Emma Prusch Farm Park

Overview

Emma Prusch Farm Park is located at 647 South King Road, San Jose, near the intersections of Highways 101 and 280/680.  Master Gardeners are involved with five projects at the park including a High Density Orchard, Rare Fruit Orchard, Heritage Orchard, California Native Color Wheel and Children’s Tunnel Garden.  Santa Clara County 4H volunteers keep farm animals in the large wooden barn located within the Park.  In 1994, the Master Composter volunteers established a composting demonstration area which has become an important part of the educational needs of the community.  Free composting classes are held at the Park: for more information visit ReduceWaste website.

High Density Fruit Orchard

Originally planted in the mid-1990s the Prusch Farm High Density Fruit Orchard provides a public demonstration of pomme fruit gardening, showing local gardeners how to maintain reasonably sized trees and how several varieties can be grown in a small garden space by planting several trees in one planting hole.  The orchard consists of 85 trees of 57 known varieties (some trees are unmarked).  Types of trees are primarily apple (almost 70%), pear and quince.

Heritage Orchard

Master Gardeners maintain a large Heritage Orchard that includes many different varieties of fruit trees including figs, grapes, plums, apricots and apples.  Many educational opportunities are supported by the year round orchard operations including winter and summer pruning, building water basins, mulching and weeding as needed.  A drip irrigation system was installed to reduce water use in the Orchard.

Children’s Tunnel Garden

Surrounded by Emma’s German Heirloom Garden, two10’ x 5’ tunnel gardens have been planted by Master Gardeners.  The Prusch Farm Park Foundation (PruschFarmPark.org) designed, maintains and works the 17 bed demonstration garden, with a focus on German variety vegetables and flowers.  The two tunnel gardens were planted in 2007 and incorporate the use of trellising structures to provide support for many vining plants including pole beans, cherry tomatoes, gourds and grapes.  Children walk under the garden canopy and can see first hand how food is produced.

Emma's German Hierloom Garden with chicken protection	Squash on Children's Tunnel	One of the vegetable tunnels covered with squash vines

 California Native Color Wheel

The focus at the main entrance to the Park includes a newly planted California Native Garden.  Master Gardeners have worked diligently to create a unique and flourishing demonstration garden, rich with California native plants.  Because chickens free range throughout the park, it is sometimes difficult to establish plants, so we are learning to garden with chickens.  As it matures, this new garden theme will continue to be an example of how California native plants can grace our home gardens with color and beautiful foliage.

Rare Fruit Orchard

The California Rare Fruit Growers (www.CRFG.org) originally planted this eclectic variety of rare fruits and trees from around the world in the early 1980s.  The orchard includes over 125 rare and exotic fruit trees, including bananas, citrus and other sub-tropicals.   Master Gardeners work with the Rare Fruit Growers to maintain the orchard and replant as needed.  Monthly CRFG meetings are held in the Park’s meeting room.

Pistachio tree with fruit	Pathway through the orchard	Stand of Banana trees

For more information about Emma Prusch Regional Park visit Prusch Farm Park.