Reddit reviews The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way

The Apple Grower

The Holistic Orchard

both by Michael Phillips

If you want to graft new varieties on, you'll wand to top work the trees. Cut the top off, meaning all the branches, so that you've just got a trunk, and then graft onto the top of that.

If you're looking for cider apple scionwood for grafting, Chris Ryland has the best collection in the US and he sells them through his website.

Greens will usually do alright in shade. Spinach, broccoli, kale, arugala should all be fine. Carrots, beans and peas can tolerate shade but should still be getting at least a few hours of direct sun. How shaded are they? Setting good sweet fruits really requires 6 hours of sunshine. It's fairly likely though that your fruit trees could use some extra pruning which would let more light through.

Check out The Holistic Orchard. It'll guide you in pruning and tells you how to grow everything fruit related.

I would buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933392134/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

and then watch this video https://www.possiblemedia.org/product/the-permaculture-orchard-beyond-organic/

Between those two you would have everything covered. Both of those guys are within your USDA zone.

Grafted apple trees will start giving you fruit by year three and will reach full production by year five. If you wanted to plant them now without the expense of the deer fence, you could make cages for your trees out of chicken wire and livestock fence.

To get you started, check out The Backyard Orchardist. Then, perhaps check out some of Michael Phillip's books such as The Holistic Orchard, and The Apple Grower. Michael is based in New Hampshire so a lot of his information is especially relevant to you New Englanders.

The main guy has written a great book too!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Holistic-Orchard-Berries-Biological/dp/1933392134/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376182617&sr=8-1&keywords=holistic+orchard

Someone already said to garden, so I'll suggest two similar (but different!) things!

Start a beehive. Not as hard as it seems, if you have enough money for the supplies (usually only a couple hundred dollars for the actual hive, maybe one hundred for the bees). Have no land? No problem! Find someone who does, maybe they'll let you set up camp there in exchange for honey and awesome pollinators for their garden. :) This book is actually really good at explaining. I have it, and I researched the hell out of all the amazon books before buying one.

If you don't want to do that (and if you have space somewhere): Plant a tree! Or a bush. Specifically, the kind that bear fruit. Think of all the fun things you can do with even one apple tree! Because I'm boring, here's another book! I have it on my wishlist, too. ;)

I hope your birthday! is excellent!! :)

Has anyone read Holistic Orchard?

And do you have any opinions about it?