Click Here to Purchase “Know Your Soil” – Amigo’s Newly Published Soil Book!
We have passionately searched out to re-discover the living library of plants still scattered across Northern California, left over from the Gold Rush era in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. We have personally found out these trees and have taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still hang on in these ghostly orchards. 95% of plants available then are no longer available. We are saving what is left before they die.We offer very rare and exclusive plants and some we may have only just found.
95% of plants available then are no longer available. We are saving what is left before they die.
We are a 501(c)3 Non Profit and focus on Preserving the living legacy bequeathed to us by our ancestors and the biodiversity necessary for a resilient food economy in the future. We are searching for Land and Resources to grow our Nursery and look forward to offering more rare and endangered plants from our past, in the future.
Thank you!
Thank you for your interest in our project. If you wish to help us grow, we would gratefully appreciate tax-deductible donations to our 501 (c) 3 Non Profit organization using this PAYPAL LINK or the Donate Button on the right side of our page.
Please click here if you would like to be added to our email list. Or, send us an e-mail at thefgi@gmail.com and we can add you in manually. You can also sign up on the right side of this page. We do not bombard you with emails – promise! But we will let you know when trees will be available to purchase. We usually sell out quickly so this is important.
ABOUT FELIX GILLET
Beginning in 1871, Felix Gillet, of Nevada City, CA, imported, bred and introduced most of the plants that comprise the foundation of California and Pacific Northwest perennial fruit, grapes and nuts. Gillet introduced hundreds of varieties that helped create these industries: Almonds, Walnuts, Filberts, Chestnuts, Cherries, Apples, Mulberries, Pears, Figs, Table, Raisin and Wine Grapes, Plums, Prunes, Apricots, Peaches, Roses, Nectarines, and Strawberries. Many of his introductions are still the leaders of their industry, while others, then widely planted, provided the genetics for further breeding that led to today’s popular varieties.
Gillet is the father of perennial agriculture in California and the Pacific Northwest
Felix Gillet Institute, (the FGI) is a 501 (c) 3 non profit educational organization, was founded in 2003 by Amigo Bob Cantisano to identify, preserve and propagate the best of the varieties still thriving in the mining camps, farms, homesteads and towns of the Sierra, and elsewhere. True permaculture plants, these 125+ year survivors show great resistance to harsh weather, drought, insect and disease attack, and often produce remarkable, extremely flavorful crops with little or no human assistance.
The FGI is creating a database of hundreds of these plants, identifying varietal characteristics, locations, crop production, quality criteria as well as propagating them for future generations of gardeners, farmers, nurseries researchers and use in breeding improved varieties. We are online with an educational website featuring Gillet’s catalogs, numerous technical writings, variety information, historical notes, our FGI plant list featuring the Gillet plants we have identified and propagate for your growing fun, and more. Over 85 varieties of fruit and nut trees and grapes, grown using beyond organic methods, are available dormant, January and February. We are also working with high school students to develop horticultural nursery skills and education, as well as conducting public tastings of these amazing fruits and nuts.
with our hats off to Amigo Bob Cantisano whose visionary leadership moves us to do this work,
Jenifer Bliss, Adam Nuber and Joy Waite
theFGI@gmail.com
P.O. Box 942
North San Juan, CA 95959