Course Map
The race will take place through our beautiful, blooming orchards here on the farm. On your run/walk, you will see a variety of signs including orchard identification, fun facts and sweet memories. We hope you enjoy this unique opportunity to see our farm. Unfortunately, the course is not open to the public before or after the race due to farm operations!
A: Asian Pear Block- First on the trail, runners will pass a new planting of Reddy Robin pears. This was a variety that Bruce was able to secure many years ago with an established planting at another site (Sandoe Block) in 2018. It was his hope that we would expand production of this variety. It became a successful variety in our markets, so we fulfilled that hope with this new planting. Nearby, another planting of Harrow Crisp was established this spring. This was another variety that Bruce resourced and planted in a small trial as a cross-pollinator variety in 2018.
B: 10 Acre Block - As you pass the Asian Pear Block and turn right, you will pass the 10 Acre Block. This block was renovated, then replanted in 2014 with Buckeye Gala and Aztec Fuji varieties. Bruce was very interested in and knowledgeable about dwarfing rootstocks. So, this planting became a four-rootstock trial for us. M-9, G-11, G-41, and G935 rootstocks were planted in five row blocks for evaluation. It has not only been a good study for our own purposes but also was used in a nutritional research project by Dr. Rob Crassweller to investigate how different rootstocks performed regarding nutrient uptake and balance.
C: Garretson Block- After running a short distance past the 10 Acre Block, you will pass through the Garretson Block. On the right are full grown peach trees which reflect the perfected pruning practices for an open vase training system. Research showed that retaining a specific number of fruiting branches was ideal for maximizing production and quality for peaches. On the left is a new planting of peaches which will be trained in the same manner. This site had been renovated and was ready for the new orchard to be established. In a few years, the new orchard will look much like the mature trees on the right.
D: Egypt- After you cross Yellow Hill Road and run along the pond bank, on your right you will see “Egypt”. This block was a relatively new pear planting (using a higher density planting system on four wire trellis) promoted by Bruce as we applied an orchard design system similar to our new apple plantings. The main block was established in 2017. The Asian pears at the bottom of the block were planted in 2019. It has been very successful.
E: Contour- Continuing up the hill to the woods, you turn left along another mature peach orchard. This orchard was one of the blocks that Bruce first began to manage the harvest crew during peach harvest. We grow beautiful peaches here, but the block does offer some challenges for tractor, pallet, and crate management due to the increasing slope throughout the block – a factor that taught Bruce many important lessons!
F: Behind the Barn- As you exit the Contour Block, you will pass along our Hemlock windbreak on your right and an older apple planting on your left. This block will soon be replaced. Turning around on the opposite side of the small apple block you’ll pass another block of peaches. This variety, GaLa Peach, was an interesting variety and Bruce was excited to get it established on the farm.
G: Pear Bank- As you continue up the very steep drive along Yellow Hill Road, on your left you will see a steep bank. At the base of that area, an old nectarine planting was removed this winter. However, there are other bushes and trees growing on the steeper sections of the bank. We grew pears on the Pear Bank for over 30 years. Once removed, we deemed the bank too steep in some areas to continue as an orchard. So, primarily through Bruce’s efforts, we secured an NRCS project to do a planting of wild berries and nut trees as a more permanent planting that would eventually contribute to the conservation of the bank. Although we did not have 100% success with all species, many of the tree nuts and berries continue to grow there. We hope to re-establish missing plants in the future.
H: New Ground- The New Ground was once a woodlot which was cleared, renovated, and planted to apples for many years. However, it was also an ideal spot for peaches and after a couple decades of apples, we established the site as a large peach block. Bruce identified a number of interesting, new peach varieties, including several donut peach varieties that we established in a small section of this block. We have since planted some of those varieties in other areas thanks to our ability to evaluate many varieties on our farm. Enjoy the view!
I: Sandoe Block- As you continue the long, uphill path along the New Ground, you pass a small woodlot and then run through that pear planting where the Reddy Robin were first established. This block was started in 2012 and was our first pear orchard established with a 4-wire trellis system. Bruce also wanted to train some of the trees with a double leader to help create a more dwarfing canopy as there are no true dwarfing rootstocks for pears commercially available at this time. The science behind the training system was valid and it worked quite well. Bruce was constantly seeking ways to improve our production systems!
J: New Sandoe Block- Just next to the pears is a planting of plums and apricots. You can note the difference in the planting systems and the relative tree size.
Turning left as you exit the pear and plum planting, there is open ground to your right. This was an area that was cleared several years ago. It is still undergoing renovation and soil amendment as forest soils are extremely “sour” (acid) and need to be amended before tree fruits are established. However, organic matter is very high in these soils, and they often prove to be excellent planting sites, once the nutritional balance is established. A future peach planting is planned at this site. Bruce was excited to have a totally new peach site to plant.
K: Yellow Hill Road- After exiting the Sandoe Block area and turning left down a steep portion of Yellow Hill Road, you will pass areas on the right where trees have been removed. That area will be renovated before new orchards are established. As the terrain levels out, you’ll pass more peach orchards on your right and another pear planting on your left using the 4-wire trellis system. We continue to utilize these planting systems as they have proven to be successful on our farm.
L: The Hollow- Continuing along Yellow Hill Road, you’ll finally turn right up the farm lane through the Garretson Block, pass by our Spray Shed and emerge to have a perfect view of the new plantings in the Asian Pear Block. The race finishes just around the corner!
