Here is our 18 fruit trees down at the bottom of the hill. We have 7 apples, 5 peaches, 2 plum, and 4 pear. We will plant 3 cherry trees this coming spring. On to the tobacco stuff. My neighbor to the north advised me to place tobacco stalks at the base of my fruit trees. He says that these stalks act as a very potent natural fertilizer and the trees would really take off next spring. I didn't believe him until I saw all his trees with tobacco stalks around them.
Tobacco is a cash crop around here. It is harvested by placing them in large shed hanging upside down to dry. To aid in the drying process large smoke fires are lit in the center. It gives it a rich smoked (BBQ) smell to boot. Once the tobacco is dry, a crew comes in and removes all the leaves and the stalk is all that is left of the unusable part of the plant. Normally it is thrown away but they will give it away to anyone that cares.
You will notice the stalks placed in triangular shapes around the trees. Now all we need is some rain to get the process going. I am really excited to see what happens. I was at work today and a buddy of mine confirmed that he does the same thing with his trees.
I collected a few of the remaining leaves and placed them in a zip lock bag, for medicinal purposes. Know what I'm saying. Actually, I have been told that you mix a small amount of leaves with water to make a poultice. You then place the poultice on a bee sting to remove the pain. Any comments Uncle Brian?
Notice the red cups hanging upside down by the trees. That is deer repellent. The deer nearly ate all out pear trees down to the bare trunk because the leaves are full of moisture and things are unseasonably dry this fall. I saw how they were made in the store and because of the price, I decided to make my own. So far it has kept them away and we're going on week three.
Bridger and Rilynn had to see all the goings on. Here are the happy little farmers having a good time.
