The I planted orchards,
Amazing you started with fruit. Fruit is the food item that has the highest application of pesticides and chemicals. How do you keep it to a minimum?
Well Ace - I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe you could explain further.
Heres what I do know - There are no pesticides, chemicals, etc used in my orchards. It's a slow process. Pure Bond method. It took me 7 yrs to admit that Peaches (6 varieties) weren't going to grow here. The apples (7 varietals) slow, but solid and healthy. Cherries (utah, bing, and tartarian) are going crazy. Pomegranates also crazy. Plums struggling - some are surviving. I could go on ...
As far as fertilizer - the local news channel provides plenty, but I can't stand the smell ... so I shovel out the chicken coop and provide that to the trees. Seems to be working so far.
Cheers!