Tomorrow is Johnny Appleseed Day

[ecosophia]

Just under a year ago, in a post here titled Johnny Appleseed's America, I noted that the extraordinary John Chapman aka Johnny Appleseed --  wanderer, dreamer, mystic, and legend -- offered a vision for a future America on the far side of the troubled times that surround us today. I haven't changed my mind since then. Quite the contrary, the image of Johnny Appleseed is a potent reminder that it's possible to walk away from the conflicts and corruptions of the present moment, ignore the advice of the conventional wisdom and the mass media, and do something unique and astonishing with one's life. 

Tomorrow is John Chapman's birthday, one of the two days in the US that's celebrated as Johnny Appleseed Day. I'd encourage those of my readers who feel moved to celebrate it to do that, in whatever way suits your fancy. While you're at it, take a little while to think about your own dreams and hopes and visions, especially those that the conventional wisdom and the mass media insist you can't possibly realize. Consider telling the conventional wisdom and the mass media to stuff an apple in it, and going in pursuit of your dreams and hopes and visions anyway. 

A happy Johnny Appleseed Day to all, and may your world become bigger and brighter and bursting with possibilities beyond your wildest imagination. 

Comments

Can you tell us yet?

[team10tim]

Hey hey JMG,

Can you you tell us what the working was for yet or is it still too soon?

Re: Can you tell us yet?

[ecosophia]

It's still in process!

Dang, what a good idea!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, I missed this last year! Great time of the year for a holiday honestly, especially given the ongoing collapse. The beginning of fall feels to me like a profound shift in energy like no other, a poignant beauty that never comes when everything is totally plentiful, and yet is not so stretched and spare as winter. Seems very much like the energy of our entire social order right now! If anything, we are going fast towards winter, which means we must be grateful for the autumnal resonances still left to us.

I think I'm going to buy some apple cider (still haven't got around to making it yet, shame), pour out a libation of it to that wonderful saint, take a long walk, paying particular attention to fruit trees, and redouble working on my fiction writing. Any advice for things to say when pouring it? Is cider an appropriate thing to use? Thanks so much for a wonderful idea! I love the energies of both Uranus and Neptune, and Johnny Appleseed seems like one of the loveliest examples that our country has yet produced!

-Derpherder

[(Anonymous)]

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day, JMG!

First, I'll eat an apple and read a part of Leaves of Grass, that seems fitting for Johnny Appleseed Day. Then I'll thank all those benefic entities that led me to your work ten months ago. And then, I will finally overcome my fear of implementing my design philosophy and get to work.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for the reminder from someone who has been trying to get unstuck from the binary. Lately I've taken a break from listening to my usual podcasts and news programs and shifted my focus toward being productively weird instead. Usually I would not take up such a resolution on a Mercury Retrograde, but for some reason this MR feels different as if some of the compass points shifted and now the normal map does not apply. It feels like it has something to do with the volcanic activity.

What I do know for sure is that listening to the same old same old makes my head hurt, and right now it seems more appropriate and rewarding to celebrate the new era of weirdness that is emerging.

[refres]

"Being productively weird" sounds like an interesting activity, what does that entail for you?

[(Anonymous)]

I planted 5 apple trees after last year's post. The property has large black walnut trees, and black walnuts do not get along with apples, but I planted the apples as far away as I could and they seem to be doing OK so far.

Buffers for walnut trees

[claire_58]

You can buffer the jugulones from the walnut with mulberry or Eleagnus angustifolia. They are more resistant to the ill-effects of the walnut and can provide a protective barrier for the apples.

Appreciate the reminder!

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks also for the reminder! I got it confused with 9/11 for some reason...

The apple blossoms here were hit hard by a late frost after an early spring and not many trees bore apples, but one neighbor has a loaded tree and he's offered us to pick as many as we'd like. Perhaps if the time allows I'll get it done tomorrow, or Monday if the time doesn't allow, but that will offer a great opportunity for some meditation on the themes of chasing a dream that would irk conventional wisdom. Especially since I've already started the process but definitely looking for more direction.

Thanks again,
Prizm

[kimberlysteele]

Woot! Thanks for the reminder to get out tomorrow and hug a tree and drink a cider! I'm blessed with a day off.

[(Anonymous)]

One of the best ideas that has come to me from your work over the years is the importance of John Chapman in the pantheon of North American folk heroes. I've loved Diogenes ever since I've heard the story of his meeting with Alexander, and view John Chapman as the American Diogenes. There's a lot of power in telling power that what you want is good cider to drink, and that you don't think power can give it to you, so power can frack off.

Apple Pie Recipe

[(Anonymous)]

Dear John Michael Greer,

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day! I so appreciate this new holiday in my year. To celebrate, I baked an apple pie.

In case it might serve anyone reading this, here's my recipe:

MILLICENTLY'S JOHNNY APPLESEED APPLE PIE

3 - 4 heaping handfuls of cut-up apples (or whatever looks like it will fit in the pie pan)
1 heaping handful of raisins soaked in brandy (or whatever liquor or wine or apple juice or just water)
1 heaping handful of chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts are my faves for this)
1/2 cup raw honey*
dash of salt
spices (I like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, black pepper-- many others will do)
2 tablespoons cornstarch (flour will do)
Pat of butter (optional)

You can bake it with or without a pie crust. If you use a pie crust, be sure to paint that crust with beaten egg yolk so it comes out golden. It's fun to use a paring knife to carve a smiling face on the top pie crust.

Bake at 350 F or 175 C for about 45 minutes.

I serve it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Plain yoghurt will do, too. Coffee, essential!!

*I find honey is easier on the body, and far more nutritious, than sugar. If the honey is crystallized, just let it sit for a spell in a pan resting on hot water. Do not decrystallize it by placing it in the microwave, that will ruin its nutrition.

MILLICENTLY LURKING

Re: Apple Pie Recipe

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for this recipe!
It went straight into my 'recipes' file.

- Cicada Grove

johnny appleseed

[marcrhodestaylor]

thank you john, happy johnny appleseed day to you as well

What a happy post to start the day with!

[randomactsofkarmasc]

Hmmm... to make an apple pie or an apple streudel? Decisions, decisions...

I hope you (and the Commentariat) have a fabulous Johnny Appleseed Day, too!

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day!

[slclaire]

And a happy Johnny Appleseed day to you and Sara! Mike and I ate the last apples from this year's harvest this morning to start the day off right. The local squirrels are very numerous and very hungry this year, so they harvested almost all of a large crop of apples from our three trees long before they were ripe.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for the reminder! Just a few hours past a waning Taurus moon as I write, so into the loving embrace of a small but growing orchard with this falls' new additions. A libation and recitation of the working to round out the event makes for a very special day indeed.
Gawain

[ecosophian]

Johnny Appleseed's America is a place I'd like to live in. A country for oddballs and eccentrics, not a country for people who want to get rich quick.

John Chapman was an entrepreneur, but he thought very little of material wealth.

I hope America manages to shake off its corporate layer and become the country it was meant to be.

A happy Johnny Appleseed Day to all indeed. Apple pies for everyone!

[(Anonymous)]

I’m happy to wish all of you in North America a great Johnny Appleseed Day!

How about those of us in other parts of the world, is there any relevance to us? I’m certainly all for telling the conventional wisdom to stuff an apple in it!

[kylec]

I've been reading the poem aloud every Friday evening, and I basically have it memorized at this point. Will see if I can do an extra Sunday reading today, and eat an apple. I find that my weekly reading has had a subtle gut growing effect. I cherish that time, and it's bringing out my courage to be an individual.

[(Anonymous)]

Bless you for doing this.

[deng]

A beautiful vison indeed. Thanks for the hope and smile. We just have to let go of fear and wanting so much stuff. Remember who and what we are:)

[(Anonymous)]

I have re-recited the poem in honor of the day.
https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/91686.html

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day, everyone!

- Cicada Grove

[lp9]

Ditto and I'm going to enjoy a nice glass of cider this evening.

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day!

Just what I needed

[(Anonymous)]

This was just what the doctor ordered. Have been trying to view my likely October firing (for vaccine non-compliance) as an opportunity, not a catastrophe. Just the pep talk I needed. Thank you.

*Ochre Harebrained Curmudgeon*

Re: Just what I needed

[deng]

Yes two ways to look at it. Two tracts in front of you. Both lead through eternity. Who will we ride with? Where will those tracts take us? We read of recent and distant historic events and wonder why people made the choices they did at the time. Recent generations before and after us faced and will face difficult choices. Who do we respect for their choices in the past? Who will respect the choices we make - even if we are unknown to them? I have 3 shifts left working at Mans Greatest Hospital as we jokingly refer to it. My last shift will be October 11th, Columbus Day. Suspended on Friday the 15th. 'Terminated' November 5th if I don't get the shot. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to say F U to something they now want to stick in children.

Plum Barmy Tasmanian Devil - HA! Perfect!

Re: Just what I needed

[deng]

Please understand that I know when I speak of my experience that I do not mean it so as to talk about myself, although it surely is cathartic and helpful to me to vent, but that I do think it is important to share and let others know they are not alone.

Shout out to Lunar Apprentice, I hope you are OK no matter what you have decided with this:) Den

Re: Just what I needed

[(Anonymous)]

Just so you know, what you've shared here over the past few months has been an inspiration to me not to give in to the pressure. Thanks and my best wishes to you. To our descendants, it will be important to know that some resisted the madness. (Even though my only current "descendant" thinks I'm nuts!)

*Ochre Harebrained Curmudgeon*

[hippieviking]

This spring on Johnny Appleseed day we planted a number of new fruit trees to add to our orchard. We are in the PNW and June heatwave took a toll, they look a bit rough and it's questionable if they'll all make it.

At the same time we planted a single apple out in our pasture and dedicated to JA in a ceremony. It's there more to just be a field apple for the animals that pass through and whatever we decide to pasture. I'm pleased to report that it looks very vibrant and has done the best of all of them.

We'll probably have to go out and pour a libation of last year's cider today.

Thanks for getting this idea going JMG.

[goats_and_roses]

Yesterday I watched the video which some commenter posted in the open post about Aaron Fletcher, a young man who was homeless and reinvented his life as a wandering sheepherder. He has a small dairy flock, a tiny wagon (pulled by the ram), and wanders southern oregon grazing his animals, collecting the milk, and then turning it and wild greens, etc that he forages into a complete diet. He makes cheese, butter, kefir, all kinds of other stuff, and keeps a map of the spots to forage. These are the happiest sheep I have ever seen. All of it was amazing--- but this young man was seriously the most evolved eco-technic wizard I have ever seen. He goes in to great detail about his micro-wagon, which has been carefully tweaked and adjusted to permit a really extraordinary lifestyle with a tiny amount of mostly scrounged and recycled stuff (although some choice items purchased.) It really blew my mind. He is veritably a Johnny Sheepsmilk. I will spend tomorrow thinking about this and examining what I can do to get some degree of this extraordinary originality into my life!! It was so inspiring. After this I fear collapse less.......ingenuity trumps stuff anyday. We have just forgotten that.

[deng]

Awesome story! Please share a link if you have one. Thank you. Den

[goats_and_roses]

https://youtu.be/U54HRmglYEA

I hope I did that right! Aaron also has a website homefree123.org full of cool stuff.

[(Anonymous)]

We just enjoyed a slice of homemade apple pie - apples sourced from our farmer's market since ours are a couple weeks from ripening. The kids and I had a great time talking about what a hero John Chapman is, and (today) they both want to grow up to wander the country planting fruit trees.

May you be richly blessed for reminding us once again to live fully, and for sharing Vachel Lindsay's poem with us as well.

shewhoholdstensions

Cobbler

[frittermywig]

We did an apple cobbler in honor of the day, and watched the Disney cartoon with our daughter. We'll read the poem before our evening prayers tonight. Thank you for this idea, JMG.

Re: Cobbler

[deng]

This is 3 of the most beautiful and powerful rituals you could ever ask for. Wonderful. Just Wonder Full:)

[(Anonymous)]

The great thing about Johnny Appleseed is just how eccentric and non violent his life was. One man changed the ecology of a continent by following his utterly unique spiritual path. He is an ideal archetypal American.

[nebulous_realms]

Thanks for the reminder of it being John Chapman's birthday, was almost going to pass over it. Since I never read it last year, I read aloud to myself Lindsay's poem ""In Praise of Johnny Appleseed" that you posted last year. That poem absolutely has a power to itself that struck me. Thank you for sharing it. I'll now go and have an apple for myself.

[(Anonymous)]

After last year's post I decided to plant two semi dwarf apple trees in my front yard. They were about three years old already when planted. I think I will need to wait a couple more years before they bare fruit but I am glad I did it.

[(Anonymous)]

Honored Johnny's spirit with composted manure, a cider libation, and thanks for the old apple tree in our yard, who despite looking to be in bad shape was unusually generous this year. Recited the incantation by the tree, and we made an apple pie for Sunday dinner too!

Thanks for the reminder & the inspiration.

J.

thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for the reminder of the day. He's always been an inspiring character for me since I was a child, along with the rest of the American Folklore crew. I'd love to hear your take on John Henry, if he ever finds his way into the vicinity of one of your posts. I'd never before read the poem you shared with us for this day of remembrance. When I pick it up now, from time to time, it still gives me goosebumps. In spite of all the corruption, all the consumerism, all the empire-ing, all the horror that has been associated with this country, the spirit of America, it's land, it's ideas, and it's people still resonates on a deep level with me, and Appleseed may be one of the greatest manifestations of that spirit.

This is also a good nudge to attend to some chores that have gotten away from me. I've got 18 apples espaliered into a row of cordons. They've been in the ground for 2 1/2 years now, and should be gearing up to fruit in the years ahead, but are due for a bit of a shaping right now. Tomorrow would be a fantastic day to get around to it.

Phinnie

[(Anonymous)]

I cooked up my first home made apple pie and my wife was like "Oh my gosh I had no idea you could do this" and I was like "Me neither. Thank the Wizard."