2018 Burnt Ridge Nursery tours

Once again, Burnt Ridge Nursery & Orchards in Onalaska, WA is opening up its 20 acres for tours. Our founder, Michael Dolan, will be leading these tours of the land he has stewarded and developed for 38 years. You will see mature nut groves of chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts, ponds, production plantings of kiwis, blueberries, mulberries, grapes, apples and asian pears, and view our greenhouse and shipping facilities.

We have several types of tours this year: Ecotourism, Convergence, and Festival


ECOTOURISM: Saturday, July 21st, Morning (10am-12noon) or Afternoon (2-4pm)

Special Topics: Blueberries, Mulberries & Mid-Summer Crops

Join us for a public Farm and Nursery Tour, with our founder Michael Dolan leading the way as we share with you our 20 acres of organic fruits and nuts, with a special focus on crops that ripen midsummer. Admission is $15 per person, or family of up to 4 for $30. Limit of 30 guests will be strictly enforced due to parking limitations; please carpool if you can.

2pm: TOURING! The fun starts with a tour of our sloping farm site on our rugged trails - not easy access for strollers or those with limited mobility. While we will be viewing all the different crop plants - hazelnuts, chestnuts, kiwis, grapes, and more - we will be paying special attention to the blueberry & mulberry plantings. Cultivation and propagation techniques will be discussed, as well as the specific characteristics of the varieties that do well here in the Pacific Northwest.

3pm: EATING! We will have a sampling of the fruits at the peak of their ripeness, with a focus on flavor, texture and nutrition. Depending on ripening time, offerings will include varieties of blueberries, mulberries, gooseberries & goumi. Chef John Camenzind will tickle our taste buds with quick and easy treats - DIY Appetizer Samplers!

3:30pm: LEARNING! Michael will answer questions about any other crops that caught your eye during the tour.

Live potted plants, certified organic produce and preserved foods will be available to purchase and take home as the event winds to a close. For more information or to purchase tickets online: http://www.burntridgenursery.com/Special-Events-Farm-Tours/products/165/


CONVERGENCE: Friday, September 28, tour at 11am (open at 10am-4pm for organic produce, preserves and plant purchases)

Special Topics: Whole Systems Design at BRN&O

This is a shoulder event for the 2018 NW Permaculture Convergence. Only Convergence attendees are invited to this tour. View the business through the lens of permaculture; both the agriculture itself and the business as it has evolved through time. The 11AM tour is the ONLY opportunity to experience the greater farm. NO latecomers, wanderers, or backpacks allowed due to GAP status. FREE to Convergence ticket holders. For more information: https://www.northwestpermaculture.org/


FESTIVAL: Sunday, October 7th 12-4pm

The Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival is a family-oriented weekend of fun and frolic, including Pancake Breakfast, Fun Run, Parade, Vendor market and Street Dance. On Sunday, there is a self-guided tour of area farms, and Burnt Ridge is part of that tour. From their promotion literature: We specialize in disease resistant bushes, trees, and vines that provide edible fruits or nuts. Our goal is to grow every type of fruit and nut tree that ripens in the Northwest! Please join us for a tour of our farm, jam and fruit tasting, or a Backyard Edibles class. Kids activities: Scavenger Hunt, Beneficial Bug Bingo, and Crafts. Tours also available in Spanish. This tour is FREE. For more information: https://www.onalaskaalliance.org/apple-harvest-festival.html


So join us to check out our GROWING operation at Burnt Ridge Nursery & Orchards in 2018!

GAP status?

Thanks for posting this, I've been checking for this year's schedule! We attended the September date last year and it was GREAT, looking forward to visiting in July this year!

Hi, Kyrt -

GAP status?

I believe GAP stands for General Agricultural Practices, and limits on outside visitors and limits to where visitors can go are part of our GAP plan to maintain our our Organic Certification through the state of Washington.

Now you can see the Pre-Event Tours page on our website: https://www.northwestpermaculture.org/pre-event-tours.html

We've scheduled the tours at both Burnt Ridge and Raintree nurseries so you could see BOTH on your way to the Convergence, and still get to Camp Singing Wind in time for Opening Circle at 1pm. Whether you are heading north or south on the I-5 corridor, or coming west on Hwy 7 or 12, access is great for either location. They are only about 30 minutes apart from each other.