Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. –Martin Luther
Millions saw the apple fall but Newton was the one who asked why. – Bernard Baruch
When we purchased our historic home, it came with a fruit orchard containing apples, pears, peaches, and plums. Thus, the first reason we have apples in our historic home garden is they came with the house. The previous owner picked the tree varieties specifically for their Victorian heritage.
Learning how to care for these trees so that we can enjoy the fruit has been a learning process. Warding off insects, birds, disease, frost, and squirrels continues every season, requiring diligence and perseverance.
Reason Two – A Fun Hobby
A few years ago, as some trees started to age out, and to preserve the heritage varieties, my husband began grafting cuttings from the older trees onto new rootstock with great success. Later on one of his trips to the West Coast to visit family, he attended a local fair where he picked up several varieties of fruit tree cuttings or scions.
The scions were placed in our refrigerator until early spring when David did his grafting magic. We have enjoyed several new varieties of apples from that effort. Early every spring, Dr. Dave goes to the coppice where our fruit orchard resides and begins his pruning and grafting process.
A fun aspect of this is that now we have multiple varieties of pears, peaches, and apples on just a few trees. By having several varieties maturing at different times, we enjoy fresh fruit over a longer period. We are not commercial growers but preserve and freeze the excess for winter.
Comes By It Honestly – Reason Three
This fascination with fruit, specifically apple growing seemed to come out of nowhere for Dr. Dave. However, it turns out to be in his blood. My Husband’s maternal grandmother was a Bertsch. This family line came from Holland Michigan where a family apple farm and market was run by Daniel Bertsch We passed by Holland during apple harvest season on one of our Michigan trips.
Discovering these bloodline connections, and grabbing ahold of them into something tangible like our multi-variety apple trees, gives us great joy and satisfaction. Rather than just another thing to do or maintain, the activity becomes a part of a rescued story.
What story are you living today? Take time to rescue it and write it down! In the comments write your headline…go ahead, take that first step.
Very interesting, thank you