The Legacy of Johnny Applessed
by Vivian Wagner

Though cracked, splintered and held together by chains, the last known living apple tree planted by John Chapman, or Johnny Appleseed, still produces a good crop of tart, red-striped apples each fall. Growing on the farm of Dick and Phyllis Algeo near Nova, Ohio, the 170-year-old tree has long been a proud member of this family, which still has four generations living on the farm. “It’s been handed down through the family that Johnny planted it,” says Dick, 81, of the tree by his family farmhouse. “And when I got older, I understood the importance of it.”

In the early 19th century, Chapman, by trade a nurseryman, wandered throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana planting apple trees, as well as mediating between white settlers and Native Americans and spreading an appreciation for nature. For a while, he lived in Mansfield, Ohio, just up the road from the Algeo farm, which was founded by the family’s Scottish ancestors in 1837. And at some point, family lore has it, he visited the farm and planted the tree that grows there today.

The Algeo tree is an old-fashioned Rambo variety, and cuttings from the tree have been taken by the conservation organization, American Forests, to sell to the public as Johnny Appleseed Trees. Rambo apples were introduced to America around 1640 by the Swedish immigrant Peter Gunnarsson Rambo, and the variety on the Algeo farm is a Winter Rambo.

These tart, flavorful heirloom apples are particularly good for pies and dumplings. They also make good applesauce, which Phyllis, 81, prepares by cooking down chopped, peeled and cored apples, putting the mixture through a sieve and then freezing it. Her grandkids love the applesauce, and she uses it in cookies, following a recipe that has been handed down for generations.

Typically, apple trees live only 50 or 60 years, so the Algeo tree has surprised experts with its longevity.

“Every spring I think it’s the last year,” says Phyllis, as she looks proudly at the tree. “But Johnny’s watching over it.”

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Aging is GODs way of telling us there's no time to waste...

WAS MOSE'S REALLY SPEAKING TO A BURNING BUSH???
OR WAS IT ONLY SMOKING???

Awesome!
I find this gent very interesting!

Thanks

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☼ Nos non pluris sumus quam bullae ☼

Wow! a 170 year old apple tree! I guess Johnny chose that spot well!

Later,
4kaan4

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I am an incorrigible, pathological fantasizer fabricating illusionary amusements for various individuals. In other words I lie like a politician. I refuse to break the law because I intend to live my life till the day I die!

Michael Polan spends a great deal of time pulling out the "real" history of jonny appleseed in his latest book, his mystic impulses are actually far more interesting then the polished legends that we are familiar with. Michael also spends time searching in the woods for "lost" apple orchards of appleseeds making ...it is suggested reading for all GP members. It details the natural history of four plants and their co-evolution with humans "the botany of desire"
Potato
Tulip
Apples
MJ


one last plug for "the botany of desire"

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/event_de...webcastid=9886

Found this pic on the web of the tree...odd, but it's the only one I could find!

treesappleseed.jpg

ISO

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