With grafting you can duplicate your favorite fruit tree! This beginners workshop will cover basics of dormant bench grafting including rootstock, scions, grafting materials, bench grafting cuts and wrapping, and post-graft handling of trees. Then we'll graft! Rootstock and pear and apple scions, including some Ark of Taste varieties, will be provided.

Workshop participants will take home two newly grafted baby trees. Materials to make more trees can be purchased for a small additional fee. Participants are welcome to bring their own scions, but please contact [email protected] if doing so to confirm type/methods.

Workshop Leader: Shannon Brines grew up on a small diversified farm that included an orchard. He officially established Brines Farm in 2004. In the last few years he has grafted hundreds of orchard fruit trees, including of 150 apple varieties, that have been planted in nurseries in Washtenaw and Grand Traverse counties. Shannon has led numerous grafting workshops, including workshops for: a Michigan-Ontario biodiversity project, K-12 schools, the Local Food Summer, and the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference.