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Thanks to Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply (originally started by our founder Amigo Bob Cantisano), a collection of some of our favorite species and varieties  are available for pre-sale through their website for the 2024/25 Bare Root Season 

Felix Gillet Collector Trees

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Below: the SOLD OUT Varieties listed are for informational purposes only. These are the trees and plants that we have re-discovered and sold over the years. They are the result of our passionate searches throughout Northern California, the Sierra Nevada and Western States to re-discover the historic, agricultural, living library still in existence. These trees and plants, left over from the 1800’s and early 1900’s Gold Rush era, were discovered on historic mining camps, ranches, and  homesteads. Most of these trees have become climate resilient with no human attention for the last 100 plus years. They give the best fruit and nuts in conditions that most fruit and nut trees cannot endure with large annual temperature variations.

These  grandmother trees have learned to thrive under the most harsh conditions, and with uncertain weather patterns.  It is our goal to make them available to growers, gardeners and communities throughout the West Coast.

We have personally taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still cling to life in some, often deserted, historic orchards. The Felix Gillet Institute trees are very rare, exclusive plants – some may have only just been rediscovered.

95% of plants available during the 1800s are no longer available today.  We are saving what is left before they die. 

 You can become a Mother Orchard Supporter and help us in our efforts to discover more rare, historical trees and care for our collection of over 250 trees, by clicking on the Mother Orchard link above.

Ten of these varieties are available through Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply this year 2024/25. 

Thank you for all your Support!

Esopus Spitzenburg Apple

Esopus Spitzenburg Apple

Store/Apples
SKU 00034
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details

Discovered in the late 1700s near Esopus, New York, the Esopus Spitzenburg is reputed to have been the favorite apple of Thomas Jefferson. The fruit is fairly large, oblong/connic, with orange to red skin, carmine stripes and strong russeted dots that look like stars. A hard apple that’s very crisp, spicy, citrus flavored, juicy and has a yellowish flesh. Aromatic and exceptional flavor. About the best to eat out of hand, and very good for all culinary purposes, in particular pies, juice and hard cider. It keeps its shape when cooked. Like many late-season apples, they improve with a few weeks of cool storage, which brings them to their full, rich flavor. They have a tendency to bear heavily one year then lightly the next. Ripen in late October through November. Will keep 3 months or more. Store for at least a month before eating.

The 100+ year untended grandmother tree grows in the town of Humbug, in Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park on the San Juan Ridge of Nevada County at 3250’ elevation. Humbug is the site of one of the original and largest hydraulic gold mines, and a long-term, large mining town, abundant with wonderful heirloom fruits and nuts that we will be introducing over the next few years.
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Esopus Spitzenburg Apple
Store/Apples
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