Spring Tree Grafting Class

Spring Tree Grafting Class
Saturday, May 10 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
$25 | 10% for members
Midwest Center for Regenerative Agriculture office

Come learn to turn invasive Callery pear trees into beautiful, productive fruiting pear trees at our first ever tree grafting class! Presented by the Midwest Center for Regenerative Agriculture (MCRA) at Powell Gardens.

For more than 4,000 years humans have been grafting trees. This ancient technique involves joining a cutting from one tree, called the scion, to another, which is called the rootstock. This allows us to quickly reproduce favored trees, and also to revitalize older trees with new vigorous branches.

Three grafting experts will demonstrate how to top-work two species of tree, native persimmon and invasive callery pears, so that you can turn existing trees on your property into delicious fruit producers. Each participant will get to take home a seedling rootstock tree to plant at home for grafting in the future.

Our Grafting Experts:

• Mike Hughes is the Proprietor of 39th Parallel Nursery and Orchards in Lawrence, Kansas. 39th Parallel grows over 300 cultivars of fruit trees in their experimental orchards. Fruit cultivars are documented, distributed by selling scion and evaluated for performance in our Midwest climate. The most exceptional fruit cultivars are then selected for sale in their nursery. The orchard is open to visitors for U-pick in the fall and provides a rare opportunity to sample uncommon fruit varieties.
• Clark DeLisle of Jefferson County, Kansas is an Educator, Researcher, Farmer, and Fruit Enthusiast. He has a unique and instinctive understanding of plants and how they interact with their environment. Clark grows many types of small fruit and fruit trees and has introduced several of his own varieties of apple, pear, and blackberry through selective breeding. Clark’s primary focus is growing pears, and he likely has the largest collection of pear cultivars in the Midwest.
• Skylar Adamson is the founder and coordinator of Lawrence Fruit Tree Project, a program dedicated to advancing a culture of orchard stewardship in Lawrence, KS. With 17 years of experience in nursery work, he brings practical knowledge to teaching the art of grafting fruit trees. His work focuses on planting resilient trees, sharing hands-on skills, and fostering connections between people and the land.

What to Expect During Class:

• Enter through Business Entrance instead of the main front gate.
• Check in at the Midwest Center for Regenerative Agriculture office, the building located directly ahead as you pull in through the business entrance.
• Prepare for the outdoors and some walking in a field. Close-toe shoes optional. Sunscreen and water bottle optional but recommended.