Workshops – Books – Tours – Trees – Plants

Towards A Climate Resilient Food Economy:

We have passionately searched the Sierra Nevada and Western States to re-discover the living library of plants still scattered across Northern California, those trees and plants left over from the 1800’s and early 1900’s Gold Rush era.   These are the grandmother trees that have become climate resilient with no human attention for the last 100 years. They give the best fruit and nuts in conditions that most fruit and nut trees can not endure with large annual temperature variations. These  grandmother trees have learned to thrive under the most harsh conditions. 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. We offer very rare and 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. 

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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 through Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden for the 2024/25 Bareroot Season. 

Stay Tuned…

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The SOLD OUT Varieties listed below are for informational purposes only. These are many of the plants we have found and sold over the years. While some of these varieties will be available this Autumn, many will not. 

Hope is on the Horizon.

We will have historic fruit and nut trees available for preorder

November 1, 2024.

Thank you for all your Support!

Orders only accepted via the website.

Princess Almond

SKU 00098
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details

One of the best French varieties of the 1800’s, introduced to California by Gillet in 1876. This paper shelled variety has beautiful kernels, with excellent flavor. Paper shell means you can easily crack the shells with your fingers. Very popular in late the 1800s California plantings, once often confused with Non Pariel, which it resembles. The tree is large, vigorous and upright with spreading top. Beautiful pink/purple bloom, a landscape standout. Harvests in September at 1700'. Will produce larger crops when pollinated with Sultana or Provence, however he mother tree is producing very nice crops without a pollinator nearby. This variety was chosen by the Slow Food Ark of Taste in 2014 to be honored and saved for posterity.

The grandmother tree is growing on an 1800’s homestead in Birchville, Nevada County at 1,765 feet. Birchville was a small mining camp in the 1800’s whose gold ran out pretty quickly. In 1880, the population was 50. There aren’t many more people residing there today! The owners of this tree have been renovating it, applying biodynamic and organic care, and it is thriving with their attention. An oldie just waiting to thrive in the 21st century.

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Princess Almond

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