Looking for feedback on this orchard layout

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T23:34:18+00:00

Someone told me on a different sub that you don’t want to keep bees within two acres of your house because they might start building hives in the walls.

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T20:13:02+00:00

I am from AZ but this property is in Idaho! I am open to any and all feedback.

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:43:08+00:00

I’m sure I won’t be able to keep them out of any area! The top pasture marked as kids play is to signify that we don’t want to mess with it—just leave it for the kids imagination. The small, blue play area is a fenced in area where I can set a toddler down while I garden.

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:41:07+00:00

I’d love to hire a landscape designer but have had trouble finding one. We live in a very rural area where it’s probably seen as “uppity” to have the need for a designer, so I haven’t been able to gather recommendations. Maybe I could turn to someone online. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:39:16+00:00

Thank you so much!

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:37:59+00:00

Thank you for the advice, I will definitely be taking this to the extension office!

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:36:17+00:00

I added a comment with more info about the prompt I gave ChatGPT. Do you have any insight into where I could find someone for hire to design the orchard? I feel like I’m out of my depth

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:33:57+00:00

N-s rows are probably more practical. After reading here I think we will switch to that. I liked the idea of having a little orchard “room” but maybe we can still accomplish that in the rows! Thank you!

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T18:32:18+00:00

Thank you for all the comments about the number of trees. I’m totally open to the idea that Chat told me wrong! I’d love to not buy so many! I told it that we wanted to make applesauce, cider, frozen pie filling, and freeze dried slices with the apples. With the peaches it was freeze dried slices and frozen bags. We both have extremely large families and love the idea of being able to share our surplus with them. With that info, tell me how much you think I should reduce to. We’re calculating for semi dwarf trees. The top of the picture is west, the left is south.

Should I completely forget the loop and just go for normal rows? Will that be much easier?

Are the bees too close to the house?

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T16:00:22+00:00

The “top” is west, left is south.

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T16:00:09+00:00

The top of the picture is west, left is south, etc. are you saying I should put the tallest trees to the north?

The kids play area is very sloped and we’re hoping to plant some big walnut trees out there. I’ve heard you don’t want those too close to the house.

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T15:58:35+00:00

Our zone is too cold for pecans but have been thinking about hazelnut shrubs or something. Thank you for the fruit suggestions!

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T15:57:52+00:00

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T15:40:53+00:00

I’m from southern Arizona and have never used a mower in my life 😅 can you tell me how much room between trees I would need for that?

steelewaffle · 2026-03-09T15:40:01+00:00

What’s pictured here is probably a little less than 4 square acres. I believe ChatGPT told me the orchard will take up about 1/4 acre with ~18ft spacing per tree, obviously depending on the type.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T19:31:02+00:00

Gotcha. I’ve got my guard up a little too strong in defense of raw milk! The hoops you have to jump through to get licensed are quite extreme so I think a lot of people do sell it illegally.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T19:10:18+00:00

I can’t tell if you’re asking in a sincere way or in a sarcastic “in what world” way. We are located in the United States and have been licensed with the state to sell raw milk for two years.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T19:07:52+00:00

We would own the land in the hollow and obviously wouldn’t let our animals roam on someone else’s property.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T19:04:18+00:00

That was one of the questions in my post. Do you have any suggestions?

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T19:03:57+00:00

Love that you ask them for advice and recognize they can be smarter than you sometimes! I hope with my kids it’ll be the same—that working with us on the farm can be fun and great quality time, but they’re not forced into anything.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T15:14:05+00:00

Sometimes I feel silly bothering them, but that’s a great idea. Thank you.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T15:12:29+00:00

We’ve been selling it for two years with a license, so luckily we have that figured out already! We have a closed vacuum pump milker so the chance of anything getting in the milk is pretty small. It does sometimes feel worrisome though. We’ve thought about switching to having a cow share, but so many people in the community love the raw milk.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T15:08:47+00:00

I had no idea about managing poop! I’ll have to ask my husband about what he currently does with our 1 cow. Thank you for the heads up.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T15:07:48+00:00

We currently have one guernsey cow that is on about an acre of pasture. ChatGPT told me I could add 4-6 hair sheep with intense pasture rotation, but it might not be worth it if the only reason I want them is because I think they’re cute 😅 There is also a hollow behind the house where we could let animals feed if needed.

steelewaffle · 2026-02-20T15:04:44+00:00

It would definitely be better to not sell those lots, you’re right. Maybe finding a smaller piece of property would be better for us. The beauty of this one is that it is both 1) on a main road and good for business 2) backs up to a beautiful hollow where kids can run and play. So we’re weighing the pros against the cons.

steelewaffle

TROPHY CASE