Many years ago, my newly purchased property had a secret – the remnants of a late 1800’s apple orchard. Pursuing its history, getting introduced to people with a passion for finding and preserving those old trees, set me on the path I’m walking today. Three of us, Shaun Shepherd, Franki Baccellieri and I, started Temperate Orchard Conservancy in 2011. We had been chasing lost apples for years. Ultimately, prompted by Nick Botner’s concern that his collection would be lost, we formed a non-profit to preserve and continue to search for lost and forgotten apple varieties. Each year, as the orchard grows, we work to share the diversity that has been lost. The abandoned homesteads hidden in the many corners of the Pacific Northwest, hold treasures waiting for us. The work continues.