Encore: Agroecology, Apples and Sustainable Systems with Horticultural Historian Eliza Greenman

This episode was originally aired March 25, 2022

Join this "fruitful" and enlightening conversation with tree crops specialist, horticultural historian and agroforestry practitioner Eliza Greenman as she explains the evolution of the apple, horticultural tree crop history and shares her love for fruit exploring. A creator of niche products, Eliza is passionate owner of charcuterie company, HogTree, and is working towards the goal of creating orchard systems that function symbiotically with livestock to replace costly livestock feed. After a time pruning apple trees on an island off the coast of Maine, paired with her time abroad in Germany in apprenticeship with an apple grower and a formative research trip to Asia, the homeland of fruits and nuts, Eliza found her calling and became single- mindedly obsessed with apples. Now she is an advocate for natural wildlife practices and indigenous systems, stressing the importance of eating in season and shying away from global commodities. The conversation includes various types of fruit and nut trees such as pawpaws, mulberry trees, hickory walnuts, acorns, autumn olive and the infamous Bradford Pear, exploring all the ways these beautiful gifts can be nurtured and enjoyed. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• Agroforestry 
• Agroecology
• Permaculture 
• Food Forests 
• Perennials 
• Fruit and Nut Trees 
• Bradford Pear 
• Red Delicious 
• Fire Blight 
• Heart Rot 
• Pollarding
• Autumn Olive
• Silvopasture agroforestry 

Resources Mentioned: 

• US Apple - Lobbying 
• Back River Market 
• “Of New York” Series - Catalog of Fruit Varieties 
• The National Soil Fertility League 
• North American Fruit Explorers - NAFEX 
• John Bunker, Fedco Trees
• Francis Fenton 
• Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. These systems are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources. 
• Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/silvopasture.php 

Guest Info

• Connect with Eliza at elizaapples.com 
• HogTree charcuterie company 
• Fruit and Fodder 
• Instagram @elizaapples 

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Original music by John Kingsley.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray