Sustainability

As We Actually Practice It

At Pip & Barrel, we care about growing good apples and doing right by the land. That’s really the heart of it. We’re not chasing certifications or buzzwords, just making decisions that keep our orchard alive, healthy, and productive for the long haul.

Our soil is alive, and our land is living. Everything starts there. The richness and diversity of life in the soil literally feeds the orchard and, in turn, feeds us all. We work to build and protect that life; choosing cover crops that nourish and shelter the soil, keeping a balance between native and non-native plants, and encouraging the quiet ecosystem that thrives between the trees and the ground beneath them. Healthy soil and diverse ground cover also help deter pests and diseases naturally, reducing our need to intervene.

That balance continues above the ground. We use observation before action, letting nature do most of the work and stepping in only when absolutely necessary and as gently as we can. When we do need to deal with pests or disease, we choose the least disruptive methods we can find, and we always aim to protect the beneficial insects and microorganisms that make this place work.

So… are we certified organic? No. And that’s okay. We’re not certified organic, and we don’t plan to pursue that label. That’s because we care; we care enough to make decisions that fit this land, this orchard, and the living soil beneath it, even if those decisions don’t fit neatly into someone else’s rulebook or marketing guidelines.

We also recognize that sustainability isn’t just about what we spray or don’t spray. Agriculture runs on energy. From tractors to refrigeration to delivery, every bite of food comes with a cost. To be truly responsible, we believe the energy we use should be in balance with the food we produce. We minimize fossil fuel use wherever we can by investing in technology that saves fuel and labour, limiting unnecessary passes through the orchard, and focusing on efficiency without cutting corners.

Sustainability here means growing food in a way that honours the living systems around us, keeps our soils and trees healthy, and uses energy wisely. We’re not here to sell a label or a philosophy; just good apples, grown thoughtfully, in a way that keeps this land thriving for years to come.