Do you have a fruit tree you'd like to share with friends, but you're not sure where to start? Join us at Festival Beach Food Forest for an introductory workshop on fruit tree propagation! We'll cover the basics—from seed starting to rooting cuttings to grafting—with live demonstrations of each, opportunities for hands-on practice, and guidance on which method(s) are most appropriate and effective for any given fruit tree. These techniques will be used in the subsequent months, so now is the time to refresh or build your knowledge on fruit tree cultivation!
Bring your passion for learning, your curiosity to cultivate fruit, and don't forget a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
Parking: Construction is blocking parking in front of the food forest on Waller. You can park farther north on Waller in front of the community garden (and beyond) and walk south down the sidewalk to the food forest. Free parking is also available in the lower level of the Ladybird Parking garage on Art Dilly St. behind the food forest.
Leading Experts:
Walker Pickens - an urban forestry professional with years of experience in fruit tree propagation, orchard stewardship, and teaching Central Texans how to plant and care for trees (and, ideally, keep them alive). He leads the Fruit Tree Preservation project with Central Texas Seed Savers and coordinates TreeFolks' NeighborWoods program, which distributed over 9,000 free 5-gallon trees to City of Austin residents last year alone. He is particularly interested in finding and propagating fruit trees that have proven they can thrive in our local climate with little or no human intervention. He believes that fruit trees - and the knowledge needed to help them thrive - should be accessible to everyone with a hunger to learn.
Austin Davenport - In the heart of Central Texas, Austin Davenport is a dedicated advocate for sustainable living, land stewardship, and improving access to nutritious food. Hosting a multitude of workshops each month across the region, Austin works to equip individuals with the skills to cultivate their own food amid today's challenges. Within the Central Texas Mycological Society, Austin develops outreach curriculum on soil health and cultivation. As a pivotal figure within the Central Texas Young Farmers Coalition, Austin coordinates educational & recreational events for local producers and beginning farmers.
