Tag Archives: food

The Very Wild Texas Peach

The Texas peach represents a great human plant introduction into the southwestern U.S. native flora. It integrates into its surrounding environment and continues to broaden its genetic diversity. When botanists first looked at the peach thriving in the southeastern U.S., … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Very Wild Texas Peach

Tree Crop Pioneers and New American Persimmon Varieties

One of my first persimmon seed sources for trees at my nursery was from a persimmon cannery in Mitchell, Indiana called Dymple’s Delight. I used the cannery waste for producing trees. The seeds were extracted prior to cooking. The seeds … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tree Crop Pioneers and New American Persimmon Varieties

Two New American Persimmon Varieties

Starting in the mid 1980’s I began growing American persimmon trees on my farm in southwestern Michigan. I initially grew them within my nursery to sell as seedlings. Eventually I planted many in my open hay field surrounding my farm … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Two New American Persimmon Varieties

The American Persimmon: Sugar Heaven

Every year is a great joy to harvest American persimmons. This year is no exception. I relish the major brush clearing and grass mowing that is needed for me to obtain the fruit in quantity and quality. To harvest the … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The American Persimmon: Sugar Heaven

The Edible World Part 2

This sign from my families farm in the mid 1960’s highlights an activity at our farm enjoyed by many in our part of Michigan. You would get a bucket and go out in our 140 acre swamp and find wild … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Edible World Part 2

The Edible World Part 1

One of the great benefits of having a nursery was to inspire others to create gardens filled with unique and delicious fruits and vegetables. Most of the plants I grew were not available by other nurseries or produced by a … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Edible World Part 1

The Chinese Mountain Yam: New Crop-A Better World

This particular crop plant is one of the best tubers I have grown at my farm. The mild flavor and smooth texture along with its easily digestible carbohydrates make it an ideal candidate for a new tuber crop not available … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Chinese Mountain Yam: New Crop-A Better World

Creating Order in a Random World

The plants I chose to grow at my farm was based on my personal experiences. There were many more or less random events of people contacting me with seeds or accidentally finding plants as I went through my daily life. … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creating Order in a Random World

The American Chestnut Revisited

Thanks to a previous generation of growers who appreciated and loved the chestnut tree for its nuts and wood quality, I was able to grow the hybrid populations on my farm. From these seedling American hybrid nuts, I was able … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The American Chestnut Revisited

The Alpine Strawberry Moves to Flat-Landia

One of the most common and widely available perennial edible groundcover plants is the Alpine strawberry, Fragaria vesca. I grew as many as I could find in the seed trade. Unlike regular strawberries, Alpine strawberry varieties are grown from seeds. … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Alpine Strawberry Moves to Flat-Landia