As early as 1814, the Peirce family advertised in Washington newspapers that it had 20,000 apple trees for sale at its farm surrounding the mill. Linnaean Hill, the nursery founded by Joshua Peirce, son of patriarch Isaac Peirce, was a major supplier of plants to landscapers in the city’s early days. For more on the history of the orchard, please see this blog post.
The old orchards are gone, but in 2012 the Friends of Peirce Mill created a demonstration orchard behind Peirce Barn. The National Park Service cleared the site of invasive shrubs and vines. Casey Trees donated two dozen apple and pear trees, and organized volunteers to plant them. Click here to watch a high-speed video of planting day.
In 2017, DC artist Tim Makepeace took charge of the orchard. Working with volunteers, Tim spaced the existing trees to allow more room for growth. He also researched heirloom fruit trees listed in Joshua Peirce’s nursery 19th-century catalogues. Tim grafted some of these heirloom apple and pear varieties onto the young trees at Peirce orchard. Click here to see a list of the fruit varieties growing in the orchard.
Tim and a dedicated crew of orchard volunteers work in the orchard throughout the year. Twice a year, they sow cover crops to build the soil and improve fertility. In late fall, they plant buckwheat and rye as a cover crop–these grains grow in the orchard all winter. In the spring, they sow a mix of flowers and other beneficial plants. By fall, the orchard’s flowers rival the colors of the foliage in Rock Creek Park.
In June, Deloitte sends a large crew of enthusiastic volunteers to Peirce orchard for a day of service. Thanks to Deloitte, an 8-foot high fence was installed around the orchard, protecting the young trees from nibbling deer. Deloitte volunteers also plant cover crops, remove invasive species, and spread mulch.
If you’d like to learn more about the orchard, contact Tim Makepeace: makepeace@verizon.net.
