Behind our house

Everyone had an orchard

In the country and even on city lots, children love to take care of plants, vegetables and even trees. This is how they learn to take responsibility for living things. At any age, is there anything more satisfying than biting into the fruit of a tree you’ve grown yourself?

I was given an apple tree when I was born. It’s now over three meters high. I like to pick apples and make apple crisp and applesauce. Thomas, 9 years old

A lone cherry tree next to a road, Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

Much of the Côte-du-Sud region has been or still is used for farming. The landscape bears witness to this.

Very old apple tree, Cap-Saint-Ignace

Even if you pay just the slightest attention, you’ll see many gnarled old trees that were once part of domestic orchards.

At a time when there were only general stores and limited means of transport, family orchards offered a supply of fruit at just a stone’s throw from the house. Eaten fresh or processed, this fruit provided inexpensive additions to meals and snacks for large families.

Émilia and Antoinette Caron with, in the background, the small orchard on the family farm in Saint-Aubert, ca. 1922

Young fruit tree growers!

In the first half of the 20th century, home economics was taught to young girls in elementary school so that they could learn how to meet all the needs of their future families or how to become good employees in private homes. One of their textbooks, La culture du potager et des arbres fruitiers, discussed how to grow vegetable gardens and fruit trees. The students, although very young, learned how to tend orchards, reflecting the fact that small family orchards were very common at the time.

Between tradition and novelty

Columnar apple tree, Saint-Vallier

Lifestyles have changed and, oddly enough, yesterday’s obligations have become today’s pleasures. This is particularly true in the case of people who find that growing a few fruit trees on their land is a relaxing pastime.

Treating yourself to fresh, tasty and healthy products, while relaxing, doing a bit of exercise and taking part in a family activity is anything but a chore.

Today’s fruit trees are the product of years of study and genetic modification. Researchers have managed to change the shape of trees and make their fruit more resistant to disease. Whether you like it or not, you must admit that the column-shaped apple tree is surprising. This narrow shape is also found in pear trees. It’s the ideal variety for small plots.