The fig was one of the earliest fruit trees to be cultivated, so our history goes way back with these fruits. This might have something to do with the highly abundant and delectable fruit that it offers with little work from our end. Fig trees are some of the easiest fruit trees to tend to, so let’s dig into all the good things figs offer and the specific varieties we have at the POP Learning Orchard. FIG OVERVIEW The common fig (Ficus carica) is part of the mulberry family (Moraceae) and Ficus genus, made up of over 750 known species all across the globe. Most Ficus members res ..read more

Every winter since February of 1992, farmers, land stewards, educators, advocates, food systems workers and those who collaborate with the spirits of the soil, the water, the trees and the seeds from all across Pennsylvania and beyond, gather together for three days to deepen their understanding of sustainable farming practices and to build connections with their peers, mentors and heroes all across the region. This year, a small group of POP staff headed to the heart of historic downtown Lancaster, PA to attend this communion of growers and shakers at Pasa’s 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Confe ..read more

ABOUT VINES Vines, also referred to as trailing or climbing plants, seem to have the most exciting life compared to other plants. They get to climb high and reach that sunshine while also getting great views. From a human perspective, they can get a little unwieldy as they can climb onto seemingly anything with a strong grip. A grape arbor, from Robert N. Dennis photography collection. Source: Wikimedia Commons FRUITING VINES The primary fruiting vines that POP likes to grow are: hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta), grapes (Vitis vinifera), maypops (Passiflora incarnata), and American hops (Humulus ..read more

WHAT DO INSECTS DO IN THE WINTER? While we’re hunkered down indoors during the wintertime, one might be wondering where all the insects have gone. With summer having come and gone in a flash, it’s hard to erase our memories of all those bug-filled summer days. Well, our insects friends and foes all have different strategies for withstanding the cold temperatures. Insects strategies are more similar to plants than they are to animal strategies for surviving freezing temperatures. There are a wide range of strategies and it varies species to species, so this is an attempt to distill a very compl ..read more

POP is continuing its postcard contest again this year! We typically send out two postcard mailings a year to keep supporters up to date on our programs and events and since 2021 we have offered a competition to provide an opportunity for local artists to share their work. Two winners, one for spring and one for fall, are selected with an honorarium provided to each one, with postcards sent to hundreds of people in the region. POP’s Spring 2023 postcard (Untitled) by Jackie Nunery @birdandbrushart, 100% handmade recycled paper, fresh and dried botanicals See the all of the contest submiss ..read more

La hierba nudosa japonesa (Reynoutria japonica, Fallopia japonica o Polygonum cuspidatum) se introdujo originalmente en los Estados Unidos como planta ornamental a finales de 1800 y ahora se encuentra al menos en 39 estados y en una amplia gama de sitios. Aunque se considera extremadamente invasiva, esta planta, sin embargo tiene brotes comestibles en primavera y raíces que se ha encontrado que tienen valor medicinal. La hierba nudosa japonesa es una planta vertical, herbácea y pernne con tallos huecos, moteados de bambú rojo que pueden crecer más de 10 pies de altura cuando maduran. Se propa ..read more

Every fall we ask our orchard partners to reflect on the season, to share stories with us about what the orchard provides for their community, and to let us know what they grew and harvested. We also learn what challenges they faced, which helps us plan for upcoming educational programs and training efforts. Stories from partners typically highlighting the joy of sharing fruit and knowledge about orchard plants and their harvests, and the ways that growing and sharing fruit allows them to connect with neighbors. We also invite partner to share what they value most about the support that P ..read more

2023 was a fruitful time at the POP Learning Orchard! As the fourth season comes to an end, we take this time to reflect on this year’s journey of growth, community engagement and challenges while optimistically dreaming and planning for the future. This annual summary serves as a testament to the collective efforts that have continued to transform a budding orchard into a thriving food forest that supports curiosity, community and experiential learning.  POP staff and volunteers thin the peach and plum trees during a Learning Orchard workday. Spanning across one acre at the historic Wood ..read more

It may surprise you, but we can grow almonds in Philadelphia. Hardy almonds that is, which are not actually true almonds, but a peach-almond cross. The almonds we generally come across in the US are California-grown. They have a bad rap for drinking too much water out there and demanding a constant haze of herbicides. But hybrid hardy almonds were developed for their cold tolerance and late blooming qualities by Washington State University to extend where almonds can be grown. The most common cultivars are ‘Hall’s Hardy’ and ‘Reliable’.   The hardy almond is a self-pollinating tree ..read more

Persimmons come in several different species and many different named cultivars. At the POP Learning Orchard at The Woodlands, we have six different cultivars currently growing! We planted each of these to learn more about the resilience and taste of each type and potentially to propagate new trees through grafting. Planting a polyculture also creates a safety net, of sorts. If one cultivar has a bad year for any reason, the other persimmons may still be productive.  First ripening persimmon at the POP Learning Orchard at The Woodlands in 2022! (Photo: POP) A little About the Persimmon Th ..read more