Edible Forest Tours
Free guided tours led by Jim Walla in which we will walk around the outer loop of the orchard and discuss kinds of and care for fruit trees, mostly those that produce larger fruit or the inner loop of the orchard, and discuss kinds of and care for small fruit.
Jim Walla, Tree Doctor
Northern Tree Specialties
For each tour, we will walk through the respective loops around the orchard and discuss traits and care of the various kinds of plants.
For ease of discussion, each tour group will be limited to about 20 people. Individual tours will be cancelled if less than 3 people are registered, so be sure to sign up (with number of people in your group) if you want to attend.
To participate in either or both of the tours, please RSVP to register for each tour you want to attend or by email to Jim Walla at NorthernTrees23@gmail.com. Please include the number of people in your group. Tours will start by the greenhouse to the northeast of the parking lot. Email Jim if you have questions.
If weather permits, the tours will proceed. If it rains, there can be a Q & A session inside the greenhouse about fruit growing. If there is considerable lightning, tours will end.
The Edible Forest is a demonstration orchard started in 2019 on the southeast corner of Yunker Farm in North Fargo. It is a project of the Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society (NPBGS), which runs solely on the kindness of volunteers and community builders. Its intent is two-fold. First, it will show the range of potential kinds of fruits and nuts that can be grown in our region. That is much more than you might think. There are more than 30 kinds of fruit trees and shrubs in the orchard, with nearly 100 cultivars and selections. Second, it will allow people to learn about the traits of each kind of plant and some of the specific care that will allow each to thrive and be most productive. The Edible Forest includes many of the usual types of fruit trees and shrubs, e.g., apples and raspberries. It also includes several fruit and nut trees that are much less commonly grown in our region, e.g., mulberries, shipova, hickory, seedless table grapes, hazelnuts, blackberries, and currants. After three full growing seasons in the orchard, most of the plants are developing nicely.
There will be another Edible Forest tour sometime in mid-September and possibly again in early October. Special tours for groups can be arranged or if accommodations for your group are needed let us know.
For more information, download our Edible Forest Guide here .