North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["baylands" <baylands@cros.net>]

A good basic book covering a wide range of subjects is “the BackYard Orchardist” by Stella Otto. It is probably available at Amazon.com. My copy says that you can order a book with Visa or Mastercard by calling 1-800-345-0096. Your library might also have a copy. Mine does.

 

Ro Chapman

 

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From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Deb Schneider
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 4:15 PM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [NAFEX] How to become a "fruit explorer"

 

I'm pretty new to "fruiting"...mostly I've grown berries in the past.  I've now started a small orchard (Kristin, Lapins and Bali cherry, a 4-in-1 Pluot, Queen Cox Apple, and Comice and Warren pears.

I am fascinated with the stories in Pomona about people riding around their neighborhoods discovering interesting fruits.  I'm wondering do folks knock on doors and ask to try the fruit or collect a sample?  How does one go about identifying what's safe to eat and what isn't?  I don't know a scion from a sapling...is there a good VERY basic book that describes what NAFEX experts are doing when the take a piece of a tree and start a new plant?

I live out in the country and often see interesting berry bushes, old fruit trees, even long ignored orchards.  I have a thorny tree (the blossoms look like apple blossoms) that has never fruited...I wonder if it might be a wild apple?  Would it set fruit if my Queen Cox pollinates it?

Thanks!

Deb Schneider
SE Ohio Zone 5b