The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist (Chelsea Green's Master Grower Gardening Series) [Paperback]

I confess to being slightly biased since like Michael (with whom I have corresponded) I am a middle aged man with a beard and some dreams who manages a small apple orchard in Hampshire. His orchard in in New Hampshire, New England, mine is in Old Hampshire, Old England.

I am currently re-reading this book towards the end of my own apple season, comparing his advice with what I have just been doing. The book checks out for practical and sound advice. Some books on fruit growing (and other subjects) show signs to the knowing of having been largely cut and pasted and processed from earlier books-this one is evidently written from experience. It stands out in my large collection of books about fruit growing for Michael's very personal approach which is organic in the broadest sense of the word (yet not despising growers who feel the need to use some agrochemicals). He does not claim to have the last word on anything but sees the job of growing organic apples as work in progress, best done in partnership and community. there are lots of mentions of and stories about other small growers.

The contents are a happy mixture of autobiography, poetry and philosphy, with much wisdom from a range of (mostly American) sources, and the intensely practical including lots of critical little details. For example we hear how to manage an apple tripod picking ladder and picking bucket at harvest time, how to manage the production values of juice and cider, grading and storing fruit, organic pest and disease management, the benefits and drawbacks of important New England apple varieties and fine details of customer-centred small scale marketing. And much more. I think the balance between practical advice and dreams and storytelling is just right, with an emphasis on how-to practicality.

As a small scale grower and seller of heritage (heirloom) apples myself, I can vouch for the practicality of Michael's advice, and I entirely sympathise with his human-scale philosophical approach although I do use some chemical pesticides. As a lover of small orchards and seasonal and regional apple varieties, and a dissident from the globalised commodity food system that seeks to bar-code and silicon chip every one of us, I wouldn't be without this book. Every American apple grower would profit from it, and serious non-US English reading growers will also benefit, even if they only have 3 or 4 backyard trees. However, a lot of what is written here is specific to the New England apple scene, although at least 2 thirds of it will happily cross the Atlantic, including the philosophy and most of the practical tree management advice.

There are also many agreeable woodcuts, photos and drawings here. A homespun, warm and wise book which chronicles one family (and some friend's) best attempts to develop a small acreage fruit farm. I wish there was a contemporary book like this written by an English orchardist.

I know there is a large and growing desire for apple growing information out there from the comments and questions I get on my YouTube channel, and since the RHS regrettable decision to cease production of 'The Fruit Garden Displayed' there is no clear 'the best book to buy' for the aspiring apple grower.

The Apple Grower is quite focussed on the semi-profesional grower with 50 or more trees who wants to sell fruit and fruit products rather than the backyard grower, and doesn't replace the sadly lamented Fruit Garden Displayed. I can't very readily recommend it as the first or only book for a fruit tree beginner to buy, but for anyone with a few trees who wants to grow a few more and sell some, especially if keen on the organic approach, this book fills a niche. Its a nice enough read anyway.