I'm pleased to share that registration is now open for the Illinois Beginning Orchard Academy (IBOA), a six-week online course designed to help beginning fruit growers build a successful orchard from the ground up. Following a successful winter cohort, I'm offering the course again this fall for anyone interested in growing apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and others, whether you have or plan for a commercial orchard, a small farm, a backyard planting, or a community orchard. The course is designed for growers throughout Illinois and the Midwest, and because it is offered online, your orchard can be located anywhere. Over six weeks, we'll cover orchard planning, site selection, varieties and rootstocks, planting, pruning, trellising, insect and disease management, harvest, and storage. Classes will be held Thursdays from October 1 through November 12 (no class October 22) from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. CST via Zoom. All sessions are recorded, giving participants the flexibility to learn on their own schedule, and registration includes access to an extensive library of downloadable resources. If you're thinking about planting fruit trees or want to improve an existing orchard, this course will provide the foundation you need to get started with confidence. The registration fee is $50. Learn more and register today at the link above.