Homestead Orchards

Twelve Master Gardeners gathered on a perfect fall day in early October, meeting near Skull Hollow Campground before carpooling along bumpy gravel roads in search of old apple trees that have been around since the homesteading days. Our guide was Peter LoVerso, current project leader of Heritage Apple Corps, a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding, identifying and preserving Central Oregon’s heritage fruit trees. The group searches for old homestead sites and public lands to document, map and hopefully restore surviving trees. Working with the U.S. Forest Service, they use DNA testing to determine what varieties the early homesteaders actually planted. According to their website, so far they have documented 382 trees, DNA tested 296 and identified 57 historic varieties. LoVerso knows his apples and his local history.

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