Matt Kaminsky // Gnarly Pippins

Hint of Green tip on the Kieffer pears, first signs of Spring heelre in the valley..bark will start slipping soon and we will be into grafting full on soon! Don't forget to sign up for topworking class 4/25 at gnarlypippins.com

Beautiful work there yep! I really like the multiple shoots involved there

Close-up of branches on an apple tree that have been woven into a knot

Yesterday was a great day for pruning here in southeastern PA, aka unceded Lenapehoking. My 2nd season experimenting with some loop training, gently encouraging lateral fruiting buds instead of vertical vegetative growth. Hoping to make it to @gnarlypippins.bsky.social’s wkshp on this next yr

I’m not a expert but here is a good explanation of pretzel training from @gnarlypippins.bsky.social

In 2021, I found a feral crabapple that remains my fav Malus find to date. Tied for 2nd place 🥈 for ‘best quality cider’ + 3rd place 🥉 for ‘best in show’ in @gnarlypippins.bsky.social 2nd annual pomological exhibition 💯💯💯🍎🍎🍎🍎

Registration is now live for this topworking class I'm teaching that's coming up in a few Fridays! This going to be a lot of fun in a spectacularly beautiful place. Check out the 'shop' section on gnarlypippins.com to register

Fascist surveillance state, but the view is nice...

My last big orchard pruning assignment of the year near overlooking Mountain Top Arboretum and surrounding orchards in Haines Falls NY. Photo taken roped in the top of a 100+ y/o apple tree overlooking the twin peaks and mountains near Hunter NY

NYS pruning road trip #2 was great... One of the highlights: paying my respects to the original Mama's Boy pear tree in Tannersville. Amazing tree growing in a thin alleyway between two buildings at the famous Mama's Boy burger joint. One of my all-time fav pears submitted to PomEx, featured in V.3

Edible arrangements

💡💡💡

Smartness

Looks like an amazing read

Short clip of Wickson juice flowing off the oaken racks of the 129-year-old Mt. Gilead press that is the heart and soul of the ciderhouse! I am privileged to help operate this beast with our co-farming partners Carrs Ciderhouse here in Hadley. It handles 18-20 bushels of fruit per squeeze.

Just officially announced this class in early March! Going to be awesome! Registration link with details and curriculum below:

gnarlypippins.com/product/clas...

The lighting was very challenging to capture the tree form. What you can't see in this photo is the abundant young shoots positioning themselves for retrenchment in 1-3 seasons from now. Removing diseased wood and airing out the canopy to permit more light to transmit down to vigorous lower growth is one of the main objectives here

Big transformative phase 1 restoration prune from Monday on this 40' century-old tree suspected to be a Cortland. Pruned off only the deadwood. Corts are some of the longest-lived veteran apple trees here in WMass, especially on standard rootstock. Wicked cold hardy and reliable producers in old age

Hi all, starting up on this platform where I'll be starting a habit of posting updates from my work and life here. Tune in and follow along if you want to see content about trees and orchards, our silvopasture pasture farm, my writing, cider, news+events related to all of the above and more! Cheers