How big of a tree can it grow out to? Some fruit trees stay small, but some can grow pretty big. Some need more pruning than others to keep healthy producing.

Organic can include spraying- you just spray with organic approved stuff instead of non-approved. Lots of fruit growers spray and are organic.

And be careful in picking out your tree- some are self-fertile-requiring only one tree planted, and some require a second tree for pollination, including most pawpaw trees. Some places offer trees that have multiple grafts on them too.

If they like nuts, some nut trees are self-fertile.

Or maybe consider something a bit shorter, like blueberries. It's a bush rather than tree. Or other thornless berries that grow to be large bushes or canes.

Blueberries are long lived (over 50 years) and usually don't require spraying but need very acidic soil, I know the west of our state has acidic soil, but more NW. Not sure about the area? I put mine in raised beds where I can control PH.
Apples/pears, stone fruits will have to be sprayed. If not willing don't plant. You should consider other fruit growers in the area, and your tree will attract pests to the area. Other non spray trees are Mulberry, it grows big, well the ones around here, unless you buy the dwarf. Some are not hardy here, so you have to purchase the right one. Serviceberry is another. It produces a blueberry like fruit.
The cultivar Autumn Brilliance is edible and ornamental;. the cultivars Smokey and Northline are more bushes that produce excellent fruit. Better than Autumn Brilliance.
Another smaller tree (to about 20 ft) is The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, Cornus mas It produces a cherry-like fruit, but it must be processed, it is not good raw. Very tart. Makes the best jam and syrup.

Yes raspberries would be a good idea. having something easy reach is a good idea. Really the idea is to plant something now, more or less forget about it and let it put down roots and get established, and hopefully when the girls are a little but older, it will be ready to fruit. If they need a ladder/supervision to pick the fruit that's fine. The main thing is no dangerous chemicals. not my requirement, their mother's! They have plenty of room to let it grow tall, plenty of room for two or more trees, plenty of full sun and partial sun

Thanks drew. Possible an "organic" spray would be ok, but nothing that doesn't meet organic standards. Mulberries are one option, you can eat them straight off the tree. And attracting birds/squirrels is also fine for the kids. Sounds like pomes and stone fruit are out, that's what I wanted to know.

Most people I know who eat organic fruit do not eat peaches. As you just can't get many if any without chemical sprays You can use organic spray yes, but you will need to spray at least 10 times a year, more like 20. And just because it's organic doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Some organic materials are very dangerous.
My dad was 86 when he passed and he never washed fruit and lived through the days they used arsenic and lead, I'm 58 now and if it kills me in 30 years I can live with that. So i grow peaches and do what I have to get fruit. I agree for kids, you want to stay as safe as possible. I'm old, it doesn't metter much.

Here in Colorado I would try to grow apples no spray, the ones in the park across the street do fine with absolutely no care. I think my sister buys only organic apples but she will let the kids eat whatever at a friend's house etc.

But growing fruit and deliberately spraying is something else

olreader....I'm biased as all get out, but I'd choose an apple. A pear would definitely be the best choice though imo. You might consider asking your sister to plant some seeds with the kids (apple or pear) so you can get at least one good healthy seedling.
If you have not done this before yourself you might be very surprised how quickly they grow. You'll be ready to graft the following year. Plan one of your visits at the right time for grafting and take some wood with you.
Everyone here seems to really like this Harrow Sweet pear and I'm going to grow one myself. You could also do a DR apple like Liberty or William's Pride or something.
Again...if it were me...I'd stick with the pear. Way less work and can flourish even when neglected, plus they grow naturally with an attractive shape while still being productive.
I like the seedling idea because that tree will still be going strong when those little girls have kids of their own. It is an all-encompassing educational experience and a family building exercise.
They will probably always remember that tree and will remember you too...long after all of us here are gone.

This post was edited by Appleseed70 on Fri, Jan 30, 15 at 20:50

I second the idea of a pear, or two pears, actually. They don't require any attention, though take a long time to bear. My Luscious is just that, very luscious! Nothing at all like the store things. You might supplement it with a few raspberries for quicker gratification, too.
Northwoodswis

Pear is a good choice from the no-spray perspective as well. I think it is really the only mainstream tree fruit that can truly produce reliably under no-spray conditions. Persimmons are a fringe fruit for most people in that most people don't really like them...myself included (though I wish I did).

Pears would be #1 for no spray... I'd also recommend Tomcot apricot ... A sweet cherry (Lapins) is a possibility...

A trap tree (say a plum of some sort) for plum curculio and other pests to romp and feed on might help. I have a large hybrid plum that in some years, i just let the PC hammer in hopes that the damage elsewhere is less.

Remember...whatever the do...discard all fruit that falls on the ground in the garbage.

Also remember, that even if you get through with the bugs/disease , you still have squirrels. Squirrels are by far the biggest pest for me.

How about jujube? SW Michigan looks to be zone 6, so I don't think you would have any problems on that front. They don't seem to have any pest or fungal problems in this country (all of that is still in China). From what I've seen, most kids seem to like them, even those quite young. They do have thorns, and need full sun.

I would avoid any fall bearing raspberries. I'm not sure how big of a problem SWD is yet in your area, but it will probably get there soon if not already. The summer raspberries are fine (ripe before the flies get far enough North), but a lot of wormy raspberries won't endear the kids to raising fruit.

So...any decision or thoughts so far?

Thank you for all of the suggestions and I agree with all the points made, I will give another report once I talk to my sister about this little plan...

I like the idea of a nice sized piece of fruit: apple, pear, apricot. Possibly pawpaw. Berries from bush or tree would be something extra. I remember that my grandfather picked pears from his tree in Detroit but I never wanted to eat them when I was little, maybe they were ugly or hard.

Are there some suitable pears that can be eaten off the tree? Or do they need to be picked then ripened? Delayed gratification is not much fun for a little kid, Are some pears easy and also attractive=less likely to show bruises/spots?

And I definitely like the idea of having planting seeds but not sure if I would be ready to try grafting. But the kids are only 5 and 3 so there is some time to correct mistakes and start over with new trees.

Squirrels will be a big problem no matter what. Probably best to keep the trees very short and not many trees, and figure out some kind of fencing. Thanks to everyone, I will report back.

Mulberries are the best for ease of care. And they fruit early.

Yes, Mulberries are the best choice as mentioned earlier.
The trees grow fast too. Illinois Everbearing is common and probably the easiest to obtain. I know some pears for best taste require table ripening, but maybe some do not? Asian pears maybe? Any variety soft enough to eat on trees may also have larvae problems too, like apples.
If you grow raspberries, and mulberries, mix them for jam, and it will be some of the best jam you ever tasted.
Jam is easy to make too. Have the kids help!
Grow some yellow raspberries, bet the kids never saw those before and they are so good! Fall Gold is a good choice. Anne is better but it is a shy producer. Fall Gold kicks out the berries and they are excellent. I have Fall Gold, Anne, Cascade Gold, Kiwi Gold, and Honey Queen yellow raspberries in my garden.
You could add a pear too, but I would say overall the kids will kill on the mulberries and leave the pears alone.
Plus you can really get back at your sister because mulberries are the best dye ever, the kid's clothes will be covered in stains :) The hands too!
I grow every color of raspberry I can
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They freeze well, will not stick together. I like to dip frozen berries in chocolate, yum!
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olreader: Pears generally are attractive and really none that I'm aware of are easily bruised, at least as compared to apples etc.
Your grandfather's tree in Detroit was likely a European variety which would most likely suit you best imo. They do not ripen on the tree, you pick them and allow them to ripen. I like sweet juicy pears with a buttery texture, but others like them crisp and more dry. It's really all about personal preference.

I understand your point on the "delayed gratification" as my kids are 5 and 3 also.
Thing is,,,it's my opinion that instant gratification is one of the many problems with today's youth and adults alike. I've always felt that gardening of any type offered many life lessons and always seemed to me that those who grew up in a gardening family were generally better adjusted.

If carefully done do-overs shouldn't be necessary. I have heard posters here who have issues with squirrels but they don't bother anything I have except for plums and they don't take too many. I don't think fencing would be necessary.

The funniest thing I ever saw was a squirrel try one of my hot peppers. he had to hurry as I have a dog, so he just bit down hard and chewed, he jumped up in the air, ran in circles, and made some of the strangest sounds I ever heard. So now I make a spray with my hot peppers and put it on my other fruit. Birds can't taste it, but squirrels can!
I use an organic oil and mix blended hot peppers with it.

Beautiful berries Drew. Love all that color!

Thanks for all the advice. in 2016 i sent them two pawpaws, Overleese and Allegheny. they discaededdiscarded the labels and we dont know which is which.

last year the big one had a big crop, but some animal got every single pawpaw one night when they were almost ripe

this photo was taken today Another big crop on the big one, and one cluster of fruit on the small tree. We will try to protect it this year.