For decades fruit growers have sprayed their trees withtoxic chemicals in an attempt to control a range of insect and fungal pests.Yet it is possible to grow apples responsibly, by applying the intuitiveknowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of modern scientificresearch and innovation. Since The Apple Grower first appeared in 1998,orchardist Michael Phillips has continued his research with apples, which havebeen called "organic's final frontier." In this new edition of hiswidely acclaimed work, Phillips delves even deeper into the mysteries ofgrowing good fruit with minimal inputs. Some of the cutting edge topics heexplores include: The use of kaolin clay as an effective strategy againstcurculio and borers, as well as its limitations Creating a diverse, healthyorchard ecosystem through under story management of plants, nutrients, andbeneficial microorganisms How to make a small apple business viable by focusingon heritage and regional varieties, value-added products, and the "communityorchard" model The author's personal voice and clear-eyed advice havealready made The Apple Grower a classic among small-scale growers and homeorchardists. In fact, anyone serious about succeeding with apples needs to havethis updated edition on their bookshelf.