An apple orchard in Cork, Ireland

Climate and soil conditions for orchards in Ireland

Paul LynchLeave a commentOrchard, , , ,

Recently I finished an orchard pruning job near Cork. Most of my pruning work is on domestic scale orchards that I manage in a day, but sometimes there are bigger orchards that need a few days, or even a week to get into shape. This orchard had nearly sixty trees and was located in a garden on the outskirts of the city. The site was on a gentle ridge high up on one of the many rolling hills to the south of Cork city, with a northerly aspect. There was little wind shelter to the site save from the landform itself. Many of these conditions are not ideal – the wind exposure, the aspect and the fact that some of the trees were planted too close together. As regards health however, the trees were overall in the better half of orchards that I have tended to in County Cork. Climate Continue Permaculture Story

Orchard Pruning Workshop Story

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Winter and early spring is a busy time for the permaculture deisgner and orchardist. Besides running sustainability and pruning courses there is always a list of new pruning customers to tend to. It is also the period of planting bare root trees, orchards and hedging for design customers. I’m finally getting a chance however to write about the recent winter orchard pruning workshop here at the Ansa Permaculture Design headquarters, also known as my home and garden in West Cork. On a sunny frosty morning in February I was delighted to teach a small group including one student travelling all the way from Germany! Orchard pruning workshop topics The pruning workshop covered the following topics: Why prune at all; the natural shape of an apple tree; the purpose of grafting; its effects and side-effects; summer pruning vs winter pruning; vegetative and fruiting wood; orchard guilds and design considerations; pollination; tools Continue Permaculture Story

Orchardist with fruit tree

Pruning Apple Trees in Kerry

Paul LynchLeave a commentOrchard, , , , , , , ,

This week I went on a lovely orchard care adventure pruning fruit trees in the beautiful town of Killarney, County Kerry. Its that time of year when there can be several new inquiries for orchard care on a given day and when there are smaller jobs somewhat in the same area I naturally plan to do them in the same trip. Ballyvourney Apple tree Pruning on the way to Kerry First up was a job pruning a large vigourous mature apple tree in a garden in Ballyvourney County Cork. Ballyvourney is a large village at the northern end of the Muskerry Gaeltacht, and its a beautiful place. It was on the main N22 road from Macroom to Killarney until it was recently bypassed. West of Ballyvourney the land rises up into the Derrynasaggart mountains and the lovely Lee valley is left behind as you head for the county bounds and Continue Permaculture Story

Pruning Workshop Poster

Orchard Pruning Workshop 8th February 2025

Paul LynchLeave a commentOrchard, , , , , , ,

I’m delighted to announce another winter orchard pruning workshop in County Cork Ireland on Saturday the 8th of February. I’ve provided professional orchard care to hundreds of customers caring for thousands of trees since turning my lifelong interest in orchard care into my vocation back in 2016. I will teach you the exact same theory and techniques that I use to care for home, farm and old estate heritage orchards across Cork and the wider Munster region. I will teach the workshop at Ballingeary, in West Cork. Directions provided on booking. Workshop price is E80 and if you would like 10% off of this then make sure you are a subscriber to my newsletter and always be in the know when new workshops are announced! Subscribe for 10% off sustainability Courses here. Winter Orchard Pruning Workshop Details Saturday 8th February, 10am -16.00pmBallingeary, Co Cork Join Paul Lynch for a workshop Continue Permaculture Story

Solar panels cleared of snow

Snow is Nice for Off-Grid Winter Jobs

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It’s deep winter in Ireland and the countryside is covered with a blanket of snow. In the winter months freezing weather isn’t uncommon in Ireland but it is usually accompanied with dry weather and clear skies and disruption is therefore usually minimal. Cold weather with snow and ice however is a relatively rare phenomenon in Ireland and may occur for brief spells only once or twice a year in the low lying parts of the country, if at all. I’ve had a nice winter break visiting family and friends and have had time reflecting on the year gone by and intentions for the year to come. So it’s time to get busy again! Hawthorn Wine Besides general everyday cleaning and tidying I had a job hanging over from last year – straining out the batch of Hawthorn wine I set brewing last year. I don’t brew much these days except Continue Permaculture Story