There must be someone who knows the Sunday topics and speakers by now (Fri. afternoon). For those of us who have to choose which day we are coming, it's really hard to get to the day before and still not have info about Sunday's lineup. Any info would be better than nothing at this point..
I just got sent the schedule of events:
Saturday & Sunday 11:00-3:00 Cider Pressing
Saturday
11:00 AM Tom Thompson, “Cider & Perry Makingâ€
12:15 PM Joe Postman, “Quince: The New Old Fruitâ€
1:30 PM Greg Flikt, “Restoring Fort Umpqua’s Orchardâ€
4:00 PM Apple Peeling Judging
Sunday
11:00 AM Harriet Fasenfest & Patty Jarrett, “Preserving the Bountyâ€
12:15 PM Marianne Zarkin, “Landscaping with Fruit Treesâ€
1:30 PM Lori Skurdahl, Shaun Shepherd, & Todd Morrill “Making Cider & Perry at Homeâ€
1:00 PM Pie Judging
4:00 PM Apple Peeling Judging
Anyone care to tell me how the event went..? I had my grafting display set up last year but was too pressed for time and family commitments to attend this year. But I thought about it often…
Last year we seemed to have competed with the beautiful weather, I suspect that may have happened again this year. I was told prior events had been better attended, as we, too, stared longingly outside – no doubt pondering all we’d be doing in our orchards back home…
I wonder if gas prices affect turnout? The hardcore members are always there (bless them), but roping in the general public is likely becoming more difficult. ...Though growing fruit in their backyards would yield a multitude of savings!
Anyway, let me know what I missed – if you’ve got the time 
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I went in the afternoon on Saturday. I wanted to hear about quince, but it's hard with young kids to get everything on time just right. Attendance was noticeably down. This was unusual after huge attendance at the Scion Exchange in the Spring. I always have a good time. I got to taste some pears and apples that I'll try to graft in the Spring. I don't know why the attendance was down.
John S
PDX OR
Yes, I was expecting much more of a zoo.
I went both days. I had to leave early on Saturday, but stayed until the end on Sunday and was rewarded by being allowed to take home a few of the quince to sample.
I caught Joe Postman's quince talk on Saturday. I enjoyed seeing the pictures and discussion of the trips to Georgia and other places. He led off the talk by asking if we thought that one could talk about quince for a whole hour. I was sure the answer was going to be "yes". Nope. I would have liked to actually hear more about growing and using quince 
I only caught the beginning of the talk regarding the recreation of an orchard near Fort Umpqua since I had to leave. It was a very informal talk. It was warming to see that the community was getting involved and that people were learning to graft and raise fruit trees with scions from the HOS. It was especially nice since Greg and I exchanged feijoa seedlings earlier in the day.
Sunday, after trying to help Stan with his printer in the morning, I caught Marrianne Zarkins “Landscaping with Fruit Trees†talk. I enjoyed the overview and the pictures. She emphasized that one needn't get to worried about making everything look perfectly nice. That fits reasonably well into my values, but I guess was expecting that she would have put more emphasis on how to have an edible landscape that is compatible with mainstream aesthetics.
I got to taste Shaun's apple pie which took second place. It was delicious. I wrote down the variety he used so that I might remember to grab a scion at the exchange next spring.
I spent the last hour or so evesdropping on the apple ID table where John, Joannie and later Shaun were wrapping up the last couple of "in-person" ones plus the absentee samples. That looks like a fun process. Its cool to get to see how they narrow down the choices and then go down the checklist of features.
Apparently if you are using nylon footies on your tree that you want to ID you should leave some uncovered for the ID to be able to represent the coloring more effectively.
I was expecting a zoo, but there wasn't much of a crowd. It was a tiny fraction of what was at the Scion Exchange.
One thing that was nice about this year is that the weather has been so strange that some varieties that may have been at a greater disadvantage in years past due to timing of the event had their opportunity to shine.
Jafarj, thanks for the details! Just yesterday I met a vineyard owner ‘out here’ wishing to have the apples in an old orchard on the property ID’d … told her she’d just missed an excellent opportunity. …She’d also like some consulting, as to what can be done with the trees, I may be able to help with that.
Your description of the attendance mirrors an e-mail I received on the subject. I suspect the nice weather and high fuel prices took a toll, most everyone’s cutting back.
One of the first (stupid?) things I did after taking over the family farm (27 years ago) was remove a healthy mature quince tree. It would set so heavy I’d nearly wipe out my throwing-arm pitching them into the woods. A coworker brought me some ‘Quince Jelly’ his mother made, it was OK, but when I looked up recipes, calling for one part quince and three parts sugar… I figured I could just skip the quince! It bloomed beautifully, and I wish I’d left it; but I’ve got a wonderfully productive 3 variety (my 3) winter pear tree there, with eatable pears as we speak … maybe the quince is better as history…
I’ve never been to Fort Umpqua, but leave it to the HOS to have a hand in its restoration!
Eatable Landscaping is what I’d do given a city lot. I once read water-meter’s and got a ‘city-wide’ view of various eatable landscapes… as I nibbled my way along their sidewalks. Several things struck me: the attention they drew in contrast to the surrounding ‘lawnscapes;’ the magnet they were for neighborhood kids; how ugly they could be if neglected; how much water they likely consumed; how much I admired them; and the fact their owners were the most friendly people on the block. To this day I’m drawn to them whenever/wherever I visit a city neighborhood. ...Always sneaking a peek at the labels on their fruit trees, I’m usually impressed by a stellar selection… and envy their lack of deer. Their places are likely looking as ragged as my garden about now, but to me, a far more productive use of ground than grass.
Shawn bakes as well as brews? (He’d be a fine catch!) I know he can ID, and I love to watch the Team in action, too. They’ve really done their homework. …If you’re interested, they’re always looking to ‘groom’ a new/future IDer! You’d instantly pal with Society Elite and would likely be invited on their fieldtrips. I’ll never forget summoning the hierarchy to look over a possible donation farm and (west side) HOS headquarters in Sherwood. Our members were soon lost in the ancient orchard! Though the deal fell through, they felt the time and adventure was well worth it as they’d discovered a rare old apple I’d taken as common place, having eaten it for years at my now passed friends place. Heck if I can remember its name…
“It was a tiny fraction of what was at the Scion Exchange.†– Yet another reason to make it to the Exchange! But who isn’t wound up with Spring and wore out by Fall? But I can’t think of a better opportunity for the public to scoop up on the best of local knowledge and experience than the AAFS --- especially when they can have ‘one of us’ all to themselves! Yup, the Spring Event’s a Zoo! --with hardly the time to say “Hi†to a friend… but I’m already looking forward to it!
Interesting note on the altered ripening; that would have added some interest; though anyone ‘aware of it’ is likely much more knowledgeable than the average bear. Thanks for the lowdown – I definitely missed my friends, you included.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
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