North Rockbridge trail event at the orchard this Saturday. Hope to see you there!
A beautiful day in the orchard
Get to know us by visiting us in Brownsburg or on our webpage
Our orchard will be open to the public on the first Saturday of each month from 10am - 4pm or through previously arranged tours or publicized walkthroughs. I am delighted to be a new participant in the North Rockbridge Trail Events.
Wades Mill Apple Cider Day
Matt and I would like to thank all of you who contributed to a great day at the Wilbourn House Orchard Booth! Sales were strong, and a great many questions were fielded during the event. There was strong interest in the process of grafting, and we enjoyed talking to each and every one who […]
Featured apple
Find facts about the featured apple including history, important dates, and attributes
May 4th open house at the orchard
We are excited to invite you to an open house at the Wilbourn House Orchard on Saturday May 4th from 10-4. Enjoy tours of the orchard, grafting demonstrations, and recently grafted fruit trees of hard to find old southern varieties. Free small starts of willow trees to the first ten individual groups (one per group) […]
Another Great Day of Grafting
We just completed another great grafting class with an enthusiastic group. The weather cooperated and we were able to set up outside. After the class was complete and new trees were safely stowed away, several stayed to walk the orchard. There were lots of great questions and sharing of information. Grafting days are over for […]
Greenhouse grafting event is a success
Tight quarters but a great grafting event! Our first event was a walkthrough of the orchard and demonstration of a graft on an existing tree. A small group but great discussion. The second event put ten of us in my new little greenhouse. 16 trees were grafted onto various rootstock! Tight quarters but […]
March Grafting Demonstrations
Three March fruit tree grafting demonstration were held at the Wilbourn House Orchard in Brownsburg, VA on March 16, March 23, and March 30 10am – 1 pm. Each participant selected their own rootstock and apple variety from those available. No experience was necessary. Pre-registration was required, and the cost of all supplies, materials, and […]
The Fine (and sometimes scary) Art of Living
Life has been a little scary lately… I have been in the process of rezoning my land to agricultural from residential since around September. Rezoning is not a feat for the faint of heart. Passions run high whenever one person wants to change the status quo. If you know me, you know I like to […]
Welcome to our Wilbourn House Orchard
The Wilbourn House Orchard is located on main street in the village of Brownsburg, Virginia. We are in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where farmhouses, barns, cattle, and breathtaking scenery are just around the next bend.
This site is more than just photos and a few notes. It is a heartfelt story of following something that I love which has evolved over many years. A process that has persisted through heartaches and happiness. The story of a family who gives me space and encouragement and the ability to pursue something that I have always wanted to do.
I hope that it serves as inspiration for you that all things are possible. Just like everyone, I started with one tree, and then another, and, well….a lot more. I had little knowledge or tools or mentors. Just a passion to start something on my own that would grow and even thrive.
I had never grafted. I had never put together a webpage.
and here we are.
Why Wilbourn House? Our home is named for Thomas and Nannie Wilbourn who built the home here in 1885. Thomas’ father William Wilbourn invented the Wilbourn Saddle, and Thomas worked with his father in Brownsburg as a saddler and harness maker.
This is a wonderful photo of Thomas and Nannie Wilbourn taken in 1882, several months before their marriage. My home was built by them in 1885. The photo was taken by Michael Miley, a well known photographer from the area who was best known for his photo of Robert E. Lee on Traveller.
Another passion of mine is finding out the history of my home and those homes around me. At my local courthouse desk I ask “Is it possible to get a copy of their wedding certificate from 1882? If so, how long would it take?”
The answer “Just as long as it takes me to walk over to the printer and get it.”
Isn’t life amazing!