The Permaculture Orchard: Beyond Organic

The Permaculture Orchard : Beyond Organic is a feature-length educational film that will teach you how to set up your own permaculture orchard at any scale. We recognize the limitations of the organic model as a substitute to conventional fruit growing, and want to propose a more holistic, regenerative approach based on permaculture principles.
Based on 20 years of applied theory and trial and error, biologist and educator Stefan Sobkowiak shares his experience transforming a conventional apple orchard into an abundance of biodiversity that virtually takes care of itself. The concepts, techniques and tips presented in this film will help you with your own project, whether it is just a few fruit trees in your urban backyard, or a full-scale multi-acre commercial orchard.

Beautiful, full of hard-won information, humble, practical. Eric Toensmeier / author of Paradise Lot

A visually appealing film that delivers at both the environmental and economic level, while setting the stage for a new modern standard for commercial fruit production. Jenn Jennings / Examiner.com

Film contents

creating habitat for birds / pollinators natural pest control techniques the trio system / plant combinations the shrub herbaceous layers seed planting of annuals planting fruit trees / drainage considerations tree training vs. pruning grafting / overgrafting creating habitat for birds / pollinators natural pest control techniques the trio system / plant combinations the shrub herbaceous layers seed planting of annuals planting fruit trees / drainage considerations tree training vs. pruning grafting / overgrafting starting your own trees vs. buying trees mulch options with a focus on plastic mulch and why/how drip irrigation the importance of cultivar selection the grocery aisle concept spraying / fungi control tree protection frost protection

Trained as a biologist and landscape architect, Stefan Sobkowiak has taught fruit production, landscape plants and design, and natural history of vertebrates at Montreal’s McGill University. He owned a landscape design firm for 20 years, developping hundreds of projects for private, institutional and municipal clients. He’s been teaching permaculture in Quebec since 1995 and has given numerous presentations and workshops in Europe, New Zealand, United States and Canada.
Stefan is the owner of Miracle Farms since 1993.