Welcome Back

[Poodle]

Welcome back Skip. Must say I missed you. I have a cool idea. Why don't we kick Dr. Phil off the air and put you on? That would be a fascinating show that would have all of America "mesmerized" to say the least! Pood

[skip]

Why would I want to hang out with Opra?

I think Dr Phil is fine, but that isnt in my game plan.

I have an Apple Orchard (Actually a couple of cousins and I) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We bought it as a preservation project, in order to prevent real estate developers from turning the 276 acres into condos. The orchard is over 100 years old. We have donated a portion of the property to the forrest service, and are turning the rest into a non profit foundation to ensure that apples are always grown there.

Since then we have learned that there is much more to preserve than just apples. The history and music of the area is incredible, and we have included that in our preservation project.

We have had the property for 11 years now, and I plan to take over general managment in about 5-6 years so my cousin can retire a second time. It will be my second, 'after retirement' project. Curently, you can see me there most weekends, telling stories on the hayrides, flirting with the staff and guests, and generally making a nuisence of myself.

http://www.altapassorchard.com/ if you are interested.

I will grow apples, and continue to teach hypnosis and NLP, in an even more beautiful setting than I am in now.

It dovetails nicely with my belief that we should all give something back to the comunity.

What more could I want?

skip

[Merlin]

Beautiful plan. I hope it works.
But didn't you Yanks lose property rights with that Supreme court decision, that it can be taken so that the government can get more tax $$$ ?

[skip]

It is possible Merlin.

But that isnt a valid reason not to try.

skip

[Terry (existing)]

Ah the joy of an apple orchard. I used to keep an apple in my cloths drawer because I loved the smell so much. I can well imagine the relaxation and pleasure of wandering through the orchard and seeing the mountains beyond. I get that same pleasure, minus the smell as I look to the West and see the Rockies in the distance... I suggest you make sure that this becomes an Historic site Skip, that way it is protected from Government interference (G).... Find an Indian grave or something. That works every time in Canada....... Now I know were to get the best and freshest apples come picking time.

[Hilde]

What a beautiful area Skip, I'm sure you have a great time hanging out there:)

Hilde

[Merlin]

As I said
"Beautiful plan. I hope it works."

[Merlin]

Yes.
Historic societies make great trump cards :)

[Simple Guy]

Skip,

Winesaps are my favorites. :) Your plans will work out, unless you
decide to do otherwise. I'm so confident of this, that I won't even
bother to offer to craft a most outstanding Ericksonian agriculturally
based metaphor to assist you. ;)

Best wishes in all of your endeavors.

[Alonso]

Reminded me of strawberry fields in Norway. Those places are where true love is felt. It's very poetic.

[Poodle]

Hmmm, I just saw my favorite word in your post -- TEACH! Please PM me telling me details. I love to learn from the best.

I had my apple tree chopped down last year. Too many wasps enjoying the fruit. The apples sure were good tho.

[Jack]

Indeed, what more could you want, Skip. It should be enormously enjoyable.

Here in England I have an orchard which was originally planted in the 18th century(possibly earlier judging by the musket balls) for cider production, so it has a combination of original sweet and sour varieties, some of which are no longer grown anywhere else in England. Since we came to live here 24 years ago we have produced cider every year except the first and it is a true delight.

And have you noticed..the number and quality of metaphors you can find in an orchard is amazing.

Jack

[thackaray]

I can feel something Ericksonian about this thread :D

[Terry (existing)]

Don't feel anything Ericsonian, but I can taste that scrumpy of my Navy days when stationed in the south of England..... Ah that Zomerzet Zider (G)...

[Jack]

Did they ever tell you about the indicator to tell you if the cider was ready, Terry?

You throw in a dead rat, or if you are fortunate one dies happily whilst bathing in the vat. When the rat is empty the cider is ready.;)

Jack
Don't feel anything Ericsonian, but I can taste that scrumpy of my Navy days when stationed in the south of England..... Ah that Zomerzet Zider (G)...

[skip]

Jack,

How would you feel about, if not this year, perhaps next year sending me some cuttings?

I have a lot of 50 year old root stock and would be interested in grafting some 'old world' apples.

We have done almost all of our pruning already for this year and in about 2 months I could graft.

skip

[Terry (existing)]

What a wonderful thought. Perhaps reciprocation with you sending Jack some of the original apples that were first transported to the New World...

[skip]

My orchard isnt that old, 100 years.

My cousin could have gotten some from Brogdale, near London. Over 2000 cultivars (varieties), if he would do the leg work getting all the customs and agricultural permits. He didnt follow thru.

And it may not be worth it to do, but it is an entertaining thought, having a bunch of Jack's progeny running around North Carolina. :)

skip

[Jack]

Surprisingly, there may be some of my progeny in the US. As a student, determined to return the favour US servicemen did for our women in WW2, I did my very best to redress the balance in a six month sojourn across your incredible and beautiful country:D

PM me your address Skip and I'll see what I can do, with apples that is, Customs & Excise allowing.

Jack

[skip]

Well Im sure my fathers generation was happy to oblige, as I am sure you were happy to redress. I have also personally tried to enthuiastically do my bit for relations between my country and yours, and am willing, if needs be such... :)

Let me see to the import problems. It would be on my side that the difficulties would arise, if that be the case. It is a nice thought, and if it can be done within reason, it would be great. If not, it would be best to let it go. We already have enough imported nasties, that our trees have little or no natural resistance to, we dont need to take the chance.

thanks,

skip

[Jack]

None of the trees are diseased as far as I'm aware, Skip, but you are right to be cautious. What sort of soil type and pH do you have? Thinking that maybe I could send you some seeds which would go undetected airmail and should not be problematic re: disease or pest.

The trees have been officially 'organic' for the last 20 years (there are only 16 truly ancient ones left and only 4 varieties), but I know the only foreign substance put on the land before that was horse manure - the chap before me was here for 44 years and trusted nothing that came out of a bag, a tin or from an agricultural salesman. Had to come from the rear end of a horse.

A load of sh*t really.

Jack

[skip]

Were they organic horses?

Soil is clay not a lot of organic mix. Slightly acid.

I dont want seeds, because apples dont self pollinate, they dont even slef pollinate within the same variety. That is why the tree varieties are planted alternate rows, or some other variety is sprinkeled throught the orchard.

So the seed from the apple you eat, wont grow the same apple, but some combination of the parent trees, and may be stronger and more disease and insect resistant, or weaker.

The only way to duplicate the apples you are getting (And thus preserve the variety) is to take cuttings from one of your trees, and put it on my root stock.

I dont doubt that your trees are healthy. What is of concern is that your trees might be resistant to some fingus, or something that is present, but doesnt affect your trees. However if introduced over here my trees might be succeptable.

Ill check with the AG people, but like I said it may be more bother than it is worth.

I appreciate the thought.

skip

[Jack]

The horses were organic back to 1650. Before that they used the supermarket.

I'm not an apple expert. I have a bloke who takes care of my trees so until you mentioned it I had no idea about their sexual habits - being content to make the cider and drink it (it's a hard life). But I take your point about differences in resistance to disease, fungus etc. Could be very risky, wouldn't like to infect your trees with an arboreal version of the Black Death.:eek:

If it helps none of the apples are eaters, being high in tannin and are grown on a clay/loam mix with a pH of 6.8, so my man says, and date back to the early 17th century or before.

The cider tastes very sharp when new, but develops complex vinous flavours after about 18 months. Closest I can get is a vague similarity to Nuits St Georges. Over four years it's not worth drinking, but at 2 years it is nectar.

Jack

[skip]

The majority of our apples are sold for eating.

What cannot be sold for eating goes for cider, which is processed by another grower for us, and comes back pasturized.

The remainder and ground apples are sold to deer hunters who are interested in attracting deer, so they can shoot them. We also sell a lot of 'deer apples' to anti hunters, who are interested in attracting deer, so the hunters cannot shoot them.

A little trick I learned modeling international arms dealers. :)

skip