To me, a family legacy orchard means that the fruit of my labor today is providing for my family for a very long time.
My greatest hope is to provide beautiful, flowering, fruiting trees for the children to climb in and to enjoy eating abundantly from in the summer, spring, and fall.
I want to leave a lasting legacy that can be passed down through generations and enjoyed by my posterity. And what better way than an orchard?
How did Missouri’s seedling sale inspire me?
I felt an instant inspiration when I found out the Missouri Department of Conservation does an annual sapling sale. They were super affordable. I remember looking at seedlings for around $1.40 each when you bought them in bulk.
I started thinking about a legacy orchard near our house at Greenbriar, and about planting at the family farm, the lake house, and around the community. It was kind of a little Johnny Appleseed thing.
I had already ordered mulberries online a few years earlier, and some of those trees have survived. The Missouri sale made me think about how much more we could plant.
Where do I plant the trees?
Our orchard is at Greenbriar in Bastrop County, Texas. I have tried different areas, with some plants inside fences and some next to a walking path.
Along one side of the path, I have plums planted in rows. There is a pecan across from them, and a mulberry on the other side. Up along the fence line behind the plums, I have elderberries, with blackberries along the bottom.
We planted more than 20 plums around here, maybe 30. I also gave some away. I am experimenting with where the plants do well and with the idea of living fences and plants near the chicken yard that could eventually help feed the flock.
How does community life shape the orchard?
Living in an intentional community definitely influences the orchard plans. It makes me want to make the orchard bigger and more abundant so that it can provide for more than just my family, but also my friends, my neighbors, people I love so much, and the school.
I love having a school on site, and I want the orchard to be a learning space. I want educational activities happening here.
I would like to invite the family to continue to grow and cultivate a family orchard, share the fruits of our past labor, and share the abundance with those we love.
How do the children help?
The children definitely help during planting season. We had to get the seedlings into tree sleeves with dirt very quickly, so we were doing it as a sort of assembly line.
Really, the orchard is kind of my baby. I water it myself, but Josie comes with me and helps with other garden work while I water the trees. She might harvest okra or plant seeds.
We deal with the orchard as we deal with the rest of the garden.
What has been the biggest challenge?
Irrigation is definitely the biggest challenge. Our irrigation system looks like a hose that I walk around with.
I will often put it on a very, very slow drip next to a tree and move it about every 12 hours or so. The drip is slow enough that the water does not run off. That is what my watering setup looks like right now. I would love to set up some irrigation, though.
I have had plants struggle in the Texas heat, and I have had losses. I have also seen damaged plants put out new growth. I am still learning where the plants do well and how to keep up with caring for them.
What do I hope this orchard becomes?
I picture children and grandchildren climbing trees and picking fruit. I imagine mulberry pie and a salad with plums and goat cheese. I want the orchard to provide abundance that we can enjoy together and share.
I think it is going to be truly magical. And who knows? Maybe one day it will provide not only sustenance but wealth generation as well.
How can you order Missouri conservation seedlings?
For anyone inspired to start, here is the current information for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s George O. White State Forest Nursery. These details were checked on November 2, 2026; current prices and availability are listed in the nursery’s online catalog.
- The 2026–27 season opened September 1, 2026. MDC’s ordering page lists April 15, 2027, as the mail-order deadline and April 30, 2027, for online orders.
- The online catalog lists seedlings in bundles of 10 and 25, with shipping and pickup dates from February 15 through May 10, 2027.
- The catalog lists a $9 handling charge per order. Out-of-state shipping is $30 per 100 seedlings, with a $30 minimum.
- Species availability varies. MDC announced that mulberry seedlings will not be offered for the 2026–27 season. The older mulberries in my story came from a separate online order.
See Missouri seedling order information · Browse the current seedling sale
Match your choices to the place you plan to plant them. MDC’s planning guide emphasizes matching species to the site and soil, and the ordering catalog asks out-of-state customers to check plant-shipping restrictions for their destination.
Can you start a family legacy orchard for less than $100?
A starter seedling order can fit that budget. Here is one example using the 2026–27 Missouri nursery price chart for 50 wild plum seedlings shipped out of state.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 50 wild plum seedlings at $0.77 each | $38.50 |
| Out-of-state shipping minimum | $30.00 |
| Handling | $9.00 |
| Total before tax | $77.50 |
This is the seedling-order cost. Budget separately for planting supplies, protection, water, and ongoing care. Availability can change. Fifty seedlings is only an example; start with a number you have the space and time to care for.
How can you start an orchard?
- Choose your spot. Look at sunlight, soil, access, and how much space the trees will need as they grow.
- Choose your species. Match the trees to your climate, soil, and what you want from the orchard.
- Plan for water. Think through how you will care for young trees before the seedlings arrive. Irrigation has been my biggest challenge.
- Count the full cost. Include the plants, shipping, handling, tax, planting supplies, and care.
- Start at a scale you can manage. Keep notes on what you plant, where it goes, and what survives. You can add more as you learn.
For tree selection and site preparation, use the nursery’s planning guide alongside advice suited to your own growing region.
What would I tell another family? Just start.
The advice I would give to someone who wants to start a legacy orchard is to just start. Buy a plant when you see them for sale at the grocery store. Do a bulk order from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Just start. Just do it.
Save an orchard idea for later
Swipe or scroll through the field journal graphics, then choose Save to Pinterest. Each pin links back to this article, where you can find the Missouri seedling sale.
Price graphics use the 2026–27 catalog. Check current stock and full charges before ordering. Illustrative artwork.
