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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 will be available for pre-sale through their website beginning the 2024/25 Bareroot Season 

November 11, 2024 

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The SOLD OUT Varieties listed below are for informational purposes only, ones we have sold over the years, and 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 and 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, we want to make them available to growers, gardeners and communities throughout the West Coast.

We have personally found these trees and have taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still cling to life in ghostly, 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.

Ten of these varieties will be available through Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply this year in our 2024/25 Collection. 

Thank you for all your Support!

Colfax Russet

Colfax Russet

Store/Pears
SKU 00172
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details

This is sort of weird and probably only for collectors. This great tree was most likely planted in the 40's or later but has survived all these years. Yet, unnamed and unique, this variety, possibly a seedling, is small, buttery, juicy and flavorful, like a russeted Seckle. Sometimes they are mealy. The strong russeting weaves across the thickish skin and contributes to its somewhat grainy texture. Some people believe that the russeted varieties have some of the best flavor, and this seems to be true with this pear. The Colfax Russet also has a unique physical characteristic in that the fruit blends into the stem and the stem blends right into the branch without much physical delineation. The tree grows slowly and is most likely not a heavy producer. For the lover of the unique and unusual.

Illinoistown was renamed Colfax in honor of the 17th US Vice President Schuyler Colfax, Jr. who had visited this bustling town during the construction of the First Continental Railroad around 1865. Colfax was located in the pear belt and was famous for Bartlett pears. Many people here planted orchards and were easily able to load up their produce directly onto the transcontinental railroad. The dreaded fire blight became a real nuisance by 1900 and many of the orchards all over California were progressively wiped out. There are still some strong survivors in these mountains but the fire blight still rips through here regularly.

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Colfax Russet
Store/Pears
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