When you want to extend the olive branch, why not give the whole tree.

Southern California – Ojai Valley
Olive Orchard Pruning Workshop

Presented by Samantha Dorsey,
Nursery and Vineyard Manager at McEvoy Ranch

Date/Time:   Saturday, March 27, 2010 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Cost:$100 (pre-registration required)
Locations:Morning: Oak View Park and Resource Center, Oak View, CA
Afternoon: The orchards of Ojai Olive Oil

Come sharpen your pruning skills! Join Samantha Dorsey of McEvoy Ranch for a one-day olive orchard event. A variety of orchard topics will be covered during the morning lecture, and then we’ll head outdoors in the afternoon for a hands-on pruning demonstration. Bring your questions and be ready to increase your tree knowledge!

Morning discussion topics:

  • Timing of Pruning
  • Proper Use of Pruning Tools
  • Different Pruning Techniques for Different Applications
  • Pruning Young Trees vs. Pruning Older Trees
  • Pruning to Maximize Fruit Production
  • Discussion of other Orchard Cultural Practices in Relation to Pruning

Afternoon:
Following a break (lunch is on your own), we will re-group at the orchards of Ojai Olive Oil in Ojai. The afternoon session will include instruction in the orchard and opportunities to observe techniques discussed in the morning. (Weather permitting. If conditions make outdoor pruning impossible, we will re-group at the morning venue and continue the discussion using a potted tree.)

Southern California delivery fee waived for trees pre-ordered by registered workshop participants.
To order, contact Samantha at 707-769-4123 or samantha@mcevoyranch.com

Samantha Dorsey has been working at McEvoy Ranch since June 2001. Her BA in Environmental Studies is from Oberlin College. She currently manages the olive tree nursery and the 7 acres of vineyards.

Workshop Reservation

Please contact Amy Schafbuch at 707-769-4128 or amy@mcevoyranch.com with questions.

Additional Information
The University Extension Office in Sonoma County has a wealth of information for olive growers, both commercial and residential. The following link will lead to you to the olive tree section of the County Extension website that has articles about pest and disease management, harvest methods, oil yield and milling, resources and classes for California olive oil producers, current issues for the industry, and other pertinent information for growers. For more information.

If you are interested in keeping abreast with the most current olive research and news, we recommend that you check the University Extension Office’s quarterly newsletter titled First Press.

There are three very informative books for California olive growers:

Pruning and Training Systems for Modern Olive Growing (by CSIRO Publishing) These two Italian authors offer the most comprehensive guide to pruning olive trees available.  This book is useful to professionals, beginners and everyone in between as it is distinct to the olive tree, which requires different pruning techniques than other stone fruits.  The extensive research that has gone into this book also makes it valuable for learning about other aspects of the olive tree as they relate to pruning and training decisions.

The Olive Production Manual (The University Press at Davis) This University of California publication offers the best introduction to California olive cultivation.  The book is a compilation of essays ranging from olive tree physiology, proper nutrition, pruning, orchard preparation, irrigation management, trends in the canning and oil industries, harvesting your crop, to processing the olives for canning or oil.  

The Organic Olive Production Manual (The University Press at Davis). This book is the perfect companion for the Olive Production Manual for growers interested in pursuing organic olive production.  All of the recommendations for fertilization, pest, disease and weed management, land development, and processing fit within an organic scheme. 

If you have specific pest or disease issues that you are confronting with your olive trees, you can try looking them up on the UC Davis Integrated Pest Management website which is full of helpful, organic control methods.

Pests
We encourage you to be especially well-informed regarding the Olive Fruit Fly and Peacock Spot. The Olive Fruit Fly will lay its eggs inside the ripening olive fruit, compromising the quality of the fruit and the extracted oil.





Peacock Spot is a fungus that attacks the leaves of the olive tree, leading to a decreased ability to photosynthesize and eventual defoliation.

This pest and disease are quite easy to mange with a little effort, but can hurt your trees or crop if left unattended.