A seed is planted.
Before moving into The Baldwin, resident Jim Folsom and his wife, Mary, learned that the community’s name stemmed from an antique apple variety that was grown at the former Woodmont Orchards — now the site of The Baldwin. Baldwin apples date back to 1740 and had been popular in Southern New Hampshire and throughout New England for more than 100 years until being all but decimated by a historic freeze in 1934.
For the Folsoms, understanding the site’s history presented an opportunity to build a bridge between the local community and future residents of The Baldwin. At least, that’s how the seed was originally planted. Now, thanks to the efforts of the Folsoms and a team of other residents, Baldwin apple trees are returning to the site, their roots connecting the history of the land and its promising future.
“It was an idea that came to me when we were initially looking into The Baldwin,” Jim says. “However, since we’ve been here, a team of about seven to eight people has joined the effort and it has grown with other people’s ideas and suggestions.”
The vision, Jim clarifies, extends beyond simply adding natural beauty and homegrown apples to the campus. They aim to cultivate a lasting legacy through an enduring project that future generations can enjoy and learn from.
“Establishing a Founders’ Orchard presents a golden opportunity to bridge the gap between The Baldwin and the existing Londonderry community,” Jim enthuses. “This project has the potential to span years — allowing past residents to leave a meaningful mark for those who come after them.”
It takes a community.
To propel the Founders’ Orchard towards a thriving future, the resident-led group prioritized their needs for the project. First, securing a dedicated volunteer team to maintain the young apple trees was paramount. Next, this team would need to acquire extensive horticultural knowledge to ensure the trees’ health. Thanks to Macks’ Apples and the University of New Hampshire Extension Service, this resident-driven effort is blossoming into a vibrant reality.
“Mack’s Apples brought the trees in, helped us plant, fertilize and water,” Jim says. “We’re still learning about all the horticultural aspects of this. It’s like a lifelong learning experience that we can share with a lot of other people over time. Tom Kooken, our orchard volunteer coordinator, has done extensive research and study to provide advice that will assure the viability of our orchard.”
Learning has been key. For example, the group learned that Baldwin apple trees are not very good at attracting pollinators on their own. By planting them along with other apple varieties — specifically Gold Rush and Winecrisp as recommended by an expert at Cornell University — the Founders’ Orchard group ensured a vibrant pollinator mix for optimal fruit production.
“The crew that’s monitoring things have been very responsive, out there every morning, looking and deciding whether they need to water that day or not,” he says. “It’s a very busy time for orchards right now, so we appreciate the time and expertise Mack’s has shared.”
As for the volunteer crew, Jim says there will be seven to eight volunteers on a rotating basis, monitoring the trees. Over time, that group will be refreshed with new residents.
Branching out.
From its humble beginnings, the Founders’ Orchard has blossomed into a more comprehensive endeavor.
“A dedicated group is meticulously compiling a history booklet,” Jim reveals. “It delves into the rich past of this area, Woodmont Orchards, the Southern New Hampshire orchard industry, and the local orchards — Mack’s Apples and Sunnycrest Farm.”
Thanks to resident Bob DeSilva, news of the project reached local Enterprise Bank. Impressed by the initiative, the bank generously offered to sponsor the production of this captivating history booklet, which will also feature a collection of favorite apple recipes from The Baldwin’s chefs.
“Every resident will receive a copy, fostering understanding of the project, its historical significance, and the connection we’re forging for future generations,” Jim says.
A fruitful, long-term investment.
Jim’s cautious optimism about future plantings reflects the long-term vision for the orchard.
“We need to see how the young trees adapt,” he says. “While they won’t bear fruit for another seven or eight years, the goal is to eventually harvest apples.”
The orchard project itself embodies the reasons Jim and his wife, Mary, chose The Baldwin. Relocating from Hampden, Maine, three factors drew them to the community.
“It’s brand new, state-of-the-art, and most importantly, it offers a blank canvas,” Jim explains. “Mary and I can contribute to shaping the campus, and the orchard is a prime example of that. The Baldwin’s administration has been very supportive of our ideas.”
Before long, The Baldwin residents and the young Baldwin apple trees they have planted will all be firmly rooted on this site.
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We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all the residents who have embraced the Founders’ Orchard project. The original committee — Jim Folsom, Sunny Lee, Otto Schaefer, and Bob DeSilva — and the resident volunteers who monitor and nurture the young Baldwin trees: Tom Kooken (coordinator), Sunny Lee, Paul Magnan, Gerald Miller, John Ordemann, Wayne Peters, Sue Strauss, and Paul Maue. The history booklet is being compiled by Bob DeSilva, Phyllis DeSilva, and Sharon Bailly with valuable advice from Mary Folsom and Judy Hauck.