Workshops – Books – Tours – Trees – Plants

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!

Willow Apple

Willow Apple

Store/Apples
SKU 00113
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details

The Willow apple is an early, very large, beautiful Apple. The fruit is sweet and strongly tart, similar to a Granny Smith, but better. Great to eat fresh, in pie or juiced. The crisp white flesh is crunchy, juicy and filling. It's yellow skin has strong, red striping, with a very strong and heavy russet surrounding and radiating from the cavity. The tart flavor mellows after 1 week in storage and becomes a bit more sweet. The Willow is a short keeper, gets mushy after two weeks but still makes good juice. The tree has been a consistent heavy bearer with no human care. Likely needs other varieties of apples for complete pollination. Ripens in August at 2500’.

The grandmother tree was one of 4 left standing in a dry farmed meadow outside of Nevada City, Nevada County, CA. Sadly, the trees were bull dozed this year to make room for development. We all cried to discover them fallen. Felix’s nursery was located in this historic mining town, less than 2 miles from the trees were. Nevada City was a bustling place in the late 1800s, the Queen of the Northern Mines, once the capitol of the Terriory of Nevada, with much agriculture to feed the miners. Felix grew many of the trees still thriving in and around Nevada City.
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Willow Apple
Store/Apples
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