Foundation Projects
Emma’s Garden
Emma’s Kitchen Heirloom Garden contains 17 garden plots dedicated to growing heirloom plants with a German heritage. The garden was first planted by Foundation volunteers in 2008. Summer crops of tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, pumpkins, herbs, strawberries, and artichokes are growing fast.
A small orchard was planted February 2011 and includes apple, pear, cherry and persimmon trees along with an Imperial Prune. The orchard, garden beds and pollinator gardens are a wonderful place to take children of all ages to learn about agriculture in this, the Valley of Hearts Delight.
There is a hand watering pump in the center of the garden and visitors are encouraged to pump water for our ever present ducks and chickens, which roam freely throughout the Park.
Veggielution Community Farm
Veggielution is a nonprofit community farm seeking to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. They currently farm about 8 acres at Emma Prusch Farm Park. Produce that doesn't sell at the Farm Stand is donated to several local food banks. Volunteer workdays, youth programs, sliding scale farmstand, and free community workshops give people a chance to get their hands dirty growing veggies, and learn the importance of eating healthy food and knowing where it came from. For details visit their website at www.veggielution.org. Our Foundation was instrumental in securing Veggielution's place at Prusch.
Windmill
“Bella” Our 1930’s vintage Aermotor Windmill sits on top of the original Prusch Farm Park well and is capable of pumping three gallons of water per minute. The original well has a total depth of 440’. The device used to draw up the water, called a piston pump is located at 168’ below the surface.
The windmill works through a simple process. Wind blows onto the blades, causing them to turn clockwise. The tail on the windmill helps control the blades by forcing the wheel into the wind, making it operate more efficiently.
Gears and pitman rods inside the housing between the blades and the tail convert the circular motion of the wheel to the up and down motion of the wood sucker rod. This motion is transferred to the pump rod that connects to the piston pump at the bottom of the well which brings water to the surface. The rod is made of wood so that in the event the windmill turns too fast, the wood will break first, preventing the windmill gears and pitman rods from being damaged. The pump rod or wooden pole is sometimes disconnected from the windmill so that the blades can turn and not actually draw water to the surface.
Our windmill was installed on August 8, 2007 with the intention of connecting it to water lines that will help irrigate the Parks many orchards and gardens. Through a generous grant from the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission and the constant efforts of the entire Prusch Farm Park Foundation, this incredibly unique and practical piece of history is dedicated to all people of San Jose and especially the children.
Karl Schiavo Memorial Grove
Karl Schiavo was an active member of the Prusch Farm Park Foundation for many years, serving as both president and secretary. His enthusiasm and honest work ethic spilled into every detail of his volunteer commitment to our Park, its guests, staff and volunteers. Sadly, in 2006 the Foundation and the world lost Karl. He will is sorely missed. We have lost a great friend and warrior.
One of Karl’s true passions was nature, especially in our trees and forests. In 2001, Karl pursued a grant of 300 Redwood and maple trees from the National Tree Trust. The trees were planted that November by volunteers from the Foundation, Cub Scout Pack 274 and students from Independence and Arch Bishop Mitty high schools. In 2010 an the addition of 100 apple trees, 10 different varieties of heirlooms, were planted in Karl's Grove.
Karl’s vision has become one of his many legacies and we are grateful to share in his passion. The trees will continue to flourish under the watchful eyes of all of us – making sure that they have all they need, just like our friend would expect.
Emma’s Kitchen Heirloom Garden contains 17 garden plots dedicated to growing heirloom plants with a German heritage. The garden was first planted by Foundation volunteers in 2008. Summer crops of tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, pumpkins, herbs, strawberries, and artichokes are growing fast.
A small orchard was planted February 2011 and includes apple, pear, cherry and persimmon trees along with an Imperial Prune. The orchard, garden beds and pollinator gardens are a wonderful place to take children of all ages to learn about agriculture in this, the Valley of Hearts Delight.
There is a hand watering pump in the center of the garden and visitors are encouraged to pump water for our ever present ducks and chickens, which roam freely throughout the Park.
Veggielution Community Farm
Veggielution is a nonprofit community farm seeking to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. They currently farm about 8 acres at Emma Prusch Farm Park. Produce that doesn't sell at the Farm Stand is donated to several local food banks. Volunteer workdays, youth programs, sliding scale farmstand, and free community workshops give people a chance to get their hands dirty growing veggies, and learn the importance of eating healthy food and knowing where it came from. For details visit their website at www.veggielution.org. Our Foundation was instrumental in securing Veggielution's place at Prusch.
Windmill
“Bella” Our 1930’s vintage Aermotor Windmill sits on top of the original Prusch Farm Park well and is capable of pumping three gallons of water per minute. The original well has a total depth of 440’. The device used to draw up the water, called a piston pump is located at 168’ below the surface.
The windmill works through a simple process. Wind blows onto the blades, causing them to turn clockwise. The tail on the windmill helps control the blades by forcing the wheel into the wind, making it operate more efficiently.
Gears and pitman rods inside the housing between the blades and the tail convert the circular motion of the wheel to the up and down motion of the wood sucker rod. This motion is transferred to the pump rod that connects to the piston pump at the bottom of the well which brings water to the surface. The rod is made of wood so that in the event the windmill turns too fast, the wood will break first, preventing the windmill gears and pitman rods from being damaged. The pump rod or wooden pole is sometimes disconnected from the windmill so that the blades can turn and not actually draw water to the surface.
Our windmill was installed on August 8, 2007 with the intention of connecting it to water lines that will help irrigate the Parks many orchards and gardens. Through a generous grant from the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission and the constant efforts of the entire Prusch Farm Park Foundation, this incredibly unique and practical piece of history is dedicated to all people of San Jose and especially the children.
Karl Schiavo Memorial Grove
Karl Schiavo was an active member of the Prusch Farm Park Foundation for many years, serving as both president and secretary. His enthusiasm and honest work ethic spilled into every detail of his volunteer commitment to our Park, its guests, staff and volunteers. Sadly, in 2006 the Foundation and the world lost Karl. He will is sorely missed. We have lost a great friend and warrior.
One of Karl’s true passions was nature, especially in our trees and forests. In 2001, Karl pursued a grant of 300 Redwood and maple trees from the National Tree Trust. The trees were planted that November by volunteers from the Foundation, Cub Scout Pack 274 and students from Independence and Arch Bishop Mitty high schools. In 2010 an the addition of 100 apple trees, 10 different varieties of heirlooms, were planted in Karl's Grove.
Karl’s vision has become one of his many legacies and we are grateful to share in his passion. The trees will continue to flourish under the watchful eyes of all of us – making sure that they have all they need, just like our friend would expect.
Park Projects
Large Animal Barn
The park is home to what many say is the biggest wooden barn in California. This is certainly a main feature and attraction at the park. Local 4H youth use the barn to raise their market and breeding animals. The barn serves as a residence to steers, goats, sheep and pigs (swine). The barn is open to the public during certain park hours. This give park visitors the opportunity to see up-close livestock which represent a mainstay in the U. S. economy; however, for safety reasons (both of the animals and visitors) touching or feeding of the animals is not allowed.
High Density Demonstration Orchard
The Prusch Park High Density Orchard demonstrates how two, three, or even four fruit trees can be planted together in a small space, enabling acreage-challenged Santa Clara County residents to enjoy a greater variety of fruits grown on their own trees. The orchard contains about 85 apple, pear, and quince trees that were originally planted in the mid-1990s. A visitor to the orchard will notice the groupings of two, three, and even four trees planted together. Originally, the trees were planted about 18 inches apart. Today, the fruit trees are about 20 years old and well-established. They have purposely been maintained at a height that does not require a ladder for pruning or picking fruit. And, since different trees bear fruit at different times, a household with multiple trees planted in close proximity may harvest fruit throughout the summer.
Appropriate and skillful pruning is the High Density Orchard’s key to success. Newly planted trees must be pruned and trained to develop the branch scaffolding from which new branches and fruiting spurs will grow. Pruning the interior of the tree enables air and light to penetrate the interior of the tree which helps to minimize disease and enhance fruit set. Summer pruning is essential in order to control the size and height of high density-planted trees. In the winter, trees are lightly pruned to maintain their shape.
Springtime visitors to the High Density Orchard may be able to see firsthand some of the viruses and bacteria, such as Fireblight and Bacterial Blast, that harm fruit trees. If caught early, these offenders can be dealt with before the tree is harmed.
The Prusch High Density Orchard is maintained by the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Master Gardeners typically work in the orchard on Saturday mornings in the winter and early spring and in the early summer. They are happy to talk about the High Density Demonstration Orchard and provide useful advice.
For more information about high density orchards or fruit tree care in general, visit these websites:
Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County : MasterGardeners.org
Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers: CRFG.org
Native Garden
The Color Wheel Garden was first planted in front of the farmhouse in 1992 by UCCE Master Gardeners Carol Sabatino, Dot Maley, Doug Carriger, John Scoville and many others. Over the years, the garden changed and in 2009, with a gift from the Foundation, UCCE Master Gardener’s Art and Nancy Bashford took on the task of updating the garden.
The Native Plant Garden shows visitors to the Park how they can include low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants which are native to California in their own gardens at home. Short signs placed throughout the garden let people know how these plants can attract butterflies, birds, bees, and beneficial insects to their own yards, and what the plants can be expected to look like in various seasons of the year.
Since the garden is located directly in front of the Prusch farmhouse, children on field trips and their parents and teachers, as well as casual visitors to the Park have an opportunity to ask questions and learn the names of California native plants which they might like to try at home, and which can be counted on to do well in our area without using much water or needing to be fed or sprayed for pests and diseases.
The garden is designed and maintained by volunteers from the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County and was up-graded and re-planted in 2013 with more vibrant water saving native plants.
Rare Fruit Orchard
[description coming soon]
Friendship Forest
[description coming soon]
Compost Demo
[description coming soon]
Rose Garden
[description coming soon]
Small Animal Area
[description coming soon]
Drought Tolerant Garden
[description coming soon]
The park is home to what many say is the biggest wooden barn in California. This is certainly a main feature and attraction at the park. Local 4H youth use the barn to raise their market and breeding animals. The barn serves as a residence to steers, goats, sheep and pigs (swine). The barn is open to the public during certain park hours. This give park visitors the opportunity to see up-close livestock which represent a mainstay in the U. S. economy; however, for safety reasons (both of the animals and visitors) touching or feeding of the animals is not allowed.
High Density Demonstration Orchard
The Prusch Park High Density Orchard demonstrates how two, three, or even four fruit trees can be planted together in a small space, enabling acreage-challenged Santa Clara County residents to enjoy a greater variety of fruits grown on their own trees. The orchard contains about 85 apple, pear, and quince trees that were originally planted in the mid-1990s. A visitor to the orchard will notice the groupings of two, three, and even four trees planted together. Originally, the trees were planted about 18 inches apart. Today, the fruit trees are about 20 years old and well-established. They have purposely been maintained at a height that does not require a ladder for pruning or picking fruit. And, since different trees bear fruit at different times, a household with multiple trees planted in close proximity may harvest fruit throughout the summer.
Appropriate and skillful pruning is the High Density Orchard’s key to success. Newly planted trees must be pruned and trained to develop the branch scaffolding from which new branches and fruiting spurs will grow. Pruning the interior of the tree enables air and light to penetrate the interior of the tree which helps to minimize disease and enhance fruit set. Summer pruning is essential in order to control the size and height of high density-planted trees. In the winter, trees are lightly pruned to maintain their shape.
Springtime visitors to the High Density Orchard may be able to see firsthand some of the viruses and bacteria, such as Fireblight and Bacterial Blast, that harm fruit trees. If caught early, these offenders can be dealt with before the tree is harmed.
The Prusch High Density Orchard is maintained by the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Master Gardeners typically work in the orchard on Saturday mornings in the winter and early spring and in the early summer. They are happy to talk about the High Density Demonstration Orchard and provide useful advice.
For more information about high density orchards or fruit tree care in general, visit these websites:
Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County : MasterGardeners.org
Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers: CRFG.org
Native Garden
The Color Wheel Garden was first planted in front of the farmhouse in 1992 by UCCE Master Gardeners Carol Sabatino, Dot Maley, Doug Carriger, John Scoville and many others. Over the years, the garden changed and in 2009, with a gift from the Foundation, UCCE Master Gardener’s Art and Nancy Bashford took on the task of updating the garden.
The Native Plant Garden shows visitors to the Park how they can include low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants which are native to California in their own gardens at home. Short signs placed throughout the garden let people know how these plants can attract butterflies, birds, bees, and beneficial insects to their own yards, and what the plants can be expected to look like in various seasons of the year.
Since the garden is located directly in front of the Prusch farmhouse, children on field trips and their parents and teachers, as well as casual visitors to the Park have an opportunity to ask questions and learn the names of California native plants which they might like to try at home, and which can be counted on to do well in our area without using much water or needing to be fed or sprayed for pests and diseases.
The garden is designed and maintained by volunteers from the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County and was up-graded and re-planted in 2013 with more vibrant water saving native plants.
Rare Fruit Orchard
[description coming soon]
Friendship Forest
[description coming soon]
Compost Demo
[description coming soon]
Rose Garden
[description coming soon]
Small Animal Area
[description coming soon]
Drought Tolerant Garden
[description coming soon]
