It takes 18 gallons of water to produce one apple. That’s not a lot compared to the 100 gallons it takes to produce 40 sheets of paper and the 633 gallons required to make one hamburger. Without irrigation water, the Grand Valley would be without the fruit-bearing history it celebrates today.

Considering the Western Slope’s arid climate, it’s miraculous it became a fruit-growing mecca at all. Orchards sprang to life as settlers arrived in the late 19th century, with harvests eventually exceeding local demand and earning the valley national recognition in the fruit-producing industry.

The Museums of Western Colorado (MWC) and Palisade Historical Society (PHS) are joining forces to bring the Grand Valley’s agricultural history to life through the revitalization of Cross Orchards Historic Site, 3073 F Road in Grand Junction.

Both organizations bring their collective knowledge, manpower and resources to improve the grounds and enhance exhibits to better reflect what life was like during the Grand Valley’s fruit-producing heyday.

All in a day’s work

The 22.4-acre Cross Orchards was once part of 243 acres that belonged to the Red Cross Land & Fruit Company, which was one of the biggest fruit growers in the valley at the turn of the last century. The company dominated the apple growing business for the next two decades until outbreaks of coddling moth devastated the orchards and eventually led to its closure in 1923.

“When the museum purchased the original historic property back in 1981, there were apple trees on the property, but not very many,” said Site Manager Matt Darling. “They’re trying to bring back the apple growing of the original Cross Orchards from before 1923.”

Darling had his work cut out for him when he joined Cross Orchards last September.

“The orchard needed a lot of work,” he said. “The irrigation system had fallen into disrepair and some of the trees died because of it—some wouldn’t get water because the irrigation system couldn’t divert water to them.”

A railroad historian and journeyman mechanic, he knew the farming aspect of the revitalization would be a challenge without sufficient manpower and outside expertise.

Fortunately, many Cross Orchards volunteers are also gardeners. Darling feels particularly lucky because one of them happens to be a retired irrigation specialist.

“His irrigation knowledge is priceless,” Darling said. “I could not do what I’m doing without his decades of experience.”

In addition to planting new trees and increasing crop yield, Darling wants to improve the look and efficiency of the grounds by clearing dead trees and overgrown weeds, planting new trees, repairing structures, installing signs and building victory gardens outside the “1945 house,” a former tenant property that will eventually become a World War II exhibit.

“The house needs a lot of work so it’s years down the road, but my coworker, Carly, and I came up with the idea of putting in this World War II-era victory garden in the front yard of this old house,” Darling said. “It would give my gardeners something to do but also be a new exhibit teaching the history of the country.”

History and hands-on learning

The revitalization is not just about the apple-growing history of Cross Orchards—it’s about fruit in the Grand Valley. When it comes to the history of the local fruit industry, the knowledge afforded by members of the Palisade Historical Society is invaluable.

“We’re still in the productive agricultural area that’s been producing the best peaches in the world for 125 years,” said PHS Chair Priscilla Walker. “Our current members are fruit growers.”

PHS’ part in revitalizing Cross Orchards is sharing with visitors the valley’s agricultural history through stories and peach-packing demonstrations and creating signage and guided tours so people can learn on their own. PHS members are also experts on the tools and vehicles used in the orchards, including hoopies—trucks with the bodies, doors and windshields removed so they could be driven under fruit trees to accelerate harvesting. Walker said the name comes from the “hooping and hollering” when teens took them for joy rides off-season.

“Fruit-growing is very labor intensive,” said Walker, “but to go to Cross Orchards and see it is just breathtaking. Even some of my volunteers who didn’t grow up here went to a peach-packing demonstration and realized how much work it was.”

That’s why 7,000 migrant laborers are needed for peach harvest in August, she said.

PHS members will talk about the year-round process of tending to orchards on April 7 at A Day in the Orchard, Cross Orchards’ seasonal “soft opening” where visitors can tour the buildings and watch volunteers plant trees and work the garden.

“I’m going to have docents out there just talking to people,” Darling said. “Come see Cross Orchards at work and get to know us.”

PHS will bring their peach-packing display to Spring Day on the Farm, Cross Orchards’ premiere spring event that also brings artists, woodcarvers, blacksmiths, guest animals and other history organizations to the farm on May 5.

“If anyone wants to try their hand at it, they can pack a few peaches (using foam peaches since peaches won’t be ripe in May) and we can give them a nickel because that’s what you would’ve gotten paid 50 years ago for packing an entire box of peaches,” Walker said.

Darling plans to host an event at Cross Orchards almost every month throughout the summer, including a truck show held in conjunction with the American Truck Historical Society on May 26 and a summer train show with the Grand Valley Model Railroad Club and the National Railroad Historical Society Rio Grande Chapter on June 2-3—all culminating in Fall Day on the Farm, Cross Orchards’ biggest event of the year.

Visitors can purchase cider and observe the process, as apples are processed through a 100-year-old apple cider grinder and press which are hand-cranked by volunteers and local Boy Scouts.

Darling said once needed upgrades and repairs to the orchard are made and new trees are planted, the crop yield will increase, which means Cross Orchards will have more apple cider to sell.

“It will take time, but we have to make money to keep the doors open,” he said.

How ’bout them apples?

Darling said the orchard currently has about 80 trees, with 20 more to be planted this season. Volunteers and other private individuals have donated trees, and Cross Orchards will receive a dozen or so trees from the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project in Cortez, which shares Cross Orchards’ and PHS’ mission of preserving the fruit-growing history of the region. It also preserves rare varieties of trees by collecting grafts from heritage apple trees.

“The orchard upgrades are coming very fast,” he said. “It won’t be too long before those trees are producing fruit.”

Darling said most apples are ready to be picked mid-August, but depending on the variety, they may not be ready until mid-October.

“We’re thrilled that Matt is bringing Cross Orchards to feature agriculture in the whole valley,” Walker said.

Revitalization efforts would be impossible without the community’s help. Darling is grateful for PHS, his volunteers, Apple Hill Farms, Mesa Conservation District and other community partners for their support.

“Money, muscles, knowledge” needed at Cross Orchards

To donate or volunteer at Cross Orchards, call Matt Darling at 242-0971, ext. 221, or Volunteer Coordinator Carly Jones at extension 213.

To volunteer with the Palisade Historical Society, call 464-2177.