Despite below-zero temperatures and a gray sky, nearly forty enthusiastic apple growers showed up at Riiska Brook Orchard on New Hartford Road on a Saturday morning in mid-February.

They gathered to learn about apple tree pruning from an expert. Joe Pappas, who manages Riiska Brook for owners Calvin Rodman and Emily Melchior, is a trained orchardist who has been in the fruit-growing business for ten years.

Joe shared strategies to increase your tree's fruit production through the quadrant method. Techniques vary for young trees beginning their growth and older trees needing revitalization.

Hardy souls who stayed well into the afternoon were rewarded with fresh-baked blueberry muffins and coffee, courtesy of the Riiska Brook Orchard.

Many potential apple growers who missed the event are hoping the pruning workshop will happen again this spring.

Joe Pappas twisting a young shoot to change its growth orientation. Photo: John Alessi.

Joe Pappas demonstrating the use of his favorite tool, a razor-sharp pruning saw, to remove a small, out-of-place branch. Photo: Tom Christopher.