News: November 2009

Orchard Development Group

It’s been a good year for ODG.  Crailing Community Orchard, our 'model' project, has been a joy (see below) and the Committee has been busy this year with talks and discussions in communities throughout the Borders.

We have helped orchard owners with their pruning and general maintenance and have discovered that there are some really interesting community orchard projects going on in the Borders and the rest of Scotland.  Our survey from 2007 was of great interest but by no means comprehensive and we’re still keen to know of other orchards in the Borders.

We’re collating information on the varieties of fruit being grown and the kind of services that might be of interest to orchard owners, so that we might find ways of helping them become more productive and useful.

One of the key issues coming out of our survey and more recent contact with orchard owners is the question of what to do with all the produce of everyone’s hard labour.  Much of what is grown goes to waste, there being an increasing lack of traditional outlets such as greengrocers.  We are keen to talk to anyone involved or interested in local food and are trying to find ways to make use of this wonderful resource.

We are also conscious of the cost of setting up presses and the like, particularly if larger quantities of fruit are involved.  ODG is interested in shared facilities as a way forward and is looking to set up a community press, in the first instance, for the general Jedburgh/Kelso area.  We would love to hear from anyone who might make use of this and/or could get involved in the project.

Crailing Community Orchard

Autumn has arrived and all the hard work by Crailing Community Orchard’s loyal volunteers is bearing fruit – literally.  Apples, pears, damsons and plums, honey and hazelnuts.  WONDERFUL!