Home Orchard Society Event Makes for a Fruitful Future.
Portland, Ore., March 8, 2003 - The Home Orchard Society (HOS) of Oregon host their annual Scion Exchange at Clackamas Community College's Randall Hall, March 8, 2003 from 12 - 4pm. Tickets to the event are $5.00 at the door.
The Scion exchange, a four hour event, that brings home owners, orchardist and the curious together to learn the art of grafting fruit trees. "We grafted our first tree while still living in an apartment and stuck it in a 5 gallon plastic bucket" states HOS member Rick Reid, "Later we ended up creating an edible landscape around our home with the help of HOS."
Participants get guided hands on grafting experience or can choose to have custom grafting done by HOS experts. In addition, Consultations from members, fruit growing publications and Integrated Pest Management kits for the orchard are available.
HOS offers over a hundred different scions (the part of the tree that determines the variety of fruit) for apples, pears, Asian pears or stone fruits such as plums, peaches and nectarines for free and several rootstocks (the part of the tree that controls size and characteristics of the tree) for a nominal cost.
"HOS is the best kept secret in the country and we're trying to change that," explained Ted Swenson, President of the society. Membership in the society is only $15.00(US) and provides members with events, publications and a network of fruit growing enthusiast.
About The Home Orchard Society :
Incorporated in 1976 as a nonprofit educational organization in Portland, Oregon.
HOS 650 members exist to assist both the new and experienced fruit growers in the
science, culture and pleasure of growing good fruit in the home orchard.