In the 1850s, Yosemite homesteaders planted orchards to grow produce for the people and livestock that were surging into the newly publicized part of the Sierra. Today, those still-standing orchards are recognized not just for their rare heirloom fruits, but also as links to the park’s pioneer past.

Most of the park’s orchards, however, have been neglected for decades. In 2019, with your support, a professional orchardist worked with park staff to assess historic orchards in Yosemite Valley and other areas. This grant funded the development of a management strategy for restoring and protecting the park’s historic fruit trees, including by applying special pruning techniques to stabilize the orchards against further deterioration.

Your gifts funded an important step in an effort to preserve the historical and horticultural value of Yosemite’s 19th-century fruit trees.

Completed in partnership with Yosemite National Park and John Muir Historic Site.