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

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

Orchard People
Podcast Episodes
Mites and Fruit Trees with Fred Beaulieu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:41
Fred Beaulieu, Ph.D., a mite expert and Research Scientist from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada talks about mites - the good, the bad and the ones you'll find in your fruit trees. This month's recommended resource is Th…
Dying Apple Trees and Sudden Apple Decline (SAD) with Kari Peter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:53
Kari Peter, Ph.D of Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Centre, talks about Sudden Apple Decline (SAD) or Rapid Apple Decline, which has devastated orchards in Ontario, New York State, Washington and Pennsylvania. Ap…
Growing Uncommon Fruits with Lee Reich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
Lee Reich, PhD. author of Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden, shares some of the interesting fruits he grows on what he calls his "farmden" (which he says is more than a garden, and less than a farm) in New York state. The…
Growing Tropical Fruits Anywhere with Byron Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:51
Byron Martin, co-author of the book Growing Tasty Tropical Plants In Any Home, Anywhere talks about tropical fruits you can grow indoors where ever you live. Byron is the third generation owner of Logee’s Plants for Home…
Buying Organic Fruit Trees with Taylor Ingram [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:28
You may grow your fruit trees organically - but are you growing organic fruit trees? In this episode, we speak with Taylor Ingram of Stark Bro's Nurseries and Orchards about their new line of organically grown fruit tree…
Autumn Olives - If You Can't Beat Them, Eat Them! with Dustin Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:14
Autumn olive shrubs (Elaeagnus umbellata) are considered an invasive species in North America. One way to cut down on their spread is to harvest the fruit and reduce the seed. Dustin Kelly of Autumn Berry Inspired talks…
Dehydrating Fruit with Teresa Marrone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:38
Teresa Marrone, author of The Beginner's Guide to Dehydrating Food, talks to us about making and using dried foods. We learn what types of home-grown or bought fruit are easiest to dehydrate, what types of tools you need…
Easy Berries with Bob Bors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:17
Bob Bors, co-author of the book "Growing Fruit in Northern Gardens" and the head of the Fruit Breeding Program of the University of Saskatchewan talks about his favourite easy-to-grow berries that thrive in cold climates…
Hazelnuts and Truffles with Adam Koizol [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:16
Adam Koziol of Earthgen Tree Nursery in Ontario explains why hazelnut trees are becoming increasingly popular both in the home garden and as a cash crop. He also discusses how the trees can be inoculated so that they pro…
Willow Mulch for Fruit Trees with Dr. Glynn Percival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:31
Dr Glynn Percival manages the UK and Ireland Bartlett Tree Research and Diagnostic Laboratory based at the University of Reading and talks about how new growth on willow trees that makes a mulch that boosts fruit tree he…