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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Fwd: [rarefruit] Discussion aims of the group

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  • From: "Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Fwd: [rarefruit] Discussion aims of the group
  • Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:19:27 -0700

I suppose "isolation" isn't the right term, only that too often someone starts to work with something and the internet makes it possible to find others almost too quickly. In my own case, there are things I started on in pre-internet days that I worked with for a while before I found other people working on the same plants. Had I found them at the start, before I had much time or experience with the plants, their results might have discouraged me from trying. But because I'd had time to grow the plants for a while, I found that my results were different and I kept going.
Now, if you post something on the internet, it's too easy to get fast replies that don't necessarily apply to your own conditions, but if you haven't become experienced enough to know, you might let that deter you from going any farther.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
For even more grape lessons, go to http://www.grapeschool.com
For growing supplies and more; http://www.grapegrowersolutions.com

On Apr 16, 2007, at 7:27 AM, rob hamilton wrote:

Hey Lon,

I really wish there were more information about some of these pomegranate NAFEX figures. These names are mentioned in post at times, but I feel these people need recognized more and their work documented. I guess I am asking for book to be written.

On the interest group issue, it surprises me that people would be encouraged by isolation. The reason I found NAFEX so interesting is that the work form others inspires me to look at where I could be contribute. I  have friend I met on the Internet here in Atlanta. We meet every month to talk about what we are growing.
Maybe its just the way I work. Having people to share ideas and test material, seems to focus me and pushes me forward. I think this is why I strive to go to the meetings. It not just a pure quest for knowledge, but something to push me forward and invigorating my passion.

Robert

"Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com> wrote:
like kiwi (any kiwi), jujubes, persimmons, etc. were pretty much
unknown in the general population and were considered quite exotic at
the time. NAFEX has done a lot to make formerly exotic fruits common
enough that they have lost much of their former status. Elwyn Meader
bred an American persimmon able to grow in a climate where most people
thought they wouldn't grow. Jim Claypool started the first private
large scale breeding program for American persimmons. Elmer Swenson
showed that really good quality grapes could be grown in cold climates.
Elwood Fisher gathered an apple collection that became a large part of
the foundation of the U.S. apple collection at Geneva, NY. The list
goes on. Through the efforts of many of these people, nurseries began
to offer those "exotic" fruits more and more until they became well
known enough to lose some of their "exotic" status.
In some ways NAFEX's role has shifted to finding and/or developing new
fruits, to developing/finding more varieties of those fruits that will
grow in a wider range of climates.
Yes, there are many exotic fruits out there, but only a limited number
that will grow in temperate climates AND have enough appeal to attract
a sizeable following the way the earlier fruits have. There are a lot
of edible Sorbus species, for example, but many aren't better than
other pome fruits, just different. That doesn't mean they aren't worth
pursuing, only that they aren't likely to attract as much attention as
other fruits.
Of course it also depends on how much work anyone is willing to put
into the fruits. The Interest Groups have tended to wither with the
development of the internet because the existing information tends to
stifle creativity to some degree. When someone is working in
isolation, they seem to become more creative and try more things
because they have nothing to compare their work to. With the internet,
it's easy to find others who are already doing something, which can
make working with a fruit less urgent.
Of the many other fruits out there, a lot of them have potential, but
they don't appeal to as wide a range of people as some of the ones
NAFEX has espoused in the past, so it will take more time for them to
be developed to where they will attract a wider "audience".
These are random thoughts. Often it only takes one really devoted
"fan" of a fruit to light a fire under others, if that one is
persistent, patient, and gets the word out to others. That usually
means growing or working with as many selections of the fruit as
possible, gathering information, sometimes breeding new varieties,
passing along plant material, and writing about their experiences.
As long as NAFEX has people like that, it will flourish.
-Lon Rombough

Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at
http://www.bunchgrapes.com Winner of the Garden Writers Association
"Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
For even more grape lessons, go to http://www.grapeschool.com
For growing supplies and more; http://www.grapegrowersolutions.com

On Apr 15, 2007, at 6:06 PM, rob hamilton wrote:

Dear membership,

This is an interest comment. I have only been with NAFEX for about 6
years. Some some aspects or this post I agree and with and some I
don't. I feel this is an excellent opportunity for our membership (at
least the on-line ones) to chime in to let the board know what you
want.

These are my thoughts...

There is a alot of discussions on mainstream fruits in the on-line
forum and in Pomona, though the varieties discussed are often are
historical or rare and sometimes unorthodox uses of those fruits. That
being said, I do see plenty of discussion of rare or under explored
fruits, and kiwi or hardy kiwi is hardly and exotic fruit on our list.
Ask Hector Black and Hall Love.  I personally would love to see more
exploration of rarer fruit. I think (gut feeling here) members do, but
may not actively report on them.
I also think that we do have a diversity of people on the whole
chemical/organic spectrum. I am tired of seeing people place in just
two extremes in this issue, and I do feel here people discuss and
practice various methodologies and anyone would find a colleague in our
membership that would see their interest represented. I do see the
organic community growing, and that is an area I think we could find
more members.

I do NOT want this post to sound like I took offense at these comments.
It is further from the truth. I thank Dr. Parmar posted this. My hope
is that we can use it as a vehicle to ask ourselves if this is the
group we want.

I think each fruit group out there has there own "flavor" of community.
I am part  of Southern Fruit Fellowship, and the California Rare fruit
group. There will always be overlap between them, though no group well
satisfy everyone, I think we are a good general entry point for all
people interested in temperate fruit.

Robert Hamilton
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