winter tree-pruning

Today was the first of three collaborative events between PICA and the Trailer Park. At 10AM, UCSC renowned tree steward Dave Shaw came to the Foundational Roots Garden to lead a winter tree-pruning workshop. After explaining to us the exciting basics of how tree form works, and how pruning ties in, he demonstrated on Johnny-the-Giant apple tree. After the lot of us - Dave Griese, David Saxton, Mike, Sarah, Gulliver, Chris, Andrew, Lyle, Jose, and I don't know who else - were set loose in groups to prune our own trees. Andrew, David, and I pruned the Golden Delicious outside Callum's window. It was very tall! The hardest cut came when we had to prune the leader - David balanced precariously on a stump and, with Andrew spotting him, managed it. Sarah and two others worked on the Granny Smith. Dave Shaw pronounced the Mutsu near the pond as "Aaah!", roughly translated into "unhappy". He doesn't think it will live to produce leaves, although it's trying. He's suggested that it may be diseased.

At some point, Demian showed, and it was on him that the crowning cut depended. Dave wanted to cut back the leader on the prune tree, but (as I can attest) he wasn't quite tall enough to reach the 8-ft crown. So, at my suggestion, he sat on Demian's shoulders and pruned from aloft. It was hilarious! Afterwards, an assortment of instruments materialized, and the band played. Meanwhile, Lyle, Mike, Jose, and I unloaded the halfblend soil (the stuff Jose and I had picked up this morning at 9) from the bed of Jose's truck.

Then a golden-haired angel came and blessed the final half-hour of the workday. Ali Mujic came and pruned the rosebush, raspberries, and Lion's Mane. In his gentle manner, Ali brought peace to his time, and we worked silently side by side for a few minutes - he pruning and I weeding around the rosebush. We both think that it ought to have an arbor and stay where it is. To us, it is the heart of PICA's garden.

Then PICA went up to the Trailer Park in increments and saw the amazing compost that Lyle has been stewarding. The stuff is so warm, even in shade, that when Lyle dug into it, it produced a thick column of steam. That stuff has been cooking for sure! When Mike got there, he was impressed. Jim stopped by at some point and was equally impressed with the amount of collaboration and amount of work the Trailer Park and PICA have made towards sustainability progression.

We stayed to help with pruning, rock-moving, and hoophouse rejuvenation. I left early, as I am not feeling well. Dave Shaw was taking it easy too; he's been having stomach pains. I can hardly wait for next weekend.