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Walden Heights Nursery & Orchard (Todd Parlo)

Walden Heights Nursery & Orchard (Todd Parlo)

The farm is a eclectic assemblage of orchard, propagation and homesteading run by myself with great help from my wife and 7 year old son. We moved here 13 years ago onto 11 acres of dense forest and began. Today we have 400 some odd fruit trees, with close to 200 varieties of apples. The majority of the trees are quite young. In addition we have a large variety of bush fruit species, grapevines, strawberries, hops, etc. We have cleared the land mostly by hand, planted amongst the stumps, and terraced the steeper slopes. Trees are nearly all on standard rootstock except for experimental plantings. We are a certified organic farm, for both fruit and nursery production. Nearly all farm related activity is performed with hand tools. No tractors, rototilling, or trucks are used. Animals, composting, and forms of land stewardship are integrated into our plan.

 

The nursery plantings are integrated within the orchard currently. We propagate and sell several hundred apple varieties as well as other fruit species. This part of the farm diversity plan helps to make the whole operation viable. Instead of choosing to expand the fruit growing or vegetable growing we chose to fill a more needed niche in the area.

 

Walden Heights is so named because it is the highest altitude of the former Lamoille Valley RR. We sit on the northwest slope bordered mainly by mixed forest. At 44.48 latitude in Vermont's northeast kingdom we are within US zone 3. Snows are deep, generally 3 to 5 feet continous covering in mid winter, causing some damage but also mitigating less than hardy rootstocks and bush fruits.  First killing frost most years is early Sept, last around the first week in June. The coldest we have seen (in 13 yrs) is -38F.

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