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

*

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!

Meylan Walnut

Meylan Walnut

Store/Walnuts
SKU 00143
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details
VERY RARE - First imported and propagated by Gillet, this is an excellent flavored and productive nut from the Grenoble mountain region of France. The mother tree grows near Upper Lake, CA. It is resistant to codling moth and has a very low level of husk fly infestation, denoting natural resistance. Here is what Felix had to say about the Meylan in 1888:
“A new and most beautiful variety, much like Mayette, and originated near the little village of Meylan, in the east of France, the walnut district of France. The nut is of fair size: the smoothest of our collection. Very thin shell and excellent quality; buds out late. Much cultivated for exportation to the north of Europe."
Our recent pilgrimage to the French walnut capital of Grenoble yielded much information and connections. The Meylan is considered the best variety for making walnut oil, and their walnut oil is by far the BEST we ever tasted, with hints of coffee and walnut aromas and taste.
We owe the finding of this almost extinct variety to our friend Alex Suchan of Suchan Nursery in Upper Lake, Lake County, CA. Alex, 86 (at the time), is the dean of walnut growers and propagators in California. He is a wealth of knowledge, propagating walnuts since he was 14 years old. His nursery now produces more than 200,000 modern walnut trees each year. Still, Alex has an appreciation for the heirlooms. When we asked Alex about the Meylan he remembered the location of two trees that he began harvesting more than 50 years earlier on his farm in Lake County. THANK YOU Alex!
Show More
Save this product for later
Share this product with your friends
Pin it
Meylan Walnut
Store/Walnuts
Display prices in:USD

PayPal and All debit/ credit cards accepted Upon purchase, Click on CARD LOGO to enter your billing information

All of your purchases and tax-deductible donations support our non-profit!

Thank you!

TO DONATE  via PayPal Giving – Click here

Sign up for our email list by Email-ing us at thefgi@gmail.com and request to be added. 

Like us on Facebook.