Orchard Expansion 3/12/2012

Action shot of Charles Leonard "taking a junk tree to task" with the help of his trusty chainsaw.  Of course, very precise ecological geophysics protocols were observed in the completion of the aformentioned procedure. 



Daniel Waters pensively contemplating the meaning of human existance as he gazes off into the horizon immediately after grafting a new apple variety against a backdrop of old sub-Appalachian meadows.

Hey, look, another nice graft.

On March 12, 2012; the Roanoke College Environmental Studies program students prepared the orchard area at Alta Mons for orchard expansion.  This was essentially a three-part process of removing mature "scab" trees from the site, planting an additional 34 apple whips at regular intervals in a rectangular ground-plan, and cleft grafting of the apple trees with international/domestic heritage varieties.  The last of these three steps was finished on March 17, with additional assistance from  Roanoke College Earthbound volunteers.

Alta Mons Initiative: Apple Orchard Progress (3/17/2012)

On the morning and early afternoon of St. Patrick's day, the following modifications have been completed in/around the Roanoke College Environmental Studies Program's Heritage Orchard:

• Removal of [mature] scrap trees which were shading out new growth apples and/or cluttering the orchard space, which is currently composed of four rows extending from behind the Pearman Retreat House towards the horse pasture.
• Planting of apple trees to bring the total number to forty eight trees.
• Grafting of approximately thirty varieties of apples on the extant trees.
• Removal of ailanthus altissima colony on the site, which was previously spreading new growth uphill towards the orchard.
• Flagging of future elm tree placements along the interior side of the fence-line (opposite the road, extending from the Pearman House to the Purgatory Creek crossing).

We would like to thank the staff/volunteers at Camp Alta Mons for assistance in ailanthus removal and providing an excellent lunch for the Environmental Science 400 and Earthbound students. 

Electric Car

RC Electric is a Student Organization that was started as a Student Group Project of the Environmental Studies Program. The previous graduating environmental capstone course and previous RC electric members have brainstormed ways to introduce a classic electric car to the Roanoke College community in a manner that would place Roanoke College ahead of the pack. We are currently working of the restoration of a 1939 Pontiac 4 door Silver Streak; the plan is to convert it into an electrical powered vehicle. We hope that the car will exmplify the College's motto, "Classic for Tomorrow." The Pontiac was purchased from Oliver's Garage in Mt. Tabor, Va. The students, under the supervision of a professional mechanic, Jackie McCann, are doing the majority of the work which includes everything from the sanding of the body to the electric conversion. In accordance with Roanoke College, it has been agreed to have this project complete by 2014.

Environmental Studies Lecture Series

For several graduating seniors in the Environmental Studies program, this spring semester has been dedicated to developing a lecture series focusing on key environmental interests like sustainability, concentricity, and alternative energy. This series is designed to build positive relationships with environmental professionals, program alumni, and the local community. We are excited to begin our lecture series with Guy Harbert and Dr. Mike Burton. The dates for these talks are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly.

Cheers,
Mike, Megan, Ryan, Justin & Stephen

The fruite of apples do differ in greatness, forme, colour
and taste; some covered with a red skin, others yellowe or green, varying
indefinitely according to the soyle and climate; some very great, some little,
and many of a middle sort; some are sweet or tastie, or something sower; most
be of a middle taste betweene sweete and sower, to which to distinguish I
thinke it impossible…
John Gerarde, 1597
(quoted in The Common Ground Book of Orchards)


2012 Roanoke College Environmental Studies Heritage Apple Inventory List
Alta Mons Heritage Orchard / Memorial Circle / Elizabeth Campus Heritage Orchard

1.
(Black) Ben Davis (Phil Hash)
2.
Buck Mountain Ladyfinger
(Phil Hash)
3.
Cauley
4.
(Old Tree)
5.
Mammoth Blacktwig
6.
Maiden Blush (Howard Crain’s)
7.
Pound Sweet (Walking Purchase Farm)
8.
Winter Banana (Howard Crain’s)
9.
Chenango Strawberry (Howard Crain’s)
10.
Clara’s Creek Apple
11.
Magnum Bonum
12.
Priestley (Tucker Prisley)
13.
Milam apple (Daniel Waters)
14.
Virginia Beauty (Phil Hash)
15.
Wolf River
16.
Yates Winter apple
17.
Yellow Transparent
18.
York Imperial
19.
Winter Sweet Paradise
20.
White Winter Pearmain
21.
Grimes Golden
22.
Court Pendu Plat
23.
Isaac Newton Apple /
Flower of Kent (UNeb)
24.
Indian Creek (Jon Cawley)
25.
Bloody Ploughman (Daniel Waters)
26.
Bardsey Island Apple
27.
(Old Tree)
28.
Lost Mountain (Dave Scaer)
29.
Port Onieda (Dave Scaer)
30.
Virginia Eileen (Dave Scaer)
31.
Nelson County Crab/Taliaferro
(VA Vintage Fruit)
32.
Burford’s Redflesh
33.
Wellington Bloomless
34.
Frequin Rouge
35.
Drap D’Or (Dave Scaer / Chotard Family, Nantes, France)
36.
Lass O’Gowrie (Daniel Waters )
37.
Albemarle Pippin (Virginia Vintage Fruit)
38.
Beauty of Bath
39.
(Somerset) Redstreak
40.
Potter County White
Transparent (Alvie Fourness Farm, Potter
County, PA)
41.
Irish Peach
42.
Lady
43.
James Grieve
44.
Foxwhelp
45.
Dabinett
46.
Doux Normandie
47.
Isle of Wight Pippin
48.
Mountain Boomer
49.
(Reserved)
50.
(Reserved)
51.
Junaluska (Kitua Cherokee Site)
52.
Cullasaga (Kitua Cherokee Site)
53.
Nickajack (Kitua Cherokee Site)
54.
Indian Creek (Jon Cawley)
55.
Allegheny Portage (Jon Cawley)
56.
(Reserved)
57.
Mutamuskeet
58.
Gibbon’s Smokehouse
(Masonic Homes)
59.
Pomme Gris
60.
Isaac Newton Apple /
Flower of Kent (UNeb)
61.
Junaluska (Kitua Cherokee Site)
62.
Indian Creek (Jon Cawley)
63.
Virginia Beauty (Phil Hash)
64.
Amasya #2 (Turkey)
65.
Doc Matthews
66.
Wagener
67.
Potter County White
Transparent (Alvie Fourness Farm, Potter
County, PA)
68.
Betsy Deaton
69.
Crow Egg
70.
Cullasaga (Kitua Cherokee Site)
71.
Liberty
72.
Circassian Apple
73.
Buck Mountain Ladyfinger
(Phil Hash)
74.
Priestley (Tucker Prisley)
75.
Bardsey Island Apple
76.
Rusty Coat
77.
Winesap? (Dayton Gordley’s Apple)
78.
Johnny Appleseed Apple
(Nova Ohio via American Historic Forests)
79.
Sarah’s Apple (Summer Rambo)
80.
Northern Spy
81.
Kindal Synap
82.
Bryson Seedling
83.
Jonathan