Grapes by MH
Grapes were done early this year, very small because of the lack of rain, but also very sweet.....the bees tear them up sucking the sweet juice out as fast as they can, so I always have to get them before they drink them dry...
The black berry plants are down to less than 1 gallon each time I pick, but still putting out some huge berries....The plants are better than 10 years old and this was the first real year they had enough fruit to pick, I guess I have gotten about 30 gallons total and most likely next year will be 10x that if all goes well.
I planted the plants about 20 feet apart as I was told they would shoot 10 foot runners in all directions once mature. I tried to make starts by dipping shoots in the commercial hormone powder and planting in wet soil/sand and it failed 100%, while the runners are very easy to start by just putting some dirt over them. I am amazed how this year, finally runners have shot 10-15 feet, so many that i can leave 2 or more on the ground to start new plants and fill in the spaces and plenty to cover the trellis wires so that in the next 2-3 years the plants will be so thick that you will not be able to get through a row and will have to walk around it....
Trevor age 8 tonight was eating some golden raspberries, red raspberries, black berries and red grapes that all grow together in this patch; while i was tie strapping the black berry vines and he suggested that if as an adult he ever got in trouble, he would come back and live in this patch of berries, in that he could live on these fruits and not be found......he comes up with some really off the wall ideals, but does get the IDEA about his health...
A person can get an enormous amount of food from a few trees and a few vines, I have always believed if a person took as much land that their house set on, they could raise enough food to live on with just that much soil.
Take an acre of land with 1/2 acre of it being good water pond and you could raise enough fish, tree fruits and berries/grapes to feed a huge family.
I do not believe in money, never have; which means if i have $10, I spend $10 before it is only worth $8, because inflation is better than 20% per year on many things....so spending on what I believe to be important in life, I have so much available food, it is crazy.....I have at least 50,000# of fish that pretty much take care of them selves, enough dirt to raise anything I would want to raise, be it cows, chickens, vegetables, etc.....and enough herbs with in walking distance in any direction from the house...
Fruit Trees, Vines take care of them selves.....these black berries should be doing fine 200 years from now, same as grapes do...peach trees grow quickly, die quickly, but easily raised...apple trees, pear trees last a life time ++++; while all vegetables are a pain in the #########, not a real human food, don't taste near as good as real fruits do, etc...
health and food are a ############### more important than a fat bank account, because with out your health, those you leave it all to blow it before your cold in the ground.
Look at all the STUPID people that have millions, even billions of $$$$ only to die before age 70, because they believed thir college educated buddies that became doctors could save them.....
Faith in $$$$ is like faith in medical...both an ilusion.
MH