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    I am not a commercial grower but have been more than a casual observer of the subject of sane fruit growing for a number of years. I used to scour old USDA texts and pamphlets, read the classics on organic production and watched the use of hard core
pesticide application drift towards IPM. I think this site is a real blessing in trying to move things along in a healthy direction. I do
remain unconvinced that things have come around much despite Michael's Herculean efforts. I can still find on ocassion in the wild (and sometimes in mall parking lots) examples of untended trees bearing reasonably sound fruit. I don't have an explanation of this
and it confounds the hell out of me. In these moments I am reminded of a statement by Sir Albert Howard who was able to optimize plant and animal heath using (primarily) the Indore method of composting. He said something to the effect that "without the help of agronomists, entomologists ...and a list of other scientists... We were able to raise healthy plants and livestock."
     At the MOFGA Fairgrounds, I am witness to the sometimes frenetic ativity of CJ Walke, who takes care of the two small, young orchards. We had 2 succesive years of abundant plum crops and by all regards this could easily have been chalked up to CJ's diligence. But on the same site, untreated beach and other bush plums also bore profusely during those years. This year the foilage of the plum trees is being severly wacked by Japanese beetles. (And they have other options that they are pursuing with equal vigor) USDA restrictions disallow the use of poultry in the orchard which could partly reduce the numbers of these critters. I don't seek a silver bullet approach, Neem might work, but then we are into that cycle of dependence. What are these pesky organisms telling us? Are we just witnessses to their cyclic activity or do we enhance their welfare with our cultural practices? Perhaps it's both.
       If I think of Holistic orchard management, I have a picture of favorable orchard interactions but then I draw a blank from the trees perspective. How do they take in vibrational energy? What's it like to have borers munching away internally? What sacrifices are made to meet the prime edict to be fruitful? What do exchanges at the root tips do and how does it feel to be covered in a proprietary clay slurry? Do genes rule here or rootstocks? Soil type or types (and numbers) of soil organisms present? I don't expect answers to these questions but do give them some consideration. I am not about to suggest that people put away their sprayers and traps and close their texts and minds to what science can offer. This is a Deep subject. It can be approached in alot of ways. Part of me wants to hear ideas from children. Raw, fresh unencumbered suggestions from Loraxian interpreters. Poemologists. Meanwhile, I'll keep the other ear open to adult speak and try and contribute more valid observations as i can.