Q: I am planning a permaculture garden on my half-acre lot. I know it’s best to plant fruit trees first. Which fruit trees fare best in this region? I would love apple, peach, plum, cherry and ...

Learn practical permaculture design for the home garden, focusing on soil health, water efficiency, and integrated plantings ...

"My neighbors laughed in year one." Homeowner's side-by-side photos compare neighborhood yards first appeared on The Cool Down.

Planting fast-growing fruit trees on your property provides delicious, nutrient-rich fruit during harvest time. Fruit trees also provide food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife. We spoke with ...

Many homeowners harbor secret dreams of planting an orchard and becoming more self-sufficient. The cost of fresh fruit can be high in the off-season, in addition to the price of driving to buy it.

Question: I’d like to grow my own fruit trees, but I’m short on space. Can I grow fruit trees in containers? Answer: We’re happy to say yes, you can. One of the great pleasures in life is picking ...

Orcharding requires effort, but the resulting yields of fresh fruit make it all worthwhile. One of the most important aspects of growing fruit trees is pruning. This applies to large commercial and ...

Haley Mast is a freelance writer, fact-checker, and small organic farmer in the Columbia River Gorge. She enjoys gardening, reporting on environmental topics, and spending her time outside ...

Nalani Vaughn, owner of Fruitmommy Organic Solutions, watched as her crew of experienced pruners removed deadwood and branches from the grove of 15 mature navel and Valencia orange trees, survivors of ...

Hybrid fruit trees are often hardier. They can also produce delicious fruit in more abundance than their parents. That's a ...

Q. Last year, my plum tree didn’t have any fruit at all. This spring, it has so many plums that I’m afraid the branches may break! Why? This phenomenon is called “alternate year bearing” and is very ...