Have you got an apple tree in your back yard, or a small grove? Even wonder how to support the growth of healthy apples without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers?  Try an Apple Guild.

Apple Tree Guild with Comfrey Ring

A plant guild is a community of mutually beneficial plants. Benefits include efficient sharing of space above and below ground, attracting pollenator insects, providing beauty, increasing soil fertility, humus or nitrogen (ie fertilizer), adding structural support (as corn stalks do for pole beans), or deterring common pests.

The Apple tree pictured here has a circle of comfrey growing around it instead of grass.