High-density orchards are not new but are rare on farms along the front range of Colorado. The basic principles are: 1. High-Tree Density = High-Yields. 2. Balance Vegetative Growth to Fruit Production 3. Grow Fruit, not Wood.

We chose to plant at a high density to ensure our farming is sustainable. In standard orchards where trees are grown 15-25 feet apart, each tree produces only a certain yield depending on the cultivar and quality of the nursery stock. Our newly planted orchard at 1000 trees/acre will produce double the yield of a traditionally planted 500 tree/acre orchard.

To put this plan in place, it took 18 months of field preparations and a big dose of support from our community. In 2022, Mariposa Farm was awarded a grant from the Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund of Boulder County. This grant was used to establish the high-density apple orchard.