Thursday Night Nature: Native Fruits with Lee Reich, Ph.D. (April 11, 2024)

People often plant apples, peaches, pears, cherries and other familiar market fruits that reflect traditionally European heritage. Consider, however, native American fruits—being native, they are better adapted to withstand our pests and climate and often look naturally at home in our landscapes. 150 years ago, there was great interest in native fruits, and it’s time to revive that enthusiasm. This slide lecture will explore the beauty, the flavor and the cultivation of persimmon, pawpaw, beach plum, lingonberry and a host of other native delectables—as well as blueberry, one native fruit we have been eating for the last hundred years.

Lee Reich, Ph.D., dove into gardening decades ago, initially with one foot in academia—as an agricultural scientist with the USDA and Cornell University—and one foot in the organic field. He eventually expanded his field to a farmden (more than a garden, less than a farm) and left academia to lecture, consult and write. He has authored nine books and was a syndicated columnist for Associated Press. Besides a year round supply of fruits and vegetables, Reich’s farmden provides a testing ground for innovative techniques in soil care and pruning. It also provides an educational site for workshops and training. Science and an appreciation of natural systems underpin Reich’s work.

Program Fee: $15 (Members, enter your code at checkout to receive your 20% discount.)

All lectures will be held virtually using Zoom. They will be recorded and shared with everyone who registers for a short time.