North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

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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