Our family took an epic, 5000 mile, cross-country road-trip for 17 days during the later half of June. I worked very hard for the first half of June to prepare the garden to endure during our long trip away, making sure sprinklers and drip lines were functioning properly, harvesting anything that was ready before we left. But, after three weeks away from the garden, we returned to many tasks that needed immediate attention: giant summer weeds had sprouted and grown 2-3 feet tall in our absence; the apricots, cherries, strawberries, raspberries drooped under the weight of ripe fruit; the multi-species lawn pathways were in dire need of a mow; several areas were still under-watered. 

Bush cherries

One of the most satisfying things in life has to be picking ripe, juicy fruit right from the backyard. My children learn early how to hunt for ripe strawberries, cherries and plums. This year my three year old boy has probably gained more of his nutrition from foraging in the garden than he has at regular family meals. And you know what? I think that is marvelous!






I try to keep fruit growing simple. I start by selecting fruit that grows well in my area. There are so many hundreds of types of fruits and varieties to grow that I will not attempt to cover those here. Most fruit nursery catalogs are a wealth of information on what will grow well for you. I personally buy from, and can recommend the following nurseries: