Joshua: Hello everyone. It is my pleasure to have with me a very diligent young man who has been watching and learning valuable lessons from his parents and older sibilings. He would like to share with each one of you some recent news and instruction he has learned.
Joshua: Testing. Testing. Testing 1, 2, 3. Markie, are you there?
Markie: Yes!
Joshua: Markie, I understand you have some news to share.
Markie: Yes. One day, not too long ago, we went to the land, and we planted apple, peach, and pear trees.
Joshua: Wow, Markie. That sounds like quite the experience. Could you describe the process of planting an apple tree for us?
Markie: First, you have to make a hole.
Joshua: Oh, I see. How deep should the hole be?
Markie: About this big.
Joshua: Ok, that appears to be about 2 feet deep. Tell me more!
Markie: Then you have to buy them. Mr. Burford (at Vintage Virginia Apple Farm) helped us buy our apple trees. Next, you have to make a pyramid with the dirt (if you have some good soil to mix in with the dirt, that would help, but it is not necessary).
Joshua: Ok. I’m sure most of us would be able to find a bit of good soil somewhere in our yards. Now Markie, where should this pyramid of dirt be?
Markie: Inside the hole, maybe about 6-8 inches from the top. Then you spread the roots out over the pyramid. Fill the dirt back in over top of the roots.
Joshua: I also heard that it might be good to water the tree with perhaps a gallon of water when the level of the dirt is about 3-4 inches from the top. Is this a good idea?
Markie: Yes. Then add a little more dirt and stamp it in firmly. Smaller feet can stamp it better. Add more dirt and then
push it down again. Make sure there is a small ditch around the base of the tree so the water can get caught there for the tree.
Joshua: Excellent Markie. I’m beginning to think this may be a fairly simple process.
Markie: To protect you tree from deer, mice, and other little things, get a big thing of chicken wire (unless you are only going to plant one). Wrap chicken wire around the apple tree and use 4 foot rebar to stake the chicken wire into the ground.
Joshua: Now what would you recommend to deter the smaller rodents. Like mice, and moles, and other little creatures?
Markie: Put 1-2 feet of black pipe (Joshua: oh, the corrugated black plastic pipe? Markie: Yes) around the bottom of the tree. This will keep those little animals away.
Joshua: Oh, thank you! As far as upkeep for the newly planted tree – what would you recommend?
Markie: Every week, you should water the tree (pond water, river water, or even water from your house will do).
Joshua: Well I think we should be able to do that! Thank you very much Markie for the timely advice.
Markie: Enjoy your apple trees. Take care.
This has been an interview with up and coming orchardist, Markie Wilkes. Thank you for taking the time to read and be sure to check back in later for more ‘news from Markie.’
6 Comments » | posted in Farming 101
Sunday was Daddy’s birthday. Grandpa, Grandma, and the Campbells came to our house. We had church at our house that morning and afterwards celebrated Daddy’s birthday. Grandma brought a peach cobbler & angel food cake. Mrs. Campbell made two coconut pies. And then our family made ice cream cake and a home made cake with chocolate frosting. It was one 
of the sweetest birthdays I’ve ever been to 
.
his arrows. Daddy is following the Lord and carefully shaping and sharpening each one of us children so we will hit the mark of God’s special plan one day. Daddy is 
the archer for our family. Psalms 127: 4-5 say, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” I am very grateful that Daddy has a full quiver!
