Derek Wulff was hooked on producing fruit from the moment he acquired his first apple tree 12 years ago.

However, his trees didnB次元官网网址檛 grow any apples that first year due to a pollination issue. To combat his fruitless sorrow, he started beekeeping. With bees on his property, the apples began to grow and Wulff bought more trees.

B次元官网网址淏eekeeping is the most labour intensive way of getting pollination,B次元官网网址� said Wulff, who now has about 40 fruit trees on his Metchosin property.

Eventually he started grafting his own trees and now heB次元官网网址檚 sharing his knowledge so others can learn the skill, too.

Wulff, co-president of the Metchosin Pomological Society, will lecture on grafting and lead a workshop on tree grafting as part of the third annual Metchosin Grafting Day on Sunday (March 16).

B次元官网网址淚 would find fruit I liked by tasting the apple, pears and plums,B次元官网网址� he said, adding he would clip a small branch, known as scionwood, and add it to a rootstock. HeB次元官网网址檇 plant it and if all went well, the delicious fruit would grow in his yard.

B次元官网网址淚 was eating pears from 100-year-old trees and (they) were delicious,B次元官网网址� Wulff said. B次元官网网址淣ow I have that in my garden and they are great.B次元官网网址�

Participants in the workshop are encouraged to bring a piece of scionwood to connect to the rootstock.

The Society is providing rootstock for $3 each.

The lecture and workshop happen from noon to 2 p.m. at Metchosin Community House, 4430 Happy Valley Rd.

charla@goldstreamgazette.com