408: Cider's Pomological Life Coach | Know Your Roots, NY

408: Cider's Pomological Life Coach | Know Your Roots, NY

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist April 10, 2024 Duration: 1:10:57

Mike Biltonen and his wife Debbie founded Know Your Roots in 2008 and began offering a wide array of service for backyard and commercial orchardists in 2014.

Cider Chat Ep: 408 Know your Roots Mike in apple tree 200 x300
Mike

This conversation tool place at the Berkshire Roundtable that was founded my Micheal Phillips 34 years ago. This annual meet up of orchardist and cider makers takes place in Massachusetts each spring. It is an informal discussion amoungst peers all on growing apples and assorted pomme fruits. Micheal Phillips was a renown orchardist and author of many books like The Holistic Orchard. Find all his books at Cider Chat's book page. Listen to episode 312 dedicated to Micheal.

In this Cider Chat

  • The backstory of Know Your Roots
  • Services offered by Know Your Roots
  • What to consider before planting an orchard
  • Mike's background in Biodynamic (BD) orcharding
  • Defining Holistic Orcharding
  • Making a BD preparation
  • Climate change – dealing with late season frost
  • The future at Know Your Roots and…cider?
Cider Chat Ep: 408 Know your Roots - Mike and Ria recording 300x200
Mike and Ria recording this episode

Contact for Know Your Roots

Know Your Roots logo

Mentions on this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cider Chat