crazy for buying a corn and soybean farm and planting apple and peach trees in Harvard, IL.... 2 hours from the nearest major metropolitan area.  Well.......almost 20 years later we have a multi-million dollar operation, that started with a few apple and peach trees.  We are doing what you hope to do, so feel free to contact me at any time about starting an "agritainment" business.   Now, about your varieties.  We have great success with Liberty, but did not do well with more antique varieties.  My recommendation would be to focus on those varieties with proven success when it comes to the public to build some capital and only plant a few of the varieties you mention.  Then you can expand into the other varieties later if you like.   I would try to contact other Oregon growers outside of the northwestern part of the state to see what grows well for them.  You can find a list of these growers at http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/or02.htm.  You might consider contacting Kimberly Orchards who has been growing fruit trees along the fertile banks of the North Fork of the John Day River, in Kimberly, Oregon.  They grow:

Earli Blaze Earli Gold Golden Delicious Gravenstein Akane Braeburn Criterion Empire Fuji Gala Granny Smith Jonagold Pink Lady Red Delicious   These are just a few thoughts I had, so I thought I would pass them along.    Dennis Norton Royal Oak Farm Orchard Office (815) 648-4467 Mobile (815) 228-2174 Fax (609) 228-2174 http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com http://www.revivalhymn.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Ceely Will To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 12:25 PM Subject: [NAFEX] coastal oregon fruit growing  I live on the southern Oregon coast about 1/2 a mile inland.  I am USDA zone 9 and sunset zone 5.  I planted a small orchard this spring and would like advice on what grows well here.  The annual temperatures are normally between 30 F and 70F.  Northwest winds of 5-20 miles per hour are pretty much constant all spring and summer.  I am planting a windbreak for the orchard- does anyone know how to germinate filbert seeds?     I planted Libery, Gravenstein, and King apples along with Seneca, Italian and Beauty plums, Lapins and Rainer cherries, Rescue and Blake's Pride pears, Starfire peach, and five differnt varities of blueberrys.  I also grafted 15 differnt heirloom apple varities on M27 rootstock and ordered a few more grafted onto MARK.    I would like to find some way to develop a small commerial direct to consumer fruit orchard on my property and sell the produce at farmer's markets and the like.  I've been talking to the extension agents about commercial blueberry production and reading WSU Mt. Vernon's varitey trials.  I have tried talking to the nearest commerical fruit tree extension agent in the state and was basically told that my idea is impossible.  Is there any success to be had selling varities like Hudson's Golden Gem, Ashmead's Kernal, William's Pride, Wyoonce Early, Melrose, Spitzenburg, Libery and other either disease resistant or heirloom apples directly to consumers.   I'm sorry for how long winded this is but I have a TON of questions. Thanks, Ceely Will  Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out.