FLACC

WORKPLACE FOR VISUAL ARTISTS

In 2010, Wapke Feenstra will explore the Limburg landscape by following the movements of land-related products.

28 April - Borgloon - new trees

This year it took rather long before the frost disappeared. "Everything is late!" It was also too dry in the beginning of April. But next weekend's forecast calls for rain, says Koen Martens. Today he is planting the last Belgica apple trees, securing them and cutting them back. It seems cruel to top newly planted trees straightaway, but Koen explains that this is to preserve the strength of the tree for the new roots. This way they will have the best chance of survival. Nevertheless, they are going to have a hard time, because there are many diseases, coming from the adjacent old orchard. There are Belgian white-blue cows grazing around those standards, eating away everything within reach. "That's all the maintenance work the owner does", Koen says, shrugging. "That way you invite pests."

28 April - Borgloon - small problems

Only now the blossom is in full bloom! Saddle sore tourists step off their bikes and admire the splendour. The apple farmer has other concerns. There was a frost for a few hours earlier this week, from five till seven in the morning. That's why he is checking the blossom for frost damage. Discoloured stamen are an indication of problems. Damage will lead to a bad harvest or deformed apples. The Jonagold stand a bit lower and have incurred more damage than the Belgica on the top of the hill. Still, Koen Martens is not dissatisfied; a farmer nearby had six hours of night frost, which is fatal for a good crop. Then the next danger arrives: a tiny caterpillar. "It will become a codling moth", he knows. As there are relatively few, he opts for the pheromone confusion technique. By spreading too much scent of a female moth you cause the males to get lost.