California Rare Fruit Growers

Central Coast Chapter
[Home Page][Calendar][Local Supporters][Grafting Project][Fruit Information][State Organization]

        CRFG / Cal Poly / Ag Ambassadors

Joe Sabol of our Central Coast CRFG chapter and Cal Poly started the high school grafting project in 1998, and it has turned into an annual event. The Central Coast chapter buys apple rootstocks in large quantities so it can pass on the discount price to the high schools. Then CRFG members, along with Cal Poly Ag Ambassadors, take the rootstocks to high schools and show the students how to graft. It has proven to be a win-win-win venture. Students win with their enthusiasm at the prospect of being able to "build" their own tree. CRFG members win with the satisfaction of seeing the quality of the grafts made by the students. Ag Ambassadors win by staying in touch with local high school students. And high school agriculture teachers win with the low-cost/high-interest activity in their classrooms.

This year the High School Grafting Project helped students graft 3,300 apple roots!  That's right, 3,300!!!

Joe Sabol looses bet!!!

News Reports

Morro Bay Report

Safety First

 

Taree, with Central Coast CRFG members Marv and Joe, grafting at Washington Union High School in Fresno.

2003 Schedule:  

Morro Bay            Pictures

Coast Union            

Gonzales            Pictures

Soledad                Pictures

Shandon                Pictures

Paso Robles            Pictures

Templeton            Pictures

Atascadero            Pictures

San Luis Obispo        Pictures

Nipomo                Pictures

Reghetti                    Pictures

Santa Ynez            Pictures

Lompoc                Pictures

Camarillo                Pictures

Arroyo Grande       

Grizzly Academy        Pictures

Achievement House        Pictures

Phillips School            Pictures

Dear Apple Grafting Friends....

Here's your opportunity ... please make plans to join us on these trips to local and distant schools!!!

The schedule is demanding.  ...to conduct grafting demonstrations at 15 - 30 high schools.  ...and we appreciate the many hours of volunteer help!

_____ It' fun, it's rewarding, and it's easy.

__________ Joe and Marv demonstrate, students graft, you supervise.

_______________ No experience needed.

So what do you do? You help with the distribution of supplies, roots, scionwood, knives, and materials. You look at their graft before they wrap it and "approve it" for guaranteed growth!!! You are part of a team, selling agriculture and horticulture and fruit science and agricultural miracles, and Cal Poly and education and good nutrition!!! We all eat apples at the end of class, provided by the California Apple Commission. This is called "soft recruitment" and is not a hard sell.

The students appreciate our visit, our words of encouragement, and our sales pitch!!! We sell science, nutrition, fruit production, expectations, Cal Poly, the CRFG, and the magic of grafting.