About us We have a homestead ranch on the Klamath River where we grow much of
our own food and trial the many varieties that we produce and offer in this
catalog. I’ve worked in organic agriculture
for over 20 years as a grower, instructor, consultant and organic farm
inspector. I’ve always loved trees for
their permanence and beauty and for the abundance they provide. My wife, Blythe, is an avid gardener and was
involved in organic foods in San Francisco.
Fifteen years ago we moved to the Klamath-Trinity Valley of
Northern California, where fertile soils and a long growing season allow us to
grow an impressive array of fruits, berries and nuts. We are situated in a low elevation valley with long hot summers
and cool rainy winters, yet the Klamath Mountains rise around us to over 6,000
feet and include some of the coldest zones in the west. This diversity affords us the opportunity to
grow and trial varieties for a very wide range of climates, from the mild,
foggy California coast to the hot interior, to the cold, high elevation
mountain regions. In fact, we ship our
trees across the country, from Maine to Florida, to the Midwest, the Southeast
and all up and down the West Coast.
We Grow Large, Healthy,
Vigorous Stock
– Because of
our exceptionally long growing season, our stock tends to be larger than many
mail order nurseries, averaging 5/8 to 3/4 inch caliper and 4 to 6 feet
tall. Starting with a healthy, vigorous
tree means a shorter wait for your first fruit. Our customers tell us that our trees establish well and bear
fruit early. Unlike many resale and
mail order nurseries, we produce most of what we sell. Virtually all of the varieties you see in this
catalogue we cultivate in our trial garden and orchards, so we can offer first
hand advice on growing fruits, nuts and berries.
Heirloom and unusual
varieties Along with familiar favorites, you’ll find
we offer many uncommon and heirloom varieties.
At one time there were literally hundreds different varieties of apples,
pears and peaches. grown in US
orchards. Unfortunately this diversity
has been replaced by a handful of commercial varieties of mediocre taste, bred
to withstand shipping and storage rather than please the palette. Each year we grow out and taste test new
varieties from our own orchards and other farms and include the best in our
selections.
A fruit tree is one of your
best investments. Tree-ripened fruit from your own garden will be far superior to
anything you can buy in the store, and cost you pennies a pound. Fresh fruit is a valuable source of fiber
and water-soluble vitamins and minerals.
Trees provide shade, beauty, protection from the wind and help to purify
the air. A diverse planting of fruits,
nuts and berries will improve the aesthetics and value of any home, while
providing a harvest that increases with each year.
More than just a website There are a lot of factors to consider when ordering fruit trees,
and we strive to put all the information you need at your fingertips so you can
make the right choice. This buyer’s
guide has evolved from many years of growing fruit, researching and trialing
new varieties and offering advice to folks throughout the country. If
you don’t find the answers to your questions please contact us and we will be
glad to help. We spend a lot of time in
the nursery and orchard, so E-mail (mail@sandybarnursery.com) is the
easiest way to communicate with us, though we do accept phone calls as
well.
Organically Grown Fruit
Trees – We have always farmed
organically, building our soil through cover cropping, fallow rotation and
composting. We use no chemical
fertilizers, pesticides or GMO’s. We do
source obtain some items (i.e. berries, persimmons, walnuts, grapes) from other
conventional nurseries – these are clearly labeled as conventional in our
catalogue and website. We are certified
organic by Global Culture.