95% of plants available in the 1800s are no longer available.
We are saving what we can 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 for the future.
We have passionately searched for and re-discovered 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 these trees and have taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still hang on in these ghostly orchards, homesteads and camps.
Thank you for your interest in our project.
If you wish to support our work you can make a tax-deductible donation to our 501 (c) 3 Non Profit organization by clicking
DONATE HERE or the Donate Button on the right side of our page.
Send us an e-mail at thefgi@gmail.com so we can add you to our email list. We do not bombard you with emails – promise! But we will let you know when and where these historic trees will be available to purchase and when we offer rare and limited field tours. 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 features the Gillet plants we have identified and propagated for preservation.
We are also working with students and the community to develop horticultural nursery skills and education, as well, we conduct public tastings of these amazing fruits and nuts.
Hats off to Amigo Bob Cantisano whose visionary leadership moved us to do this work,
Jenifer Bliss, Adam Nuber and Joy Waite
theFGI@gmail.com
P.O. Box 942
North San Juan, CA 95959
Click Here to Purchase “Know Your Soil” – Amigo Bob’s Soil Book!