Even for those of us who've been gardening and growing things for most of our life, there's still plenty to learn. I could live 1000 years and not know all there is to know about growing one tenth of one percent of the plant species on this planet. The life of a plant person is almost by definition, a lifetime of experimentation...preceded by a few hours each week of reading various gardening/botany/horticulture books to see what others have to say about what you're trying to grow.

Yup. My guess is pesticides.

There've been bee shortages in California for a few years running now. It'd gotten to the point where some high value crops like Almonds might go unpollinated were it not for beekeepers coming in from out of state to fill in. I figure all that massive insecticide application in the Cental Valley drifts into the Sierra watershed and foothills and justs adds a double whammy on top of the Varroa mite.

And, alas, a lot of that information is contradictory. All too often, not even the "experts" seem to know what they're talking about! Or, what may work in one system of climate, soil, and pests may not work in another.

We are what we grow

http://www.actahort.org/books/65/65_33.htm

ultra high density orchards

Does anyone know of a site or company or catalog that caters to cold climates? Ie Zones 2 or 3? I have an apple tree and have experience with all sorts of fruit trees and bushes, but only for warmer climates.

Thanks,

Fruit is a luxury item, not a staple food. I have eaten fruit before and it is hardly filling. Eating black berries and other fruits will not get you far. Perhaps have bean and soy plants. You'd be suprised how good some food tastes. I cooked some shrips on the bbq, and left the shells in a pile on the bbq next to some sausages. I gave the shells to my dog, but I tried some of them too, and they tasted good. If the shells are cooked in fat, they become edible and taste good. My grandmother said her mother during the great depression used to add sawdust to their meals. She would mince meat up, and add an equal part of sawdust. My grandmother said it tasted good and was very filling.

Unfortunately humans can't digest sawdust, and it doesn't provide any nutrients or calories, just provides a feeling of fullness. So you can still starve to death if there's too much sawdust in the food. Putting sawdust in food has been a common famine practice.

There's a difference between food thats 'filling' and food that's nutritious. Fruit may not be very filling, but holds many nutrients you can't get from the normal staple grains, beans, etc. And so is a very valuable addition to the diet. Also shrimp shells may taste good if cooked right, but we can't digest the keratin(?) it's made from, so, like the sawdust, it's just fibre, which is important in its place, but not a nutrient. You need a balance of nutrients, for health, as well as bulk foods to make your diet satisfying.

Is anyone on this forum involved with a national or international tree planting organization, such as Arbor Day, or something llike that? I was thinking that if those large groups were to be involved in fruit or nut bearing tree planting (as opposed to pine or other kind of tree...still valuable, but not really edible for the most part) more edible possibilities will be ther for people in the years to come. Just a thought! Is there a modern day Johnny Appleseed out there?:)

I used to be a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, mommy, but found that outfit rather weird. You don't get much for your membership dollar---a very skimpy, peculiar newsletter and discounts on tree seedlings that arrive so undersized and feeble they are hardly worth planting. I do think they have a good mission, and that Lied Lodge and its surrounding grounds sound fabulous, but they're a long way from where I live.

A better organization to join, if you're into fruit as I am, would be NAFEX, about which I've heard good things. Google it.

Ah, dukat, you certainly offer a unique viewpoint on many things, especially food! (NO EMOTICON FACE! CHEERS!).

NAFEX (North American Fruit EXplorers) has a simple quarterly newletter/magazine, not very slick, but full of info at various levels of expertise on many if not most kinds of fruit, with of course a lot of info on apples and other commonlyl grown fruit. Also has a email list that non-members can apparently join, which is good for asking questions about fruit growing of the many interested amateurs and professionals on the list.
I've been a member for many years and have learned a lot over the years.

I'm thinking of getting:

2 plums-Alderman (a guy about an hour north of here grows DELICIOUS plums--out of this world!)

2 peaches-Reliance/Intrepid (?)

2-3 apples-I want something comparable to Mcintosh/Regent/???

2 pears-Seckel/Bartlett (i love both!)

Total=$200

Probably all dwarf/ordering from starkbros...I might buy a few local ones in the spring, but selection is usually limited.

I live with a mile of the Mississippi River (lower elevation) which tends to stay more mild then blufftop areas(its zone4/5). I have a smaller south facing yard/larger north facing yard (although the house(1 story) is the only thing shadowing the north yard). A lady about a block away had 2 huge peach trees that had huge fruit (i think they were redhaven), so i'm sure i can get them to survive.

I only have one little tree! Any thoughts welcome!

WisJim~Did nafex archives move? I haven't been able to find them (new computer..lost favorites!)???

I have had good luck with trees from FEDCO, but they only sell full-sized trees. Frankthetank is a zone warmer than I am, so trees from Starks should be okay. We have a Nova pear that seems hardy and has really delicious pears. I like our Regent apple, and prefer Empire to a regular McIntosh. I also like Melrose and Sweet 16 (and quite a few others).

Frankthetank, I notice that the NAFEX list has mention of trouble with the archives, so I am hoping it is just a temporary glich. Have you joined the email list? And there is also a midwest organic fruit growers group that has had a few workshops in Wis/Minn/Iowa the last couple of summers. I will try to find the links. There is also a grafting workshop south of the Minneapolis/St Paul area that was well worth the $60 or so for the day last spring, and I think the fellow doing it is planning to do it again.