By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
STUDENTS at Gladysdale Primary School spent a morning last week learning how to look after their apple trees.
Principal John Shackleton said the school logo was changed late last year from an apple to an apple tree.
“We looked for a logo that had greater symbolism – from little things big things grow,” he said.
As a result, local orchardist Bob Sanders planted two two-year-old pink lady apple trees at the front entrance of the school in October and has been looking after them since.
But to make sure they grow out with lots of apples, rather than up with lots of wood, Mr Sanders taught the students “apple training”.
“In our orchards we have a row of wires and tie the branches to the wires,” he said.
“With single trees we hammer a nail in and tie the branches down to that on a 30 degree angle.”
He said after six weeks the tree’s branches would stay where they were.
The students even made a few suggestions, such as putting a net over the trees so the birds or possums couldn’t get to the apples.
Mr Shackleton said the Sanders also help with the provision of fresh fruit after the State Government canned funding for its Fresh Fruit Friday program last year.
The new harvest season has begun with a variety of fresh apples out for picking including fujis, pink ladies and gala.
In celebration of the new harvest the annual Gladysdale Apple and Wine Festival will take place at the school grounds on Sunday 5 May between 10am and 4pm, Little Yarra Road, Gladysdale, with all proceeds going towards the school.
