A UC Davis Whole Orchard Recycling (WOR) program grower profile (published March 20, 2019) documenting Christine Gemperle’s first experience with whole-orchard recycling on a 20-acre block of her 135-acre almond operation in Ceres, Stanislaus County. Covers her motivation (no viable alternatives for orchard removal after firewood and cogen markets dried up), the logistics of pulling and grinding trees, applying liquid chicken manure to accelerate chip breakdown, nitrogen management planning in partnership with UCCE’s Roger Duncan, and her plans to plant cover crops (mustard and clover) in the replanted orchard for pollinator health and soil texture improvement.
