Orchard Supplies

Stella Natura Biodynamic Planting Calendar for 2027  Working with Cosmic Rhythms.

The Stella Natura^® Biodynamic Planting Calendar joins in the long ancestral tradition of orienting our work on the land with the rhythms of the cosmos.

Founded on the work of Rudolf Steiner, the approach taken in the Stella Natura Calendar seeks to renew ancestral agrarian wisdom through modern spiritual scientific research.  

The mission of this Calendar is to help awaken human partnership with the cosmos in the service of tending to the farm, garden, and natural world, especially plants! To this end, the
Sun and Moon are the planetary bodies upon which this Calendar places the strongest emphasis, as the rhythms of their relationships and influences are most closely observable and practically applied in relation to plant growth.

The charts in this calendar offer advice for when to sow seeds and best times to cultivate the garden and farm crops to enhance their roots (carrots, beets, etc.), flowers (chamomile, zinnias, etc.), leaves (lettuce, spinach, kale …), or fruits (squash, beans, tomatoes, …). This is based on the Moon’s passage through the constellations of the zodiac. Unfavorable times for sowing are also indicated, to help avoid those inexplicable crop failures.

Initiated by Sherry Wildfeuer in 1978, Stella Natura has been heartfully produced by her since that time. After 46 years at the helm, Sherry identified Alex Tuchman, director of Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary, as her chosen successor in this work. Alex and Sherry have worked mindfully and joyously together on this transition and have collaborated closely on the last several issues.

Since Steiner’s time, great contributions towards developing this new star wisdom have been taken by Lilly Kolisko, Elisabeth Vreede, Willi Sucher, Maria Thun, as well as contemporary colleagues like Sherry Wildfeuer, Dennis Klocek, Jonathan Hilton, Mary Stewart Adams, Brian Gray, Malcolm Gardner, and many more.

Permanent Orchard Organization Made Simple

Keep your grafts, rootstocks, and fruit trees properly identified through every Canadian season with these durable aluminum tree labels. Whether you're managing a commercial orchard in BC or cultivating heritage apple varieties in your backyard, these professional-grade markers ensure you'll never lose track of your valuable plantings.

Built to Withstand Canadian Weather

• Rust-proof aluminum construction – survives harsh winters, spring thaws, and summer humidity without degrading
• Fade-resistant surface – your variety names, graft dates, and rootstock codes stay legible year after year
• Smear-proof writing – simply use any ballpoint pen or stylus to mark both sides; ink won't run or wash away
• Secure 23cm wire fastener included – attaches firmly to branches without damaging bark

Perfect for Serious Growers

Ideal for tracking multiple rootstock varieties, documenting graft success rates, organizing your nursery stock, and maintaining accurate orchard records. The 7.5 × 1.5 cm label surface provides ample space for variety names, dates, and notes.

What's included: 1 aluminum tree label with wire fastener

Applewood Morel Mushroom Earrings

These earrings are made from a very old apple tree on the farm where I grew up.  My Grandpa remembered it as an old tree from the time he was young.  It was an unknown crab apple with a yellow skin and a small amount of red blush.  Over the years, many special family pictures have been taken in front of it. The tree is now hollow (as old apples get), and has been home to several animals over the years.  My Dad was a skilled woodworker; he worked with old trees to preserve their memory on more than one occasion.  I make these to now, in memory of him and the tree.   ~ Zack

“There is a sacred relationship between all things. I am particularly fascinated with the connection between mushrooms and trees. It may be that they are very dependent on each other. Anyways…spent every wet Tuesday hunting morels.”

Wayne Muma – May 3^rd, 2017

Made in house by Zack Muma ~ Silver Creek Nursery from apple and maple wood.

# morels #brucepeninsula #thosewhostray

Azomite comes from an old volcanic deposit discovered in Utah in the 40s. It contains an array of minerals and rare earth elements that are beneficial for plants. While it is fairly easy to add macronutrients (NPK; or nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) to your soil, many often miss the importance of adding micronutrients like those contained in azomite which your plants also need.

Contents: A unique array of over 70 minerals, trace, and rare earth elements

Size: Bagged in 4.4lb/2kg bag (around 5 cups).

Application: 1/4 to 1/2 cup per tree, work the dust into the top 3in of the soil. This means a bag will treat 10-20 trees.

Soil: Any

Huplaso is a new basalt from New Brunswick which is proving to be an excellent rock dust option. All basalts originate from volcanic activity and consequently can be rich sources of macro, micro, and trace elements. Huplaso comes from mafic volcanic rock that dates back to the Middle Ordovician times. This deposit emerged from a rapidly cooling magma deposit on the east coast of Canada and contains 57 different mineral elements.

One of the great benefits of basalt is that it generally carries a high paramagnetic reading. The advantage of paramagnetism is not readily embraced by current science. However, most soil scientists are aware of the work of Phil Callahan, who has contributed significantly to the understanding of what constitutes a healthy soil. Because of its own high paramagnetic value, Huplaso is a powerful tool to use in your soils. It is also a valuable liming agent in soils.

This product is approved for organic use.

Equivalency Measurement - 6 cups/2kg

Application: 1 cup per tree, work the dust into the top 3in of the soil. This means a bag will treat 6 trees.

Apply 1/2lb-3lb per cubic foot of soil mix, unless mixing with other rock dusts, in which case adjust accordingly. Use the highest rate for high value crops, poor soils and/or for potentially increased crop yield.

Huplaso Basalt Typical Analysis

Huplaso Basalt SDS

Reap the benefits of a biodynamic, organic approach to gardening and grow abundant crops in tune with lunar cycles.

Biodynamic Gardening has all you need to know about gardening by the moon:

• A biodynamic calendar enables you to plan the growing year
• Recipes for making natural amendments that improve the health and vitality of soil and plants
• Essential plant profiles of vegetables and flowers provide growing instruction from seed to harvest

Gardening basics such as preparing beds, composting, and watering make Biodynamic Gardening suitable for beginners, as well as experienced gardeners looking for permaculture plus advice to fully synchronize with Nature’s rhythms for optimal crops.

As an organic slow-release fertilizer, bone meal is primarily used as a source of phosphorus and protein. Phosphorus promotes early growth, root formation and fruit development in trees, shrubs and other garden plants.

Contents: 4-10-0, bovine source

Size: Bagged in 2.2lb/1kg or 4.4lb/2kg bag

Application: Application rates depend on your soil type, but the general rate is 10lb per 100 square feet, or about 1/4-1/3 cup per tree mixed into the soil when planting; one  1kg bag has enough product for planting ~10-12 bareroot trees. DO NOT apply directly to the tree itself, apply it to the soil around the tree. 

• Please Note: If you are adding phosphorous to your soil via fertilizers such as bone meal or soft rock phosphate and also using the Root Rescue mycorrhizal inoculant, reduce the application rate of the phosphorous source by 1/4-1/2. Too much phosphorous will negatively impact the mycorrhizal fungi, potentially slowing or even preventing your plants from forming a relationship with these incredible fungi.

Soil: Bone meal is best suited for slightly acidic soils (below pH 7) for the bone meal to be most available to the plants.  

Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts is a one-stop compendium of the most productive, edible fruit-and nut-bearing crops that push the boundaries of what can survive winters in cold-temperate growing regions. While most nurseries and guidebooks feature plants that are riddled with pest problems, veteran growers and founders of the Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano, focus on both common and unfamiliar fruits that have few, if any, pest or disease problems and an overall higher level of resilience.

Inside Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts you’ll find:

•   Taste profiles for all fifty hardy fruits and nuts, with notes on harvesting and uses
•   Plant descriptions and natural histories
•   Recommended cultivars, both new and classic
•   Propagation methods for increasing plants
•   Nut profiles including almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, and pecans
•   Fertilization needs and soil/site requirements
•   And much more!