Ready to get out of your house after this long, long winter? Well, now you have three chances to learn more about heirloom apples, see how trees are grafted, and practice planting an apple tree. Whether you like to sit and listen or prefer to get your hands in the soil, there is an event for you. We hope you'll join us.

Wednesday April 9: Apple Talk and Demonstration, Windsor Historical Society, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME, 7pm. John Bunker will talk about grafting, pruning and the history of apples in central Maine. For more information, please contact Priscilla Brann, 592-7371.

Saturday, April 12: Maine Heritage Orchard Workday, MOFGA, Unity, ME, 9am - 3pm, rain or shine. Join John and the rest of the OOAL crew as we plant 102 heirloom apples and hundreds of companion plants in the new Maine Heritage Orchard. Experienced orchardists will be on hand to teach planting. The event is free. All ages welcome but please RSVP by emailing Anna Libby (alibby@mofga.org) or by calling the MOFGA office (207) 568-4142. Bring your own lunch and shovels. Note: to make sure that the ground is thawed enough to plant, check www.mofga.org on Friday, April 11th. Alternate date is Sunday, April 27.

Tuesday, April 15: Heirloom Apple Talk, Bryant Room of Gibbs Memorial Library 40 Old Union Road, Washington, ME, 7pm. John Bunker, apple historian and author of "Not Far from the Tree" will speak at the Washington Historical Society meeting. His topic is the history of apple farming in Maine from colonial times to the present. Bunker, who has been tracking down unique apple varieties in Maine for 40 years, has over 200 apple varieties on his off-the-grid farm in Palermo. Nobody can talk apples better than John Bunker. This presentation is free and open to the public. Refreshments will include apple brownies and apple squares.