Organically Yours: Sanctuary, Book Five by Abbie Zanders (love letters to the dead txt) 📕

think you need to relocate unless you really want to. In general, you want to avoid exposed tops and ridges. They get too windy, and the soil erodes easily.”

“Makes sense.”

“You also want to avoid planting anything in the dips and valleys. The soil there tends to be overly fertile.”

His brow furrowed. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“For tree growth, yes. For fruit production, no.” She grinned. “That’s the short answer. I can give you the scientific reasoning behind it, if you’d like.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Yeah, that’s what she thought he’d say. While she found the finer points of agricultural science fascinating, most people tended to zone out fairly quickly.

“The first thing I would do is pick up a soil map. You can get one from the local county extension or soil conservation office. That’ll tell you a lot about the type of soil you’re dealing with and what will grow best for you. At the very least, it’ll tell you what you need to do to get stuff to grow for you.”

He nodded. “Soil map. Will do.”

“Second thing, do a nematode test before you take out the old trees.”

“What’s that?”

“Nematodes? They’re microscopic plant parasites. One square yard of soil can hold millions of the little suckers, and they can be devastating. Also, you’ll need to get rid of the multiflora, thistle, and poison ivy that have taken over. Two or three treatments over the summer should do it. You can use glyphosate, but I prefer an organic alternative myself. It requires a bit more persistence, but it’s worth it in the long run. I can share the formula I use, if you’d like.”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

“Once you do that, you’ll want to remove the trees that aren’t salvageable, plow to mix up the subsoil, and do more soil testing.”

He laughed. “Is that all?”

“Not even close. You’ll need to clear some of those trees at the bottom of the slope to create channels for the cold-air flow. Cold air is heavier and tends to travel downward. Dense woods at the bottom can have a damming effect, and you don’t want that cold air backing up, especially during budding season.

“Then, if you do all that,” Tina continued, “you could see viable fruit in two or three years.”

“That long?”

She nodded. “Starting a new orchard doesn’t provide the same short-term gratification as, say, planting tomatoes or cucumbers. It takes time, commitment, and year-round care. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to discourage you. With a parcel this small, you could do it easily, but you do need to keep up with it.”

“I knew asking you was a good idea.”

Tina shrugged and grinned widely. “I’m a tenth-generation Obermacher with a master’s degree. What did you expect?”

“Fair point. I appreciate you taking the time to come out and have a look. I know you’re busy.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you asked when you did. In another couple of weeks, I might not have had the time. Plus, I’ll admit, I’ve been curious. You and your guys sure have Sumneyville’s tongues wagging, you know.”

His smile faded. “Yes, I know.”

“It’s not all bad,” Tina assured him. “You’ve got a lot of support, too.”

Matt said nothing to that. “Can you stay for a bit? I know Kate would love to see you.”

Tina looked at her watch. “Sure. Gram’s not expecting me for a few hours yet.”

“How is your grandmother?”

“Feisty as ever.”

His smile returned. “Glad to hear it.”

“She’ll be thrilled when I tell her I saw you. She’s one of your biggest supporters, you know.”

“I bet that creates some interesting family dynamics at the dinner table.”

Tina laughed, her eyes sparkling. Clearly, Matt knew her brothers didn’t count themselves among the pro-Sanctuary locals, but he didn’t seem to hold that against her.

“That it does.”

Tina followed Matt inside. The lobby had changed somewhat from the last time she’d been here. It was simpler, less ostentatious than it once had been, but still quite beautiful.

After offering to take her jacket and vest, he led her toward the dining area. It, too, had been modernized and upgraded, much more in tune with the twenty-first century.

“Kate!” Matt called out. “Someone’s here to see you.”

Kate emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. The moment she saw Tina, a huge smile lit up her face. “Tina! I’m so glad you came.”

“Me, too.”

“Want some coffee?”

“I’d love some, thanks.”

“Ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some things to take care of. Tina, thanks again for coming today.”

“You are very welcome. It was great to see you.”

Kate ushered Tina to a table in the dining room in front of the floor-to-ceiling tinted windows. “Have a seat. I’ll get us some coffee and snacks and be right back.”

Tina settled into the chair and took the opportunity to look around. The room was open and airy, the outer wall of mostly glass panels providing a stunning view of the grounds.

Kate returned shortly with a carafe of coffee, sugar, cream, and a plate of pastries that looked delicious.

“We have the place to ourselves for a while,” Kate told her, pouring them each a mug. “People won’t start wandering in until it gets closer to dinnertime.”

“This place is gorgeous.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Kate agreed.

Tina took a sip of her coffee and hummed. “This is fantastic. Reminds me of the stuff I used to get at Santori’s before it burned down.”

“That’s because it is. It’s Sam Appelhoff’s special blend. She used to work at Santori’s, remember?”

“I didn’t realize she was working here now.”

Kate laughed. “Someone clearly hasn’t been keeping up with the Sumneyville gossip vine. Sam not only works here; she lives here. She’s married to one of Matt’s partners.”

“I admit, I don’t pay much attention to local scuttlebutt. If you ask me, some people would be better off taking a closer look at their own lives instead of paying attention to everyone else’s.”

“Amen to that,” Kate agreed. “So, tell me how things are going with you.”

They talked for a while. The conversation was as pleasant as the company. Kate