The Holistic Approach
The Holistic Approach
Our goal is to help provide folks across Canada with the opportunity to create a sustainable (and edible) future, one tree at a time. Our dream is to help people gain more food sovereignty, become more self-sufficient, be more connected with the land and their food again; we want to provide the opportunity for people to produce their own nourishing food from healthy plants and soil!
We run our business, the same way we strive to live our lives. At our fruit tree nursery, we believe that the health of the land and the trees go hand in hand. We strive to work with and attain natural, sustainable, holistic and regenerative farming practices; it’s at the heart of everything we do in our orchard. We cultivate a polyculture ecosystem, nurturing biodiversity that thrives in a harmonious balance—from the chickens roaming the yard to the earthworms working beneath the soil.
This holistic approach ensures that our trees grow strong and healthy, creating a balanced environment that focuses on the soil and helps build the plants natural immunity. This natural approach often negates the need to rely on the use of harmful chemicals; we thoughtfully select natural pesticides and fertilizers that are approved for organic use and focus on the plants natural immunity over death of the disease or pest.
When you choose our trees, you’re not just adding to your orchard—you’re supporting a sustainable future, one tree at a time.
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The high oil content of a fish hydrolysate is known to benefit the development of soil mycorrhizae, which are excellent in themselves at breaking down organic soil matter and releasing the valuable nutrients into the soil.
We use this in our orchard for all trees (both in our experimental orchard and nursery stock) as part of our holistic spray system. You can download the holistic spray recipe here.
Fish Hydrolysate, in its simplest form, is ground up fish transformed into a liquid, by means of a cold process, where the breakdown of molecular bonds occurs through various biological and enzymatic processes. This breaks down the smaller pcs of fish body- bones, cartilage and meat- into a nutrient rich soup that also contains a high concentration of valuable fish oil.
Fish hydrolysate is different from fish emulsion. The latter is also made from ground up fish waste. However this is commonly done under a heated process, where the fish meal and more importantly, the fish oil are then removed and sold separately. This makes fish emulsion a less desirable product for soil and plant health than fish hydrolysate.
The fish used for the production of our fish hydrolysate are wild fish waste from the cold waters of the Pacific West Coast.
This product is approved for organic use.
We use this in our orchard for all trees (both in our experimental orchard and nursery stock) as part of out holistic spray system. You can download the holistic spray recipe here.
Full of trace minerals, this liquid seaweed comes from the Ascophyllum nodosum plant in the Atlantic Ocean.
Kelp is one of the first tools you should reach for in the toolbox of plant care. There is hardly a comparable option that has the range of benefits that kelp can provide. Kelp improves seed germination, enhances crop defense mechanisms and growth, promotes stronger roots, resists drought and other environmental stresses- all the while boosting yields and improving soil health. How can a plant not like this stuff?
Because of its immersion in sea water, kelp is widely known for its content of beneficial trace elements such as copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, sulphur and more. Often people solely focus on the NPK ratios when it comes to their plants, thinking that this is all the plant needs. But the micro minerals are equally important, as very minute amounts of these can be critical to impacting optimum plant health and growth.
However the area where liquid kelp really excels can be found in the added benefit of its containing a range of plant hormones such as cytokinins, gibberellins and auxins as well as phytosanitary agents. It is these hormones that regulate, trigger and direct plant growth, both in the root zone, as well as in the leaflets and growth tips. As plant growth moves through root expansion, to building frame, it then changes over to its reproductive phase, where it begins to flower and set fruit. The plants requirements for the various hormones that trigger and impact these stages varies throughout these cycles.
Auxins are quite important early on in plant growth, as it regulates the expansion of the roots, along with the building of the structure and frame of the plant. Cytokinins are particularly crucial for much of the plant vegetation growth phase, as they initiate rapid cell division and new cell wall production.
Although cytokinins are important throughout all plant growth phases, as it comes into the important flowering stage, the hormone balance shifts more dominantly towards cytokinins. These promote cytokinesis, the process of stimulating cell division. They help improve leaf growth, but more importantly during the transition to reproductive growth, or flowering, they can shorten node length and directly assist in the production of more lateral bud development. This has been shown to increase flower yield and quality levels considerably.
Liquid kelp is also very effective in helping the plant resist plant stress, due to excessive heat conditions and drought.
Liquid quid kelp is best applied directly as a drench to the soil in the early stages of plant growth, so that it can help with root development. But when the plant is transitioning to the flower stage, it is preferable to use as a foliar.
When applying as a foliar, it is always best to spray your plants before 7:00 in the morning- or earlier, as it is in the coolness of the morning before the heat of the sun closes the stomata on the underside of the leaves when the plant is most able to absorb the valuable nutrients that liquid kelp provides. Adding a small amount of liquid yucca as a surfactant helps greatly in the plant absorption process, as this keeps the liquid from 'balling up' and forming droplets on the leaf surface. Instead, the surfactant breaks this water tension down and establishes a much greater liquid coverage of the leaf surface, making the whole process much more efficient.
Application rates are 5-10 ml per litre of water minimum, repeated every 7-30 days. This product is approved for organic use.
945mL bottle is enough for 200L of spray mix, or 4x 50L mixes.
Terra Biosa is a dynamic, microbial soil inoculant. It is categorized as a Biological Compost Aid for the cultivation and stimulation of soil productivity and plant health. This all-natural and organic product is useful in orchards, vineyards, gardens, and compost by providing the following benefits:
- Stimulates plants metabolism
- Enhances yield as well as quality of fruit and produce
- Improves resistance to fungal infestations
- Improves soil quality by restoring micro-organisms in the soil
We use this in our orchard for all trees (both in our experimental orchard and nursery stock) as the effective microbe component of our holistic spray system. You can download the holistic spray recipe here.
Recommended Application Rates:
Soil: Mix 1 tsp of Terra Biosa per 40 sq. ft. (4 m2) in your water and apply while irrigating. Apply every two weeks for best result.
Foliar care and feeding: Mix 1 tsp. of Terra Biosa per 1L of fresh (preferably structured) water and apply using a spray bottle. Remember to mist leaves on both sides.
Unsulphured blackstrap molasses are a great way of getting some much-needed nutrients to your trees in a more natural way, generally being considered high in iron, calcium, and magnesium. It is also a key ingredient in our Holistic Spray if you are using effective microbes.
Please note the molasses we carry is not food grade.
Contents: Organic, unsulphured, pasteurized, non-GMO blackstrap molasses
Size: 945mL bottle
Application:
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Root Drench - 1tsp per 1L of water during vegetative state every 7-14 days
- Root Drench During Bloom - 2tsp per 1L of water every 7-14 days
- Foliar - 1/4tsp of water per 1L of water every 14 days
Soil: Any
Ever wondered about the mysterious 'Holistic Spray' we mention? Learn all about how we care for our trees without the use of harsh chemicals it in this workshop. Crooked Farmz will also be hosting a compost tea pop-up at the nursery during our workshop, see below for details!
Join us to discuss spraying, the ingredients in a holistic spray, when, where, and most importantly, why we use this method! We will show you our set up and offer advice to make your own spray, for your own localized pest and disease pressures.
We are offering two different dates this year (select from below), for you to join for our 2026 Holistic Spray Workshop in order to accommodate a growing interest.
We are offering you a choice of either Friday, April 10th, 2026 (5:30pm-7:30pm) OR Saturday, April 11th, 2026 (9am-11am OR 1pm-3pm).
Registration includes a 2 hour mini-workshop, where you’ll learn:
-the theory behind this method/what is a holistic spray
-how to make a holistic spray
-what ingredients you’ll need
-how to tweak it to suit your needs based on your localized pest pressures
-when to spray (seasonally + time of day)
What to Bring: a lawn chair and note taking material. We will pass around a handout with the basic recipe. Michael Phillip’s book will also be available for purchase; it is an
invaluable resource!
Please also dress for the weather: we will be outdoors or in an unheated hoop house depending on the weather, followed by a quick tour of the orchard when when we do a demo spray.
Crooked Farmz Pop-Up and Workshop
Crooked Farmz will be hosting a compost tea pop-up and a Soil Health & Microbial Life Workshop at the nursery during the Holistic Spray Workshop!
Compost Tea must be pre-ordered ahead of time and the last date to place an order is April 8th. Compost tea must be picked up either April 10th or April 11th. See HERE for more details and to pre-order!
The Soil Health & Microbial Life workshop will be hosted by Sean Smith, owner of Crooked Farmz. This FREE workshop on Soil Health & Microbial Life on Friday, April 10th from 4pm-5pm. See HERE for more details and to register!
The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way demystifies the basic skills everybody should know about the inner-workings of the orchard ecosystem, as well as orchard design, soil biology, and organic health management. Detailed insights on grafting, planting, pruning, and choosing the right varieties for your climate are also included, along with a step-by-step instructional calendar to guide growers through the entire orchard year. The extensive profiles of pome fruits (apples, pears, Asian pears, quinces), stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums), and berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and elderberries) will quickly have you savoring the prospects.
Michael Phillips has been a huge inspiration for how we run things here at Silver Creek Nursery. From considering the principles of orchard ecosystems to the holistic spray recipe we have listed on our website, his knowledge and insight has been an irreplaceable resource for us.
Exploring the science of symbiotic fungi in layman’s terms, holistic farmer Michael Phillips (author of The Holistic Orchard and The Apple Grower) sets the stage for practical applications for working with mycorrhizal fungi across the landscape. The real impetus behind no-till farming, gardening with mulches, cover cropping, digging with broadforks, shallow cultivation, forest-edge orcharding, and everything related to permaculture is to help the plants and fungi to prosper . . . which means we prosper as well.
Building soil structure and fertility that lasts for ages results only once we comprehend the nondisturbance principle. As the author says, “What a grower understands, a grower will do.” Mycorrhizal Planet abounds with insights into “fungal consciousness” and offers practical, regenerative techniques that are pertinent to gardeners, landscapers, orchardists, foresters, and farmers. Michael’s fungal acumen will resonate with everyone who is fascinated with the unseen workings of nature and concerned about maintaining and restoring the health of our soils, our climate, and the quality of life on Earth for generations to come.
Sepp Holzer farms steep mountainsides in Austria 1,500 meters above sea level. His farm is an intricate network of terraces, raised beds, ponds, waterways and tracks, well covered with productive fruit trees and other vegetation, with the farmhouse neatly nestling amongst them. This is in dramatic contrast to his neighbors’ spruce monocultures.
In this book, Holzer shares the skill and knowledge acquired over his lifetime. He covers every aspect of his farming methods, not just how to create a holistic system on the farm itself, but how to make a living from it. Holzer writes about everything from the overall concepts, down to the practical details. In Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture readers will learn:
- How he sets up a permaculture system
- The fruit varieties he has found best for permaculture growing
- How to construct terraces, ponds, and waterways
- How to build shelters for animals and how to work with them on the land
- How to cultivate edible mushrooms in the garden and on the farm
- and much more!
Holzer offers a wealth of information for the gardener, smallholder, or alternative farmer yet the book’s greatest value is the attitudes it teaches. He reveals the thinking processes based on principles found in nature that create his productive systems. These can be applied anywhere.