Learn some cool outdoor stuff while doing good – a good summary of many SWTU activities.  Have some fruit trees?  Gonna plant some?  Need to learn some pruning with hands on experience with a fabulous instructor?  Then help SWTU continue the restoration of the Neperud Orchard overlooking the Sugar River. This beautiful orchard was the pride and joy of the Neperud family, who sold their land to the County and enabled us to restore a beautiful part of the river and open it for public fishing. This marks our third year of pruning under the direction of Lisa Johnson, instructor for the Dane County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program, to return the orchard to its former beauty and productivity.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of pruning experience. We meet SUNDAY, MARCH 15, AT 10AM at LANDMARK CREAMERY IN PAOLI. Lisa will spend about half an hour teaching us the basics of pruning (for new trees and older trees that need help). We’re then off to the Neperud Orchard, due south and only two minutes away. We’ll work til about 1. In light of all we’ve done in the last two years, this might be our last session. Bring pruning equipment if you can but Lisa brings extra clippers, saws, etc.

A bonus is meeting at Landmark. Coffee and superb pastries will be available in the morning … and stop by after pruning for Wisconsin’s champion grilled cheese sandwich, great cheeses, and other wonderful local foods.

This is a great opportunity to receive excellent hands-on instruction in pruning fruit trees and to help restore a wonderful public resource. The Neperud Orchard has lots of apple and pear trees (with a few pie cherries) and the fruit is available to the public. The orchard is easily viewed from STH 69 and is gorgeous when the trees are in bloom and when they bear fruit.

Landmark Creamery is in the middle of Paoli, right next to the town park. The Neperud Orchard is just south of Paoli on STH 69, just across form the turn into Basco.