Growing Fruit Trees Naturally with Lindsay Engers

Growing Fruit Trees Naturally with Lindsay Engers

Author: Susan Poizner, OrchardPeople.com July 29, 2025 Duration: 1:01:58
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Learn how to grow fruit trees naturally by leveraging historical knowledge and organic, regenerative, and ecological practices with Lindsay Engers. Lindsay is a horticulturist, lecturer, and founder/owner of Chiltern Heritage Orchards (CHO) in the UK.


Lindsay operates his orchard with 3 simple principles:

  1. Historical knowledge of reliable cultivars and growing requirements.
  2. Organic and regenerative growing techniques which produce highly flavoured, nutritious and pesticide-free crops.
  3. Use diverse ecological environmental practices to support the crop through beneficial insects, birds and bats. 

Lindsay believes this is a very exciting time for agriculture "if you can persuade yourself to forget some of the things you learned in the past, and you open up a little bit to the idea of being a biological grower." 


The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  


Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books


She is also the creator of five-star rated premium online fruit tree care education at: https://learn.orchardpeople.com


HOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST

The show airs on the last Tuesday of every month on RealityRadio101 at 1:00 PM ET! While it’s no longer live, you can still watch or listen anytime—and catch the recorded podcast anytime afterward.


📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist.

🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs.

🌐 Article: Read the article linked to the show "Growing Fruit Trees Naturally" and find the video and podcast links there too! 

 

✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/


For premium fruit tree care education visit: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE:


✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees:

https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/

🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases:

https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/

🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees:

https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/

🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow:

https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/

🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees:

https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/


MORE PODCASTS TO EXPLORE WITH RELATED TOPICS:

Relationship with trees

Know Your Fruit Tree's Name with Jason Adkins, and Brown Turkey Fig Trees in Philly with Erica Smith Fichman

Custom Fruit Tree Spray Recipes with John Kempf

Why Pests Can't Attack Healthy Plants with Thomas M. Dykstra

How Good Bugs Can Protect Your Fruit Trees From Pests with Jessica Walliser and Brian Spencer


Growing Perennial Vegetables with Ben Caeser


Cover Crops with Christina Currell


Bee Garden Design and Fruit Trees with Lorraine Johnson


Edible Landscaping & The Use of Animals with Gary and Joel Salatin


These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!


  • (00:00) - Introduction and Overview
  • (00:02) - Defining Natural Fruit Tree Care
  • (00:59) - Interview with Lindsay Engers: Natural Fruit Tree Care
  • (02:40) - Understanding Regenerative Growing
  • (03:11) - Organic vs. Regenerative Agriculture
  • (04:05) - Historical Techniques and Varieties
  • (04:53) - Challenges and Market Realities
  • (06:43) - Nutrient Management and Soil Health
  • (08:09) - The Role of Microbiome in Plant Health
  • (14:57) - Practical Soil Preparation Techniques
  • (21:04) - Managing Grass and Mulching
  • (23:10) - The Benefits of Rock Dust
  • (30:18) - The Plant Health Pyramid and Pest Management
  • (31:38) - The Benefits of Not Spraying
  • (32:15) - Healthy Plants and Pest Resistance
  • (32:48) - The Importance of Covering Soil
  • (35:38) - The Role of Cover Crops
  • (39:14) - Foliar Sprays for Tree Health
  • (45:03) - Grazing Animals in Orchards
  • (48:47) - Deer Protection Strategies
  • (54:46) - Transitioning to Natural Growing Methods
  • (56:37) - Exciting Times for Agriculture
  • (58:56) - Final Thoughts and Resources

Imagine stepping into your own backyard and picking a perfect, sun-warmed apple from a tree you nurtured yourself. That tangible connection to the land and the deep satisfaction of growing your own food is at the heart of Orchard People. Hosted by fruit tree care educator Susan Poizner, this podcast digs into the practical and often surprising world of cultivating fruit trees, whether you have a few pots on a balcony or several acres to explore. Each episode feels like a thoughtful conversation with a knowledgeable friend, as Susan and her guests unpack the nuances of pruning for better harvests, managing pests without harsh chemicals, and understanding the life beneath our feet through soil health. You’ll hear from specialists on topics like grafting heirloom varieties, designing resilient food forests, and integrating permaculture principles into any space. It’s more than just tips and tricks; it’s about building confidence and community around sustainable growing. Tune in to this garden-focused podcast for grounded advice that helps both new and experienced growers foster healthier trees and more abundant yields, season after season.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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