Workshop part one:
10.00 – 14.30
Future Fruit Grafting Workshop with Andrew Lear
In this theoretical and practical workshop, you will be taught basic grafting skills including the art of multi-variety grafting . By the end of the workshop you will be able to take away your own apple tree (workshop part one) whilst also having contributed to extending Huntly's Community Orchard (workshop part two).1 This workshop involves the use of very sharp knives so an element of competence will be a prerequisite. Note for participants: There will be lots of opportunities to ask questions during the workshops. Lunch and hot drinks will be provided. Booking essential.
Workshop part two:
14.30-16.00
Future Fruit Community Grafting Workshop with Andrew Lear
1. Multi-variety grafting
Using skills learnt in the morning, participants will have the opportunity to graft a number of community apple trees using scions collected and donated at this drop-in workshop. Scions will be gathered from productive apple trees within Huntly (and the wider region) and grafted onto potted apple trees that will later be planted to extend Huntly's existing Community Orchard.
Huntly residents are invited to bring scions (a young shoot or twig from an apple tree) from their productive apple trees to be grafted onto existing apple trees, thus preserving their variety and creating a number of multi-variety, community apple trees in the process.
2. Screen printing with Jonathan Baxter and Sarah Gittins
A chance to try screen printing and print your own canvas tote bag to take away.
Note: The afternoon session is open to anyone, whether you are bringing along an apple scion to be grafted, interested in learning more about grafting, would like to do some screen printing, or just curious. The actual grafting, however, can only be done by either Andrew Lear or by those who attended the morning workshop.
Evening celebration
18.00 – 20.00
Neep & Okra Kitchen Launch
Join us for the launch of the Neep & Okra Cafe, a locally sourced, globally inspired, food and hospitality project. An evening celebration with music, storytelling and an exciting apple inspired menu.
Playing with graft as a metaphor and the theme of the day, the evening will begin with a short speech on the future of three projects (Future Fruit, Neep & Okra Cafe and Town is the Garden). Followed by a storytelling piece, written and performed by Annie Lord, exploring the art of grafting. ‘Graft’ considers the human desire to gain control over nature and its reproduction. And finally, local meets global food and music. Free to attend, but please let us know if you are coming.
Image credit: Jonathan Baxter and Sarah Gittins
1. The existing orchard is made up of two separate groups of fruit trees planted by artist Norma Hunter, through her Bite on the Side project, and Networks of Wellbeing
