In my research and academic work over the past several years, I have read a lot on the apple in both the cultivated and uncultivated realms. The field of pomology is the result of centuries of apple culture: cultivating varieties of apple, improving agricultural practices, and trading this fruit for a premium. The uncultivated apple, on the other hand, exists in its own world. It lives in the wilds and unmanaged spaces of our landscape and maintains itself independent of human intervention. There is a lot of available literature on pomoogical studies, but none, other than Thoreau’s early essay Wild Apples (1862), dedicated to the wild apple.
My research and field work has led me to write such a book in my final year at Hampshire College. The final product is a field guide, containing teachings, anecdotes, and guidance on the wild apple in America, how to locate and use it practically, and how to turn apples from gnarly pippins into place-based varieties.
This Friday, the 11th of November 2016 at 5 P.M. marks the opening event for Gnarly Pippins. This event will be taking place at the Hampshire College Farm House. The event will showcase the work I’ve done with wild apples over the past year. I will speak on the natural history of apples in America, the recently self-published Wild Apple Forager’s Guide, and will also feature a tasting of ciders made from wild apples. In the rare event that anybody sees this post before the event tonight, I hope they feel invited and entitled to come to this event if availability and proximity are willing.
The Wild Apple Forager’s Handbook (2016) is a 75-page field guide with full color images, and is professionally bound for durability. Click here to order!
Stay posted, more to come soon!
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