Frutteto means orchard in Italian, we have a Bosc Pear, one Oh Henry Peach, a couple of European Plum, 8 Jonathan Apple trees, but mostly we have the famous Sebastopol Gravenstein Apples, old trees and young trees ... with more varieties of fruit trees to come as I have time. 

     Grandpa Enrico "Henry" Bottino came from Piova Massaia, Piemonte, Northern Italy. He arrived on the "La Lorraine" Passenger Ship in 1910 with his sister, Catarina, and their father, Giuseppe, when he was 4 years old. He was raised on his Uncle and Aunt's fruit tree orchard in San Jose, California until he moved to the Mission District of San Francisco, as a young man and met my Grandmother "Sally". I believe the ranching experience in San Jose brought him, years later, to this 4 acre Sebastopol property in the 1960's where he grew his family, his garden and took care of his orchard the best he could.

     I remember growing up here and have fond memories of the family, gardens, grapes, orchards, tractors, trucks, fire / smoke (from pruning the trees), the Russian River and dirt! Grandpa would use a broom to broom (dust) my cousin and I off before we were allowed back in the house.

     I loved it then, and I love it now! He and Grandma Sally called the property "El Rancho Grande".  Uncle Joe called it "Rancho Bottino", and I've been calling it the "Bottino Ranch", but think going back to grandpa's roots "Bottino Frutteto" sounds just about right at this time, for me. (grin)

"as with everything,... a labor of love and, a work in progress"

     Here at the Bottino Ranch, we are a third generation, 4 acre, organic Gravenstein Apple Orchard located in the Russian River area of Sonoma County, California. Since taking on the property in the early 1960's my grandfather, Henry Bottino, loved the land and worked hard to preserve the orchard and market the fruit from more than 100 Gravenstein Apple Trees producing Organic Eating Apples, Apple Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar. Today we take the same view and are working toward increasing the numbers of trees and continuing Grandpa's vision.

     Unfortunately I didn't spend the time I should have with him in order to learn and understand, I was very young, and so have lost his knowledge. Now I must relearn and refocus the operations of the ranch to allow it to thrive again. I've been here just over a year and so must learn as I grow.  

     Gravenstein Apple Trees are high producers, almost always becoming so full that limbs break if they are not properly "propped" to support the load. The trees were widely planted here is Sonoma county in the 1800 hundreds, where there used to be thousands of acres of apple orchards. Now there are fewer than 900 acres as of an article I read some years ago. I recall some wonderful pictures of the "industry that once was the Gravenstein Apple", grown in Sonoma County and shipped via railroad across the U.S.

     Now that climate change is being recognized, issues are developing for all crops and climates which up till now haven't really affected our ranch yet. However, we see it coming, and must work toward the remedy now, rather than wait too long and possibly lose it all.  The temperatures are rising , which will change the timing and production. Lack of water / drought, which will prevent the trees from holding the moisture they normally hold, producing fewer apples and making the trees more susceptible to damage, fire, disease, and the like. 

     My climate related goal is to stop discing (plowing) the orchard and try to improve the soil again by being more natural, by planting cover crops and encouraging more diverse plants to grow and sink their roots far down into the ground which will allow the soil to hold the moisture we do have for a longer period of time. To promote a more natural way for plant and animal life to thrive on the property and encourage more pollinators and predators to our land. Building soil health seems to be my new focus at this time, I need to grow worms and microorganisms, just as I remember the neighbor doing so many years ago. He said he was "growing worms" and I just didn't get it at that time, I was 6 years old. 

     My approach to accomplishing this line of thought, is to learn more about how and why we do certain things in certain ways. I don't have the luxury of going to school full time, so self study must be my guide initially. As time permits I plan on attending more farm and garden meeting / classes offered by various organizations in the neighborhood like the Sonoma County Master Gardeners Guild and the Farm Bureau. 

     Fist thing, Don't disc. Second thing, evaluate the trees and make notes on each one. Third thing, prune for health and welfare of the trees. Learn how and when to use organic sprays for pests and diseases common in this area. and finally build the soil, grow worms! 

     Currently we have old original trees that where here when Grandpa purchased the property in 1960's, many are damaged by weather, gophers burrowing into the trunk, and lack of care. There was a local farmer who had an agreement with Grandpa to take care of the orchard in exchange of taking the fruit to market, and for many years the farmer's crew did an excellent job, but over time the orchard care dwindled until they would only pick the fruit and not care for the orchard. The last time they came, in 2020, our orchard produced 20 bins (see pictures) of Gravenstein Apples. The farmer passed away a few years ago, and his family sent out a message to the all of the micro-orchards they had as clients, including us, stating they would no longer be able to support us and so, as of this note, I am the caretaker of the trees. I'm happy to say in 2005 we planted some Semi-Dwarf Apple Trees in the front of the property, and they are doing really well, producing very nice apples each year.

     How do I evaluate my system, I need to spend more time watching and paying attention, I think it is time to start keeping a journal on the whole property and each individual tree. Test the soil from time tot ime and see the changes / improvements. I need to watch the worms, the natural mulching and the natural progression rather that discing the dirt and creating a hardpan.

     Grandpa loved the property and purchased it because the soil was "just right", now it is my turn to keep the soil 'just right".

 12/3/2021 JBF