This is the greatest idea EVER and is an incredible way to distinguish this site from the other, far less personal one. I’ve often wondered about almost all of you-your background, how you came to love fruit growing, etc. This really helps us know each other and while some may say who cares, it appears many of us do want to understand each other a bit more.
I’m a 44 year old divorced guy with no kids. I have an undergrad from Univ. of TN and grad degree from Univ. of KY. I’ve spent my entire adult life working in municipal government and currently work as a City Manager of a small town in TN. I’ve always lived in medium-large cities until 2012 when I bought a little 8 acre mini-farm out in the country where I still live.
I grew up in a typical suburb neighborhood. We had a pear and a sour cherry tree I will never forget. My dad knew nothing about growing fruit but those 2 grew and produced anyway and he was always so very proud of them that it wore off on me. After about 18 years the cherry got sick and had to be cut and I still remember my whole family (parents, 1 sister) all were very sad about that. I will never forget the days I spent under and around that cherry, finding ways to keep birds out from fake animals to bb gun, pie pans, etc. WE never got more than a pie or two worth but we cherished them as if they were gold. I also have wonderful memories of my mom taking me to a family friend’s to pick occasional blackberries and apples and cherries. The bottom line is that fresh fruits were a rare but present thing in my home and always valued very much. I was given a corner of our family garden and just “turned loose” at an early age and the result was that I have gardened my entire life, from age 9 to 44! I didn’t really think anything more about fruit until 3 years ago. After living in cities all my life, college, grad school, and more, I finally bought I little piece of land (just 8 acres) way out in the country in 2012. Having never lived in the country or knowing anything about farming, I jumped in full speed ahead. Built (actually HAD built) barns, fences, 3/4 acre garden spot, etc. I kept noticing 3 old fruit trees that were in the back of the property, and remembering how nice it had been having fruit trees as a kid. Before long I decided to just pickup a couple fruit trees at Lowes so I could just wait 3 years and enjoy fresh fruit! haha. Then I started to realize it isn’t that simple. But the more research I did on how to make those new trees work, the more I wanted to expand my varieties. Long story short, I had the space and money so my 6 tree orchard (3 old, 3 new) became my 65 tree orchard, along with blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and figs. Each new order I swear will be my last…but I know I’m not done!
My username Cityman is descriptive because I was always a “City guy” until 2012 and my neighbors still jokingly call me that and tell me I am Oliver Douglass from Green Acres! ha. They often ask if I wear a suit while riding my tractor. Of course CITYMAN also fits my job as City Manager.
This is too long already, but I could type another 3 pages on how much I appreciate the help of all the posters on GW and now here. Without you folks I would still be buying trees at walmart, sticking them in the ground, and doing nothing else for 3-4 years and expecting lots of perfect fruit at that time! haha. I now know its not that simple but with all your help, I’m going to get there. I’m certainly one of the least informed people here, and my posts are almost always about asking for help rather than giving it (simply because that is the stage I’m at). That makes all your help that much more appreciated. Someday I hope to pay it forward.
Kevin