Welcome to Mass Aggies, a series highlighting the agricultural expertise and innovation available through the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Extension Fruit team. Through this series of seminars and workshops the Fruit Team provides a platform for small scale backyard growers and agricultural enthusiasts of all types to come together to learn the latest developments in fruit production. Delve into the cutting-edge information shared in our seminars, curated to empower individuals with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture.
We are pleased to announce the 2026 Mass Aggie Line up! For the first time since 2018 we will be hosting IN PERSON sessions. All IN PERSON workshops will be held at the UMass Cold Spring Research and Education Orchard at 391 Sabin St. Belchertown, MA.
Registration for all in person sessions will close at noon the Thursday prior to each session. Registration for online sessions will close the Friday prior to each session.
Insects; Pests and Beneficials - $50
Dr. Jaime Piñero
Online
February 21, 2026
10:00-noon
Join Extension Faculty Dr. Jaime Piñero in this exciting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) workshop and learn how to make beneficial insects and insectary plants your garden’s best allies! With these techniques, you can keep your plants thriving with little to no insecticides. Some materials will be mailed to participants for them to implement IPM at home!
Home Orchard Pruning (focus on apples) - a Hands-on Workshop - $65
Mr. Jon Clements
IN PERSON!
February 28, 2026
1:00 to 3:00 PM
UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 391 Sabin St., Belchertown, MA
One of the key steps in successful fruit growing is the act of pruning the trees. This can seem daunting and complicated, but it’s not! Not once you understand the principles involved. Come learn how to properly prune your apple trees. Participants will have the opportunity to conduct actual pruning and gain both experience and confidence in pruning apple trees in order to produce a bountiful crop.* This workshop will focus primarily on apple pruning.
Ecological Weed Management in the Home Orchard - $50
Dr. Maria Gannett
Online
March 7, 2026
10:00am - noon
During this workshop, led by Dr. Maria Gannett, we will consider what weeds are and why you would want to manage them. Hopefully, you will be convinced that it is important to identify weed species and will understand the traits of some of the species you see in your own orchard. Finally, we will talk about ecological weed management and highlight different strengths and weaknesses of several weed control methods.
Blueberry 101 - $50
Mr. John Galvan and Dr. Jianyu Li
March 14, 2026
10:00am - noon
Online
Blueberries are among the most popular fruits to grow in the home garden. They are healthful and well suited to growing in New England conditions. Come learn the basics for pruning blueberries for your home landscape. This session will lay down the foundation for Blueberry growers covering horticultural practices, site selection, soil and planting, pruning, fertility, pest management and IPM, and history.
Apple Tree Grafting - A Hands-on Workshop - $125
Mr. Jon Clements
IN PERSON!
March 21, 2026. 9:00am to 3:00pm
UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 391 Sabin St., Belchertown, MA
Please note that refunds cannot be offered, as materials need to be purchased in advance.
Many people do not realize that all apple varieties are reproduced by grafting - they are not grown from seed. For horticultural enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying techniques to master is grafting. Jon Clements will present a hands-on workshop on ‘bench grafting’ and ‘cleft grafting’ of apple trees. Other grafting techniques will be discussed. Proper tools and sharpening will be included. All participants in the workshop will graft several of their own apples trees to take home. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch.*
Orchard Disease Management - $50
Ms. Elizabeth Garofalo
April 11, 2026 10:00am - noon
Duration: 2 hours
Online
Sometimes the smallest creatures can cause the greatest impact. Join in and learn about disease management for tree fruit. Key disease IPM concepts will be discussed. Identification, biology and management of a selection of common tree fruit diseases will also be presented.
The Apple Fruiting Wall - a Hands-on Workshop — $125
Mr. Jon Clements
IN PERSON!
April 18, 2026
9:00am to 1:00pm
UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 391 Sabin St., Belchertown, MA
Please note that refunds cannot be offered, as materials need to be purchased in advance.
Join Jon Clements as we actually plant an apple “fruiting wall” consisting of five apple varieties and only taking up 50 feet of linear space in your home landscape. Not an espalier, so supporting, training, and pruning of these dwarf apple trees is simplified. Ongoing care and maintenance will also be discussed. Participants may end up taking home several (depending on participation) bare root apple trees to get their own fruiting wall started. *
*These workshops will be partially outdoors, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cold, and muddy conditions.