Why 'My Brother's Fruit" Blog

Why “My Brother’s Fruit” Blog
I have fruit blood in my veins. Cut me open and you will see cherry, peach, plum, pear and apple blood. If you have lived in the country as a child, it permeates your soul and becomes a part of who you are. I suspect city grown kids have souls conditioned by the environment they explored.

This kid’s upbringing was in SW Michigan on a fruit farm. After high school, I left the farm and took my fruit blood to MSU in East Lansing. After several majors I finally landed on a pile of maps as a city planner. Lucy became the apple of my eye and the peach of my life. We started our life together in Battle Creek. Four children, several different planning jobs and five grand children later I find myself retired but darn busy.

One summer activity I look forward to is eating and peddling my brother’s fruit. Now do you get it? My brother Allan grows the fruit that we eat and peddle. My Brother’s Fruit is the name of my little "business" and this blog. My goal is to share history, memories and thoughts about present and past fruit farm and farm families. ‘Goal’ is a very over used city planning term. You set ‘goals’ and strive to reach them, but very seldom do. Sticking to my ‘goal’ will be my ‘goal’. How’s that for over use? If I drift to far a field or orchard, please let me know. You are my blog target if you like fruit, fruit info, farm family history and fun stories. E-mail me questions and I will try to answer them in future blogs.

Below are my leading characters who have worked the same soil in CascoTownship, Allegan County, Michigan since 1863:

Henry Overhiser My Great Great Grand Father (1-2-1835/9-4-1917) and Sarah McKee (6-23-1837/3-4-1884) and second wife Henrietta (Fisher) Warfield
William Albert My Great Grand Father (1-11-1857/5-14-15) and Alta May Usher (1863-1891) and Daisy Galbreath (11-28-1874/1959)

William McKinley My Grand Father (12-25-1896/12-27-1969) and Edna Mildred Trowbridge (9-20-1895/12-7-1991)

Albert Wayne My Father (12-17-1916/12-2-2008) and June Pearl Evans (6-13-1917/3-3-1997)

Allan Wade My Brother (1-4-1960) and Kim Ann Myers (3-24-1960)

At the Farm April 1

Allan and Kim now operate the fruit farm. Aaron is the oldest of their five farm kids. On May 13, 1998 (Mother’s Day), Aaron was joined by Kortny, Kelsy, Adam and Alex. Yes, they are quadruplets. You now have an introduction to the people and the land that will be the focus of my ramblings. Like the lost traveler, we do not know where the next turn (blog) will take us. Thanks for hitching a ride, stay as long as you can.

Trimming apple, peach, plum, pear and sweet cherry trees is ongoing winter and spring. Sour (pie) cherries are not trimmed. The farm is now over 400 acres of owned or leased land. Allan (above lower left) guesses he has some 40,000 fruit trees growing on 250 acres. Most orchards are located on the higher ground to avoid frost. These trees must endure cold winters and possible attack by deer and mice. As the growing season progresses the buds, blossoms and fruit must ward off frost, freeze, wind and hail. God willing, this summer we will again be enjoying my brother's fresh ripe fruit.

Eat fruit today!