The Huntley Project has over a hundred years of rich homestead fruit history. Homesteaders planted apples, plums, and pears to feed their families and neighbors. We are partnering with Montana State University Extension Office’s Heritage Orchard Program (mtorchards.org) to: locate and map old fruit trees, identify and document fruit varieties, preserve and propagate both the heritage trees and the stories people have of them. The project is especially interested in “heirloom” trees, which are 50 years or older.
Why Eat Local? Self-sufficiency and eating locally was a must for the homesteaders. Fruit trees are still a prized component of many farms, ranches, and communities. Not too long ago, just two orchards in Ballantine fed the whole town. The remnants of these successful trees are scattered around the Project, little jewels in backyards and long forgotten homesteads. Some are over 100 years old and still producing. Imagine what we can learn from our local orchard heritage?
The first step in preserving our fruit orchards is to get involved. Here are some ways you can get involved.
– Let us know where trees and orchards are located
– Share stories about who planted and cared for them, what varieties they are, how they were used, and their im-portance to a family.
– Attend classes on fruit tree care. MSU Heritage Orchard Project will be teaching us how to care for the trees at the Ag Research Station Orchard in Feb/March 2019.
Determine our human assets —people who know how to prune, are interested in helping taking care of the trees, who know how to graft, or have other tree management skills.
For more information call Barbara Pierson 530-254-6171 or Gay Kepple 406-348-2533.
