May 23, 2024 • 48 mins
John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed, was a Christian evangelist one of the first American conservationists. He lived in the late 18th and early 19th century and was known to have planted apple nurseries throughout the northern United States and parts of Canada. He was rumored to have had a pet wolf and walk through the snow with no shoes. But despite his shabby appearance, Johnny Appleseed was also a savvy business man who traded his trees for land throughout the country, amassing a large number of acres during his lifetime.
In this episode, Kelly and Alex talk all things apples and explore the life of the man who made his fame from planting them.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kelly (00:08):
Hey everybody, welcome to an episode of Dirt Nap City, the
people. And today we have one ofthe most interesting dead people
that person and give some clues,I'm going to introduce one of
people around Alex, everybody.
Give him a hand.
Alex (00:30):
Thank you. Thank you. I've heard recently some people
because they think that, thatthey kind of get stuck on the
it's maybe going to be agruesome show, and we're going
the details of their death. Andthat's not the dead parts.
Kelly (00:52):
Those old like those old snuff films. Yeah, faces. No.
Alex (00:58):
the audio version of faces of death.
Kelly (01:01):
Right, right. You're not gonna see anything that will
except for except for us. Sopart
Alex (01:06):
about being dead is just categorizes them.
Kelly (01:10):
Yeah, yeah. And also I feel like it it, you know, you
podcast about interesting,deceased people. That doesn't
the point, right? It's verydirect. That's how we try to be
Alex (01:24):
absolutely. But we don't.
We really don't spend much timedon't even mention how these
people died. We mentioned the
Kelly (01:34):
we know the year might we might not even know the year.
citation for that part.
Sometimes,
Alex (01:41):
like in the case of Amelia Earhart, we don't even really
Kelly (01:44):
They could still be alive in which case she would be the
very old but interesting.
nonetheless. Amelia if you'reout we'll have you on as a
guest. You can what's the what'swrite us and not at dirt nap
city, and that could also be indirt nap city. So for today, I
(02:05):
have someone that definitelyperson everybody's heard of but
don't doesn't know much about Iis Alex doesn't know who this
person is yet. But I'm going toyou listen and see if you
(02:25):
already know but see if I'mstart with this clue. Now this
clue has a bit of a visual andready, Alex?
Alex (02:35):
I am I hope you're talking about
Johnny Appleseed said it?
Kelly (02:47):
You got it? Got it.
Alex (02:51):
Wow. That was one of the ones I when we first started
apple.
Kelly (03:01):
Yes, Johnny Appleseed.
What do you know about Johnny
Alex (03:06):
I can picture a book when I was a kid. And he had like a
head. Right. Right. Right. Idon't know why now that I think
dancin. Yeah. Yeah, it's but allI know. I feel like he maybe
(03:29):
like he was maybe American.
Yeah, but I don't I don't thinkWell, you
Kelly (03:35):
probably saw the Disney cartoon about him, I think from
legend of Johnny Appleseed.
We'll get into that in a minute.
all of that. I'm so glad that myclue. For those of you who
eat an apple took a bite of anapple.
Alex (03:55):
No, eating a pear would have sounded exactly the same.
Kelly (03:59):
as crunchy. Pears are soft. You wouldn't you wouldn't
Please. Good ones are soft.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess ifJohnny Appleseed was American.
He was a little early for your1774 on September 26, in
Leominster, Massachusetts. Andin the US. That was so maybe he
(04:24):
wasn't American that was part ofin back before 1776, the
Revolutionary War. He was bornwas part of British America. He
didn't die until 1845 on Marchthings about him is who are some
other people you might think ofAppleseed.
Alex (04:51):
I don't what do you what do you mean along the same line?
Kelly (04:53):
I mean, like American Legends of the same, I'll give
know, John Generally the hammeror okay Bunyan, Paul, Paul
Revere, I think was more of areal historical figure, whereas
more legendary, but you'reright, actually, Paul Revere.
(05:18):
wrong real person. DavyCrockett, that might be another
These are these kind of largerthan life, people that were
influencers before there weresocial media influencers, right?
giant ox, an accent an ox, JohnHenry had a hammer. Davy
(05:42):
did Johnny Appleseed had? He washot on his head, a pot on his
seeds. He was a nursery man.
Have you heard that term?
I have sounds like an insult,doesn't it? Yeah, yeah. Which
(06:02):
seeds and grew these trees up toa certain size where they could
Now the difference between anursery and an orchard an
permanently Grow and Give theirfruit. A nursery is where
brought up to the point wherethey can be moved to an orchard.
Alex (06:22):
Oh, I didn't know that.
Yeah.
Kelly (06:24):
He introduced apple trees to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
say, West Virginia, and evenparts of present day Ontario,
Alex (06:39):
Did he do this on his own?
Or somebody asked him to do
Kelly (06:42):
So interestingly, we'll get into that story about him
But he did mostly do it on itsown. Yes. He was actually also a
Now the new church was areligious movement at the time.
Borg Swedenborg. Swedenborg.
Ian. Never heard of this one.
(07:11):
Emanuel Swedenborg. And he was ascientist in the 1700s. And he
was doing, you know, chemistryand biology and lots of sciency
locate the human soul, hethought he could physically find
And he obviously well, I don'tsay obviously, he never found
(07:35):
that he could point out. I thinkfor a long time, I think for a
small intestine was a soul. Butyou know, that was proven wrong.
sort of religious bent, theSwedenborg guy, and much like
the time, who kind of claimed toknow a lot about the Bible, and,
(08:00):
started writing books, to theSwedenborg wrote quite a few
including one titled Heaven andHell, another one titled The
favorite title, Apocalypseexplained. And Johnny, as a
hold of these books and became afervent believer of the
(08:26):
as the new church. And so hismission actually in life was not
also planted the seed of the newchurch as he went around and
dual pronged approach. He gotyou with the apples and he kept
Yeah. So his mother died when hewas two years old. In and then
(08:54):
six. His father whose name wasNathaniel remarried, a woman
way, that's about the coolestname ever. Lucy Cooley, don't
Alex (09:03):
I mean, Johnny Appleseed and too bad either?
Kelly (09:05):
Yeah. Was father remarried. Nathaniel Appleseed.
actually Chapman. John Chapmanwas Johnny Appleseed the real
Alex (09:16):
which means that I might be related to him because if you
that's the that's the Mayflowerside that I'm really from the
episode.
Kelly (09:26):
Oh, man. Well, well, we're gonna get to a part about
that. But his father remarriedafter his mother died. And he
Nathaniel Cooley Chapman. Andwhen Johnny was 18 and Nathaniel
brother, who was 11 at the time,little half brother, he
(09:52):
him. Everybody was going west.
And so he said, The Daniel,brothers, Nathaniel Cooley.
Chapman, and John Chapman wentleft their father and their
family. And basically Lynn livedyears until, gosh, I guess until
1800s. So about eight years,like this. There isn't a whole
(10:19):
lot documented about what theyCalifornia, they've kind of
traveled around. And eventually,Ohio, where he met up with his
boys where he met up with Nathandecided he was going to go ahead
and stay and help his fatherJohn kept traveling, and
(10:43):
eventually ended up under theMr. Crawford. Now, can you guess
what Mr. Crawford did for awas he a nursery man, he
grapples he was an apple man.
26, John Chapman planted hisfirst orchard, and in licking
(11:10):
to be in love with this wholething. So he tended to this
finally got the Wanderlust againand decided to go out and embark
using two canoes that he hadtied together. And he took with
the intent of growing, you know,spreading apple seeds around.
(11:37):
all think that he planted thesethings randomly, but he didn't,
or not orchards, he actuallycreated these little nurseries
said, a nursery is where yougerminate the seed, it grows up
to protect it. So you have tobuild a fence around it to keep
(11:57):
cattle and other you know,grazing animals away, and you
actually did was he started thisbusiness where he would go
would plant the seeds for them,you know, and set it up with
survive. And then he would makerounds every year, six months to
(12:20):
tend to it and trim them and getthem bigger. And then when the
farmers would sell these appletrees, and John would get a
that was kind of his, his deal.
And that he also sometimes wouldland that the farmers would
have. So they might give him twoproperty, that he could plant
(12:42):
this nursery or even plant anpayment would come later in the
form of the land. So he was kindfuture, if that makes sense. Oh,
Alex (12:55):
yeah. Nice metaphor. Now, why apples? Why is this because
pretty or because it providesshade? I mean, why? Why was this
Kelly (13:04):
You know? That's, that's a great question. And I don't
and all the stuff that I readwhy he picked apples, I think I
abundantly and pretty naturallyin the soil. I also think they
thing. And at the time, a lot ofpeople you know, that old saying
(13:27):
away. Apples were very much.
They were sweet. They were easyfor a long time. I think there
was a practicality to it. That
Alex (13:38):
probably pretty hearty, too, for the North northern
to like oranges, which didn'tgrow up there.
Kelly (13:46):
And remember, the whole time he's doing this, he's not
but he's also he's alsopreaching about the new church.
was almost like he used theapples that as an excuse to meet
him, but then he would, he wouldpreach to them. And a lot of
(14:07):
mind. As a matter of fact, a lotof people would put him up in
have a home. He didn't wearshoes. And as you said he
hat. Well, that was a mosh potwas called a mosh pot at the
wore it on his head. But when hewasn't wearing it on his head,
(14:29):
make apple mush or any otherkind of mush he was gonna eat.
Alex (14:35):
Yeah, well, I mean, I might be more into that if it
Kelly (14:39):
Well, remember, he's, he's, he's a one man show. He
like that. He's walkingbarefoot, so it was convenient
protected his head. As a matterof fact, there were several
know, he's out in the forest,and the mosh pot actually up Oh,
Alex (15:00):
it's like a hard hat.
Yeah. And you're right as IDisneyfication version of me
does have bare feet and
Kelly (15:09):
yep. And he's singing the song. Oh, the Lord is good to
giving me the things I need thesun, the rain in the Appleseed.
Alex (15:23):
in the Disney version? Or does that really mean? Both?
Kelly (15:28):
Both? Actually, it's funny. We used to sing that at
a song from the Disney film, butit is. He thinks about that. And
Snow White kind of vibe, becausethere's little birds chirping
the birds and you hear themsinging. Do you remember all
Alex (15:48):
Was it a cartoon or live action?
Kelly (15:50):
It was a cartoon?
Alex (15:52):
No, I don't remember I can just remember a single image. I
Kelly (15:57):
Google that if you Google the movie, The Story Disney the
You'll see this little thing onYouTube. That's it. Like I said,
of vibe. Very happy, beautifulthing.
Alex (16:12):
You've called him John a few times. John Appleseed is a
the name Johnny, makes him muchmore beloved than John
Kelly (16:25):
Well, it's funny you say that because in 1822, the very
from a member of the new churchdescribing a small, quick,
too long, but unshaven and barefeet and sparkling eyes, who
(16:46):
forest, referred to him as JohnAppleseed, to the very first
Appleseed by a church member whowas writing a letter. I think
really made famous was when itwas written in Harper's
monthly magazine. And theybasically talked about this man
(17:11):
Christian, who went around andpreached the gospel and planted
was that at that point, theycalled him Johnny. Got
Alex (17:21):
he was still alive. Oh, yeah. He became a writing about
was famous when he was alive.
Yes,
Kelly (17:28):
yes. He became sort of a folk lore legend at the time
person. So that's what's kind ofinteresting. You know, when you
Paul Bunyan was a real person.
But I think there was a lot ofwith Johnny Appleseed, it was
pretty much stuck to the thesome indulgence, of course.
(17:48):
There's a pretty famous storycame across a missionary
preaching to an open airOhio. And the preacher was
talking about living like athat because people today are
becoming they're becomingtheir indulgences like Calico
(18:14):
and t. So this man said, wherethe primitive Christians is
traveling to heaven, barefootthen right at that point, Johnny
Appleseed walks up, puts hiswas using as a pulpit and says,
Here's your primitive Christian,
Alex (18:40):
yeah, How about them apples?
Kelly (18:44):
So there was a lot of debate about whether John
actually sort of this folksypush over of a man or if he was
businessman, and a lot of peoplesay he was actually pretty smart
(19:06):
because he ended up with 1000sof acres of land at the end of
know, a lot more than the appleseeds he had originally taken
time to accumulate all thosethings, right. He was he was
future.
Alex (19:23):
How long did he live?
Kelly (19:26):
He died in 1845. He was born in 1774. So let's do a
2645 plus 26 is what 71 or 71?
Yeah, pretty ripe old age for
Alex (19:46):
It was all those apples.
Yeah. Yeah.
Kelly (19:48):
I mean, you could say and probably some clean living, you
also, I think he was purportedin legend to have had a pet wolf
Oh, was that in the movie thathe helped after healing? Healing
(20:08):
don't know. Now
Alex (20:09):
that would be a movie.
Yeah, man. And you got myalso is
Kelly (20:15):
reported to have actually put out a fire that he was using
a mosquito into the blaze, youknow, attracted it and burned
idea that he had destroyed oneof God's creatures. No, really,
(20:36):
reported to have actually builta shelter in a hollow lug, and
in the shelter to find that ithad been occupied by bear cubs
have it. He didn't. He didn'ttry to take them away. Let him
Alex (20:58):
Now that's pretty amazing that a guy a nursery men, as you
towards insects. Because youthink that those people that are
Nemesis through right pests,because that ruins their crops,
(21:20):
think not only a mosquito, butany kind of thing that would
Kelly (21:24):
there's little worms that get in the app. Right. But he
was more of a an evangelistfirst, you know, a sort of man
selling the apples or anything.
He was, well, it was kind ofHe planted the trees. He was a
vegetarian. He also neveroften said that he knew if he
(21:47):
couldn't find his soulmate onin heaven. And so you know, just
pretty, pretty nice. You know, Iget beat up today. Well, I mean,
if some guy showed up and wantedyour yard and didn't ask you for
(22:13):
money, and if he asked if hegrass, and he was barefoot,
would you call the cops? Well,
Alex (22:23):
it's the it's the timeshare aspect of it where he
first, let me let me tell youabout the word. Right, right.
that part of it. That probablywould
Kelly (22:39):
not be challenging. Yeah.
Well,
Alex (22:41):
so was he nomadic? Like, did he have a place to live? Or
town to the next his whole life,
Kelly (22:47):
he was very nomadic. He went from town to town. And
checking in on these nurseriesthat he had set up. So he had
the states I mentioned at thebeginning. I think he was
Fort Wayne, Indiana. Those weretwo places that are often him.
Alex (23:09):
But this is probably all horse and buggy. Right? I mean,
Kelly (23:13):
inhibitors for him. It was foot on foot from state to
Yeah, just walking alongbarefoot. Yeah.
Alex (23:21):
And you say he wasn't married. What a surprise.
Kelly (23:25):
Well, he passed away on March 18 1845. There was a
Wayne Sentinel on March 22. Thatsaid, on the same day in this
Mr. John Chapman, better knownas Johnny Appleseed passed away.
(23:46):
through this region by hiseccentricity, and the strange
occupation of a nursery man andhas been a regular visitor here,
native of Pennsylvania, weunderstand but his home, if home
in this neighborhood ofCleveland, where his relatives
(24:10):
considerable property, he issupposed to own considerable
denied himself the commonnecessities of life, not so
timey words here. avarice isfrom the particular notion of
(24:33):
religious beliefs, he was afollower of Swedenborg and
he endured in this world, theless he would have to suffer and
happiness hereafter. Hesubmitted every privation with
believing that in doing so hewas securing snug quarters
Alex (24:58):
I find it od did he was so famous, then I feel like if
today, they would have a ticktock. And they would have right
everything. Right,
Kelly (25:13):
right, we did about interband a converted Sprinter
Alex (25:17):
So imagine in the days before that, somebody just going
Appleseeds why that would makehim a celebrity and why you and
later, it's
Kelly (25:31):
probably all the songs and all the poems. There's a lot
written about him. And, and, butyeah, I mean, it's his brand of
today, you know, unless unlesshe was doing it. Ironically,
way he'd be able to get awaywith it is to be ironic.
Alex (25:52):
I mean, you see people now that like, do things, you know,
charity or something, you know,we never I don't even know those
during the last World Cup, therewas a guy that was gonna dribble
the country to the other end, hewent like 11 miles ago to buy a
Kelly (26:17):
And if cars it existed back then Johnny Appleseed might
thank God they there weren't anycars, you know, even the horse
him.
Alex (26:29):
I just don't know why he was so famous. Yeah,
Kelly (26:31):
well, I mean, so famous that he has a park named after
There's a Johnny Appleseedfestival in Lisbon, Ohio,
Festival, the third week ofSeptember in Fort Wayne,
can only eat what was availableduring his lifetime. It's all
(26:56):
to that. That sounds fun. In2008. The Fort Wayne wizards,
baseball club changed their nameto the Fort Wayne tin caps. No.
the new names, they won theleague championship, and their
Alex (27:17):
Okay, I'm into that. I would like to go to the festival
long as they didn't make theapple mash with pods that have
Kelly (27:27):
What goes on your head?
You have to bring your own. I'dyeah. You so you'd be grossed
out by eating a pot off of myhead, you're fine with? Yeah,
yeah. Yeah, there's schoolsmemorials and all kinds of
statues in Ohio and Cincinnati.
(27:51):
there's even a musical that waswritten about Johnny Appleseed.
Alex (27:55):
And think about it, too, that this was he was famous. But
right, the turn of the 19thcentury.
Kelly (28:04):
Yeah, the mid mid 1800s.
Mid 18th
Alex (28:08):
on Yeah. So who else was famous around that was that
Kelly (28:14):
I think Houdini was more contemporary than that with any.
Alex (28:19):
I have to go listen. Yeah, yes. If anybody
Kelly (28:21):
knows, give me give me an hour. Hold
Alex (28:23):
on. I'll be right. Yeah, there
Kelly (28:25):
was a abolitionist named Lydia Maria child who wrote a
this is not written by chat. GPTby the way, it's written by 1880
Maria child. In cities, somesaid the old man was crazy,
(28:45):
lazy, but he took no notice ofjibes and years. He knew he was
they inquire whence came thesetrees were not about once swayed
comes as they travel on thesetrees were planted by Apple
(29:07):
John,
Alex (29:07):
that absolutely sounds like Chet GPT an
Kelly (29:11):
18. Ad. abolitionist author, woman, no less at the
she was well ahead of her time.
So with all of that said, yougood he was a good guy. By all
accounts. Supposedly today,a direct descendant from his
(29:34):
trees. Only one well, one that'sfamous.
Alex (29:45):
I would expect there be entire orchards that would be
things were raised for housingdevelopments. Shopping malls,
Kelly (29:56):
Hold on. I got that wrong. It isn't a descendant
Appleseed, there's still a whilestill a tree that that there's
Appleseed. And you, you want toknow the type of Apple? It is?
Alex (30:14):
Yeah, tell me
Kelly (30:15):
it's a Rambo Apple, who I've never heard of that. I
greenish yellow skin. It's gotkind of a dull grayish bloom of
ripen in in late fall. Andthey're actually not very good.
(30:37):
like feeding livestock, and notnot really all that great of an
Alex (30:45):
I was gonna say I bet you the livestock disagree on that.
Kelly (30:49):
But you know how there's there's certain types of apples
there's other types that aremore designed for apples. So
the author of the book, firstblood. He supposedly named the
(31:10):
that his wife brought home froma roadside stand.
Alex (31:13):
That's cool, except for the Apple wasn't good. Literally
literally a bad apple. Yeah,just like Rambo.
Kelly (31:23):
Yes, yes. Yeah, so the RAMBo apple. So here's the
of his religious beliefs. JohnChapman, aka Johnny Appleseed
Now, are you familiar with thatconcept? grafting? I mean,
concept but why you would dothat? No. So they would graph
(31:50):
together to get a better flavor.
It's kind of natural selectionkind of like when animals breed
and the strongest attributesplants together, you get the
strongest, so you get thethat sort of thing. But a lot of
people back then, and maybe evenGod to grab right things. Texas
Alex (32:13):
a&m does a lot of this, they made a maroon carrot
color orange. They recently madea jalapeno that isn't spicy.
stuff.
Kelly (32:25):
I mean, both of those pointless? Well, but that's what
though, that's interesting, isthat some people actually
man who it's not really known,by the way if he abstained from
(32:48):
for the most part, his appletrees weren't grafted, they were
he had available. So they weremore of the sort of, you know,
kind of variety might feed thelivestock or it just might not
to make cider. And it's kind ofsaid that, that was one of the
(33:12):
was the fermentation of alcoholbecause they could make they can
these apples. And he didn'tdrink that, though. It's not
mentioned. But but interesting,you know, especially if he was a
been responsible for bringing somuch alcohol now. I've got a few
(33:38):
you might find interesting. Youwant to hear.
Alex (33:41):
And by the way, I grew up on non alcoholic cider. That is
a cider mill, where near where Igrew up, and you'd go there in
and then they'd have these thesedoughnuts, these like cinnamon
or cold cider. It's good stuff.
So
Kelly (34:05):
we always have to bring it back to the Simpsons, right?
remember this, but Ned Flandershad a handy rhyme for telling
juice. Apple juice on applecider. What's that? If it's
(34:26):
juice there fella. If it's tangyand brown urine cider town.
Alex (34:32):
That's a good rule of thumb.
Kelly (34:34):
Yes, thank you dead Flanders.
Alex (34:37):
I like cider a lot more than juice. But that's good
Kelly (34:41):
well, it's if it's clear and brown. Or if it's
Alex (34:46):
the alcohol version of cider. Yeah. It's great.
Kelly (34:49):
Shout out to Austin EastSiders. Maybe they want to
Alex (34:53):
that's good stuff. They
Kelly (34:54):
make a good apple. As a matter of fact, you can make you
Day. Of course. This is airingmuch later than that, but you
crown float or black, blackvelveteen depending on what you
half Guinness good stuff. Yeah,let's do it. So apples make up
(35:18):
fruit tree population. Did youknow that?
Alex (35:22):
Deciduous meaning in like indigenous but fruit no
Kelly (35:27):
deciduous means that they shed their leaves. Deciduous
leaves or shed their fruit. Likebasically they go bare. They're
to deciduous fruit, apples orhalf of it, take a guess at how
grown in the US,
Alex (35:46):
man? Well, I'd never heard of Rambo. And then I would say
Higher hundreds. Hire 1000s 2500
Kelly (36:00):
varieties of apples are grown in the US. Wow.
Alex (36:04):
25 I wonder why we need that many.
Kelly (36:08):
Why do we need so many apples?
Alex (36:11):
What's the best one?
What's what's your favorite?
Kelly (36:13):
Ah, I am a big fan of the Granny Smith. And Gala. Yeah,
Alex (36:24):
What is the one? The crisp? was the one well,
Kelly (36:28):
there's honey crisp.
Yeah, I think that when Pink
Alex (36:34):
There is we? Yeah, if you listen to our variety show
and Jeff. D. Do I like a goodtart? Green apple. That's
Kelly (36:46):
Granny Smith, Granny Smith, tart green apple. That's
Alex (36:50):
then I also like, I like the crisp one. With like with
slice of cheese. Okay, prettygood, too. Yeah, but you
one. I mean, so there'sdifferent, different and I love
Well, so
Kelly (37:08):
here's something that's gonna blow your mind. Apple pie,
as apple pie. It's actually aEuropean dessert.
Alex (37:16):
Like strudel. Remember,
Kelly (37:18):
it came from England.
Yeah, Germany. I mean, it wasknow, while we might claim it
just like french fries, beingAmerican. We perfected it. Okay.
Yeah,
Alex (37:34):
maybe we were the first ones. Ice cream with it.
Kelly (37:39):
I doubt it. But okay.
Well, we'll go with that.
Alex (37:41):
Because you know, the term ala mode is,
Kelly (37:44):
yeah, the French French term. So, Apples contain a
that's actually a verybeneficial thing. And that's
make apple so healthy. Is thatMolok acid? Now it's good for
(38:10):
vibro? Malaysia? Isn't thatwhat? My my alza Fibromyalgia
Smith's wife has that. Jadealopecia? Oh, that I'm getting
fibromyalgia?
Alex (38:28):
Yeah, that's a that's a nerve disorder, I think Oh,
Kelly (38:31):
I thought it was hair loss. Nevermind, anyway. malic
fiber. As a matter of fact, theysay that an Apple has one apple
fiber as you need for one day.
So eating an apple a day reallythat case. And you want to just
(38:52):
take a guess how much a bushel
Alex (38:59):
Well, how much is a bushel? Like how many apples is
100? You know, 1000 apples?
Kelly (39:07):
Dummy dummy here didn't really I don't think it's done
it's done by volume. So it kindof depends on the size. I'll
Alex (39:16):
the answer is whatever the answer. I mean, yes. Or how much
bushel is. Yeah, yeah.
Kelly (39:24):
It's the universal answer to everything. A lot. 42 pounds.
bushel with that you can make 21pies. three gallons of cider, or
Alex (39:43):
I love applesauce.
Kelly (39:44):
I do a little cinnamon in there. You don't criss cross
like apples.
Alex (39:49):
Oh really? No.
Kelly (39:51):
Here's the thing though.
You're kind of getting rippedbushel of apples. You know why?
25% of apples is made of air.
Alex (40:01):
While I was I thought you're gonna say the core.
Kelly (40:04):
No, although I will say that I've actually taken to
not bad. Come on, man,everything but the stem.
Alex (40:12):
But then you get those seeds the Johnny used to get
Kelly (40:17):
Right they'll sprout out and you'll have apples grown out
worry about that. I don't Idon't I actually when I was a
fear of that, but I've overcomeit. I do not eat the apple core.
hardcore.
Alex (40:33):
So it's it's mostly air and water probably.
Kelly (40:36):
Yeah, a lot. A lot of water. But that's the reason
can use apples in bobbing forapples because they have a lot
Oh,
Alex (40:45):
yeah. Did you ever bob for apples?
Kelly (40:47):
I've done that. It's very difficult. Overrated? Yeah,
those. One of those things thatprobably should be a dead end.
Alex (40:57):
line between bobbing for apples and being waterboarded.
Kelly (41:04):
That's that's how they finally got Johnny Appleseed.
the truth. Turned out he was aCanadian spy.
Alex (41:12):
Yeah, I like the caramel apples also. Yeah, those
Kelly (41:15):
are good. Those can be dangerous if you have a loose
Alex (41:19):
Not a fan of candy apples.
Kelly (41:21):
Me neither. Me neither.
I'm not a fan of that kind ofapples. I mean, I like caramel.
And they and that goes well with
Alex (41:30):
make a sheet. You buy them in like a sheet. And then you
in there. Oh, man. Yeah, that'sgood stuff have
Kelly (41:37):
to do that. I feel like because I feel like if that gets
probably a net health benefit.
Alex (41:45):
The the caramel apples.
Yeah,
Kelly (41:47):
that's good stuff.
Offset. Yeah. So back in the dayJohnny would carry called seed
balls. Now have you heard ofdango. In Japan? No. So these
are actually rather than justwith clay, and other organic
(42:07):
matter, maybe some dirt, someassist in the germination. It's
a clump of seeds that you putdone back in like the feudal
days of Japan. And also inthey were planting along the
(42:27):
Nile because it flooded, it wasand keeping them from washing
away.
Alex (42:34):
So you just you just roll them in Clay,
Kelly (42:38):
Clay and dirt. You know, I guess there's other hummus or
all these kinds of things. Andthey become a little more
And they also germinate moreeasily. But there's a thing
make the seed balls, and thenyou actually can just kind of
(43:05):
they're sort of self contained,as long as it's not just like
piece of concrete, they'llactually germinate and grow just
these things. They also, theyalso deter like predators from
them, because they're in thisball. And by the time they get
want to eat it anymore. And
Alex (43:24):
I never heard of that.
That makes sense, though. Well,
Kelly (43:26):
this led to a thing in the 70s called guerilla
that? No,
Alex (43:35):
I'm not much of a gardener. Well, as
Kelly (43:37):
wasn't gardening done by gorillas, it was gorilla, not
Alex (43:42):
It sounds like kind of like the Wildflower experiment
Kelly (43:47):
yeah, they would well, this is where they would take in
that. They would actually tossedthese seeds, the seed balls into
was really ugly, where there wasdirt, and they would toss them
Sometimes they would have liketomato seeds in them, sometimes
(44:11):
they would basically beautifythings by tossing these seed
Alex (44:16):
Yeah, that's what they did with wildflowers in the Texas
Kelly (44:21):
Yeah. And now look at it.
I mean, actually, we're kind ofright now. But I'm sure they're
all dead by the time people arewant to kind of get a vibe about
Johnny Appleseed, you canout this the Johnny Appleseed
the legend of Johnny Appleseedthen you can also go drink some
(44:47):
cider and some apple juice yousiders, Austin East siders,
yeah, we gotta get them to helpquotes. To wrap up with though
from Johnny Appleseed, but justhighlights of things you've
learned about Johnny Appleseed
Alex (45:07):
he it was less about the apples and more about the
was a nomad. Yeah, never reallysettled just kind of wandered
today he would have gottenbeaten up.
Kelly (45:28):
Well, you know, and here's the thing is he probably
because he had a quote thatsaid, do not worry about being
peacefully. There's your there'sa little bit as n for the day.
Appleseed. American legend. Inthe truest sense of the word. I
(45:52):
of those Johnny Appleseedmuseums or festivals. Maybe he
you where you have to live likethey did back then we'll bring
Seed balls and we will wear apot on our head and we'll eat
(46:12):
good time.
Alex (46:13):
For the people watching alone. I think it'd be worth it.
bands at that festival likepicture and like some bluegrass
religious like is that part ofthe festival is sponsored by the
Kelly (46:29):
I would say very much in line with the way Christmas has
Johnny Appleseed had a religiousconnotation back in the day I
celebrate today. I think todaythey celebrate him being one of
and somebody who really seemedto have a kind heart and care
(46:51):
he did it through his love ofGod and His religion, but he
who didn't get out and just tryto exploit everything you tried
Alex (47:03):
what happened to the new church. Are they still around
Kelly (47:05):
still around still around it's I don't think it's called
long I think
Alex (47:12):
it just called church Yeah, it's I'm familiar with it.
Kelly (47:14):
I think it's called the Swedenborg in church Swedenborg
looked into better name, yeah.
Up to this guy Swedenborg Well,Apocalypse explained and try to
read that and next time I comeYeah, when
Alex (47:31):
you said Heaven and Hell and Apocalypse explained. I
AC DC record.
Kelly (47:37):
True true or 60s war movies?
Alex (47:40):
Yeah, exactly. Alright, man.
Kelly (47:42):
Well, that's Johnny Appleseed. Thanks everybody and
yellow, you got juice therefella. If it's tangy and brown
Alex (47:49):
your insider tone
Kelly (47:55):
Yeah, that's it
Alex (48:01):
my past I was so
Kelly (48:12):
locked in a pack?
Alex (48:24):
Getting the money
Hey everybody, welcome to an episode of Dirt Nap City, the
people. And today we have one ofthe most interesting dead people
that person and give some clues,I'm going to introduce one of
people around Alex, everybody.
Give him a hand.
Alex (00:30):
Thank you. Thank you. I've heard recently some people
because they think that, thatthey kind of get stuck on the
it's maybe going to be agruesome show, and we're going
the details of their death. Andthat's not the dead parts.
Kelly (00:52):
Those old like those old snuff films. Yeah, faces. No.
Alex (00:58):
the audio version of faces of death.
Kelly (01:01):
Right, right. You're not gonna see anything that will
except for except for us. Sopart
Alex (01:06):
about being dead is just categorizes them.
Kelly (01:10):
Yeah, yeah. And also I feel like it it, you know, you
podcast about interesting,deceased people. That doesn't
the point, right? It's verydirect. That's how we try to be
Alex (01:24):
absolutely. But we don't.
We really don't spend much timedon't even mention how these
people died. We mentioned the
Kelly (01:34):
we know the year might we might not even know the year.
citation for that part.
Sometimes,
Alex (01:41):
like in the case of Amelia Earhart, we don't even really
Kelly (01:44):
They could still be alive in which case she would be the
very old but interesting.
nonetheless. Amelia if you'reout we'll have you on as a
guest. You can what's the what'swrite us and not at dirt nap
city, and that could also be indirt nap city. So for today, I
(02:05):
have someone that definitelyperson everybody's heard of but
don't doesn't know much about Iis Alex doesn't know who this
person is yet. But I'm going toyou listen and see if you
(02:25):
already know but see if I'mstart with this clue. Now this
clue has a bit of a visual andready, Alex?
Alex (02:35):
I am I hope you're talking about
Johnny Appleseed said it?
Kelly (02:47):
You got it? Got it.
Alex (02:51):
Wow. That was one of the ones I when we first started
apple.
Kelly (03:01):
Yes, Johnny Appleseed.
What do you know about Johnny
Alex (03:06):
I can picture a book when I was a kid. And he had like a
head. Right. Right. Right. Idon't know why now that I think
dancin. Yeah. Yeah, it's but allI know. I feel like he maybe
(03:29):
like he was maybe American.
Yeah, but I don't I don't thinkWell, you
Kelly (03:35):
probably saw the Disney cartoon about him, I think from
legend of Johnny Appleseed.
We'll get into that in a minute.
all of that. I'm so glad that myclue. For those of you who
eat an apple took a bite of anapple.
Alex (03:55):
No, eating a pear would have sounded exactly the same.
Kelly (03:59):
as crunchy. Pears are soft. You wouldn't you wouldn't
Please. Good ones are soft.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess ifJohnny Appleseed was American.
He was a little early for your1774 on September 26, in
Leominster, Massachusetts. Andin the US. That was so maybe he
(04:24):
wasn't American that was part ofin back before 1776, the
Revolutionary War. He was bornwas part of British America. He
didn't die until 1845 on Marchthings about him is who are some
other people you might think ofAppleseed.
Alex (04:51):
I don't what do you what do you mean along the same line?
Kelly (04:53):
I mean, like American Legends of the same, I'll give
know, John Generally the hammeror okay Bunyan, Paul, Paul
Revere, I think was more of areal historical figure, whereas
more legendary, but you'reright, actually, Paul Revere.
(05:18):
wrong real person. DavyCrockett, that might be another
These are these kind of largerthan life, people that were
influencers before there weresocial media influencers, right?
giant ox, an accent an ox, JohnHenry had a hammer. Davy
(05:42):
did Johnny Appleseed had? He washot on his head, a pot on his
seeds. He was a nursery man.
Have you heard that term?
I have sounds like an insult,doesn't it? Yeah, yeah. Which
(06:02):
seeds and grew these trees up toa certain size where they could
Now the difference between anursery and an orchard an
permanently Grow and Give theirfruit. A nursery is where
brought up to the point wherethey can be moved to an orchard.
Alex (06:22):
Oh, I didn't know that.
Yeah.
Kelly (06:24):
He introduced apple trees to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
say, West Virginia, and evenparts of present day Ontario,
Alex (06:39):
Did he do this on his own?
Or somebody asked him to do
Kelly (06:42):
So interestingly, we'll get into that story about him
But he did mostly do it on itsown. Yes. He was actually also a
Now the new church was areligious movement at the time.
Borg Swedenborg. Swedenborg.
Ian. Never heard of this one.
(07:11):
Emanuel Swedenborg. And he was ascientist in the 1700s. And he
was doing, you know, chemistryand biology and lots of sciency
locate the human soul, hethought he could physically find
And he obviously well, I don'tsay obviously, he never found
(07:35):
that he could point out. I thinkfor a long time, I think for a
small intestine was a soul. Butyou know, that was proven wrong.
sort of religious bent, theSwedenborg guy, and much like
the time, who kind of claimed toknow a lot about the Bible, and,
(08:00):
started writing books, to theSwedenborg wrote quite a few
including one titled Heaven andHell, another one titled The
favorite title, Apocalypseexplained. And Johnny, as a
hold of these books and became afervent believer of the
(08:26):
as the new church. And so hismission actually in life was not
also planted the seed of the newchurch as he went around and
dual pronged approach. He gotyou with the apples and he kept
Yeah. So his mother died when hewas two years old. In and then
(08:54):
six. His father whose name wasNathaniel remarried, a woman
way, that's about the coolestname ever. Lucy Cooley, don't
Alex (09:03):
I mean, Johnny Appleseed and too bad either?
Kelly (09:05):
Yeah. Was father remarried. Nathaniel Appleseed.
actually Chapman. John Chapmanwas Johnny Appleseed the real
Alex (09:16):
which means that I might be related to him because if you
that's the that's the Mayflowerside that I'm really from the
episode.
Kelly (09:26):
Oh, man. Well, well, we're gonna get to a part about
that. But his father remarriedafter his mother died. And he
Nathaniel Cooley Chapman. Andwhen Johnny was 18 and Nathaniel
brother, who was 11 at the time,little half brother, he
(09:52):
him. Everybody was going west.
And so he said, The Daniel,brothers, Nathaniel Cooley.
Chapman, and John Chapman wentleft their father and their
family. And basically Lynn livedyears until, gosh, I guess until
1800s. So about eight years,like this. There isn't a whole
(10:19):
lot documented about what theyCalifornia, they've kind of
traveled around. And eventually,Ohio, where he met up with his
boys where he met up with Nathandecided he was going to go ahead
and stay and help his fatherJohn kept traveling, and
(10:43):
eventually ended up under theMr. Crawford. Now, can you guess
what Mr. Crawford did for awas he a nursery man, he
grapples he was an apple man.
26, John Chapman planted hisfirst orchard, and in licking
(11:10):
to be in love with this wholething. So he tended to this
finally got the Wanderlust againand decided to go out and embark
using two canoes that he hadtied together. And he took with
the intent of growing, you know,spreading apple seeds around.
(11:37):
all think that he planted thesethings randomly, but he didn't,
or not orchards, he actuallycreated these little nurseries
said, a nursery is where yougerminate the seed, it grows up
to protect it. So you have tobuild a fence around it to keep
(11:57):
cattle and other you know,grazing animals away, and you
actually did was he started thisbusiness where he would go
would plant the seeds for them,you know, and set it up with
survive. And then he would makerounds every year, six months to
(12:20):
tend to it and trim them and getthem bigger. And then when the
farmers would sell these appletrees, and John would get a
that was kind of his, his deal.
And that he also sometimes wouldland that the farmers would
have. So they might give him twoproperty, that he could plant
(12:42):
this nursery or even plant anpayment would come later in the
form of the land. So he was kindfuture, if that makes sense. Oh,
Alex (12:55):
yeah. Nice metaphor. Now, why apples? Why is this because
pretty or because it providesshade? I mean, why? Why was this
Kelly (13:04):
You know? That's, that's a great question. And I don't
and all the stuff that I readwhy he picked apples, I think I
abundantly and pretty naturallyin the soil. I also think they
thing. And at the time, a lot ofpeople you know, that old saying
(13:27):
away. Apples were very much.
They were sweet. They were easyfor a long time. I think there
was a practicality to it. That
Alex (13:38):
probably pretty hearty, too, for the North northern
to like oranges, which didn'tgrow up there.
Kelly (13:46):
And remember, the whole time he's doing this, he's not
but he's also he's alsopreaching about the new church.
was almost like he used theapples that as an excuse to meet
him, but then he would, he wouldpreach to them. And a lot of
(14:07):
mind. As a matter of fact, a lotof people would put him up in
have a home. He didn't wearshoes. And as you said he
hat. Well, that was a mosh potwas called a mosh pot at the
wore it on his head. But when hewasn't wearing it on his head,
(14:29):
make apple mush or any otherkind of mush he was gonna eat.
Alex (14:35):
Yeah, well, I mean, I might be more into that if it
Kelly (14:39):
Well, remember, he's, he's, he's a one man show. He
like that. He's walkingbarefoot, so it was convenient
protected his head. As a matterof fact, there were several
know, he's out in the forest,and the mosh pot actually up Oh,
Alex (15:00):
it's like a hard hat.
Yeah. And you're right as IDisneyfication version of me
does have bare feet and
Kelly (15:09):
yep. And he's singing the song. Oh, the Lord is good to
giving me the things I need thesun, the rain in the Appleseed.
Alex (15:23):
in the Disney version? Or does that really mean? Both?
Kelly (15:28):
Both? Actually, it's funny. We used to sing that at
a song from the Disney film, butit is. He thinks about that. And
Snow White kind of vibe, becausethere's little birds chirping
the birds and you hear themsinging. Do you remember all
Alex (15:48):
Was it a cartoon or live action?
Kelly (15:50):
It was a cartoon?
Alex (15:52):
No, I don't remember I can just remember a single image. I
Kelly (15:57):
Google that if you Google the movie, The Story Disney the
You'll see this little thing onYouTube. That's it. Like I said,
of vibe. Very happy, beautifulthing.
Alex (16:12):
You've called him John a few times. John Appleseed is a
the name Johnny, makes him muchmore beloved than John
Kelly (16:25):
Well, it's funny you say that because in 1822, the very
from a member of the new churchdescribing a small, quick,
too long, but unshaven and barefeet and sparkling eyes, who
(16:46):
forest, referred to him as JohnAppleseed, to the very first
Appleseed by a church member whowas writing a letter. I think
really made famous was when itwas written in Harper's
monthly magazine. And theybasically talked about this man
(17:11):
Christian, who went around andpreached the gospel and planted
was that at that point, theycalled him Johnny. Got
Alex (17:21):
he was still alive. Oh, yeah. He became a writing about
was famous when he was alive.
Yes,
Kelly (17:28):
yes. He became sort of a folk lore legend at the time
person. So that's what's kind ofinteresting. You know, when you
Paul Bunyan was a real person.
But I think there was a lot ofwith Johnny Appleseed, it was
pretty much stuck to the thesome indulgence, of course.
(17:48):
There's a pretty famous storycame across a missionary
preaching to an open airOhio. And the preacher was
talking about living like athat because people today are
becoming they're becomingtheir indulgences like Calico
(18:14):
and t. So this man said, wherethe primitive Christians is
traveling to heaven, barefootthen right at that point, Johnny
Appleseed walks up, puts hiswas using as a pulpit and says,
Here's your primitive Christian,
Alex (18:40):
yeah, How about them apples?
Kelly (18:44):
So there was a lot of debate about whether John
actually sort of this folksypush over of a man or if he was
businessman, and a lot of peoplesay he was actually pretty smart
(19:06):
because he ended up with 1000sof acres of land at the end of
know, a lot more than the appleseeds he had originally taken
time to accumulate all thosethings, right. He was he was
future.
Alex (19:23):
How long did he live?
Kelly (19:26):
He died in 1845. He was born in 1774. So let's do a
2645 plus 26 is what 71 or 71?
Yeah, pretty ripe old age for
Alex (19:46):
It was all those apples.
Yeah. Yeah.
Kelly (19:48):
I mean, you could say and probably some clean living, you
also, I think he was purportedin legend to have had a pet wolf
Oh, was that in the movie thathe helped after healing? Healing
(20:08):
don't know. Now
Alex (20:09):
that would be a movie.
Yeah, man. And you got myalso is
Kelly (20:15):
reported to have actually put out a fire that he was using
a mosquito into the blaze, youknow, attracted it and burned
idea that he had destroyed oneof God's creatures. No, really,
(20:36):
reported to have actually builta shelter in a hollow lug, and
in the shelter to find that ithad been occupied by bear cubs
have it. He didn't. He didn'ttry to take them away. Let him
Alex (20:58):
Now that's pretty amazing that a guy a nursery men, as you
towards insects. Because youthink that those people that are
Nemesis through right pests,because that ruins their crops,
(21:20):
think not only a mosquito, butany kind of thing that would
Kelly (21:24):
there's little worms that get in the app. Right. But he
was more of a an evangelistfirst, you know, a sort of man
selling the apples or anything.
He was, well, it was kind ofHe planted the trees. He was a
vegetarian. He also neveroften said that he knew if he
(21:47):
couldn't find his soulmate onin heaven. And so you know, just
pretty, pretty nice. You know, Iget beat up today. Well, I mean,
if some guy showed up and wantedyour yard and didn't ask you for
(22:13):
money, and if he asked if hegrass, and he was barefoot,
would you call the cops? Well,
Alex (22:23):
it's the it's the timeshare aspect of it where he
first, let me let me tell youabout the word. Right, right.
that part of it. That probablywould
Kelly (22:39):
not be challenging. Yeah.
Well,
Alex (22:41):
so was he nomadic? Like, did he have a place to live? Or
town to the next his whole life,
Kelly (22:47):
he was very nomadic. He went from town to town. And
checking in on these nurseriesthat he had set up. So he had
the states I mentioned at thebeginning. I think he was
Fort Wayne, Indiana. Those weretwo places that are often him.
Alex (23:09):
But this is probably all horse and buggy. Right? I mean,
Kelly (23:13):
inhibitors for him. It was foot on foot from state to
Yeah, just walking alongbarefoot. Yeah.
Alex (23:21):
And you say he wasn't married. What a surprise.
Kelly (23:25):
Well, he passed away on March 18 1845. There was a
Wayne Sentinel on March 22. Thatsaid, on the same day in this
Mr. John Chapman, better knownas Johnny Appleseed passed away.
(23:46):
through this region by hiseccentricity, and the strange
occupation of a nursery man andhas been a regular visitor here,
native of Pennsylvania, weunderstand but his home, if home
in this neighborhood ofCleveland, where his relatives
(24:10):
considerable property, he issupposed to own considerable
denied himself the commonnecessities of life, not so
timey words here. avarice isfrom the particular notion of
(24:33):
religious beliefs, he was afollower of Swedenborg and
he endured in this world, theless he would have to suffer and
happiness hereafter. Hesubmitted every privation with
believing that in doing so hewas securing snug quarters
Alex (24:58):
I find it od did he was so famous, then I feel like if
today, they would have a ticktock. And they would have right
everything. Right,
Kelly (25:13):
right, we did about interband a converted Sprinter
Alex (25:17):
So imagine in the days before that, somebody just going
Appleseeds why that would makehim a celebrity and why you and
later, it's
Kelly (25:31):
probably all the songs and all the poems. There's a lot
written about him. And, and, butyeah, I mean, it's his brand of
today, you know, unless unlesshe was doing it. Ironically,
way he'd be able to get awaywith it is to be ironic.
Alex (25:52):
I mean, you see people now that like, do things, you know,
charity or something, you know,we never I don't even know those
during the last World Cup, therewas a guy that was gonna dribble
the country to the other end, hewent like 11 miles ago to buy a
Kelly (26:17):
And if cars it existed back then Johnny Appleseed might
thank God they there weren't anycars, you know, even the horse
him.
Alex (26:29):
I just don't know why he was so famous. Yeah,
Kelly (26:31):
well, I mean, so famous that he has a park named after
There's a Johnny Appleseedfestival in Lisbon, Ohio,
Festival, the third week ofSeptember in Fort Wayne,
can only eat what was availableduring his lifetime. It's all
(26:56):
to that. That sounds fun. In2008. The Fort Wayne wizards,
baseball club changed their nameto the Fort Wayne tin caps. No.
the new names, they won theleague championship, and their
Alex (27:17):
Okay, I'm into that. I would like to go to the festival
long as they didn't make theapple mash with pods that have
Kelly (27:27):
What goes on your head?
You have to bring your own. I'dyeah. You so you'd be grossed
out by eating a pot off of myhead, you're fine with? Yeah,
yeah. Yeah, there's schoolsmemorials and all kinds of
statues in Ohio and Cincinnati.
(27:51):
there's even a musical that waswritten about Johnny Appleseed.
Alex (27:55):
And think about it, too, that this was he was famous. But
right, the turn of the 19thcentury.
Kelly (28:04):
Yeah, the mid mid 1800s.
Mid 18th
Alex (28:08):
on Yeah. So who else was famous around that was that
Kelly (28:14):
I think Houdini was more contemporary than that with any.
Alex (28:19):
I have to go listen. Yeah, yes. If anybody
Kelly (28:21):
knows, give me give me an hour. Hold
Alex (28:23):
on. I'll be right. Yeah, there
Kelly (28:25):
was a abolitionist named Lydia Maria child who wrote a
this is not written by chat. GPTby the way, it's written by 1880
Maria child. In cities, somesaid the old man was crazy,
(28:45):
lazy, but he took no notice ofjibes and years. He knew he was
they inquire whence came thesetrees were not about once swayed
comes as they travel on thesetrees were planted by Apple
(29:07):
John,
Alex (29:07):
that absolutely sounds like Chet GPT an
Kelly (29:11):
18. Ad. abolitionist author, woman, no less at the
she was well ahead of her time.
So with all of that said, yougood he was a good guy. By all
accounts. Supposedly today,a direct descendant from his
(29:34):
trees. Only one well, one that'sfamous.
Alex (29:45):
I would expect there be entire orchards that would be
things were raised for housingdevelopments. Shopping malls,
Kelly (29:56):
Hold on. I got that wrong. It isn't a descendant
Appleseed, there's still a whilestill a tree that that there's
Appleseed. And you, you want toknow the type of Apple? It is?
Alex (30:14):
Yeah, tell me
Kelly (30:15):
it's a Rambo Apple, who I've never heard of that. I
greenish yellow skin. It's gotkind of a dull grayish bloom of
ripen in in late fall. Andthey're actually not very good.
(30:37):
like feeding livestock, and notnot really all that great of an
Alex (30:45):
I was gonna say I bet you the livestock disagree on that.
Kelly (30:49):
But you know how there's there's certain types of apples
there's other types that aremore designed for apples. So
the author of the book, firstblood. He supposedly named the
(31:10):
that his wife brought home froma roadside stand.
Alex (31:13):
That's cool, except for the Apple wasn't good. Literally
literally a bad apple. Yeah,just like Rambo.
Kelly (31:23):
Yes, yes. Yeah, so the RAMBo apple. So here's the
of his religious beliefs. JohnChapman, aka Johnny Appleseed
Now, are you familiar with thatconcept? grafting? I mean,
concept but why you would dothat? No. So they would graph
(31:50):
together to get a better flavor.
It's kind of natural selectionkind of like when animals breed
and the strongest attributesplants together, you get the
strongest, so you get thethat sort of thing. But a lot of
people back then, and maybe evenGod to grab right things. Texas
Alex (32:13):
a&m does a lot of this, they made a maroon carrot
color orange. They recently madea jalapeno that isn't spicy.
stuff.
Kelly (32:25):
I mean, both of those pointless? Well, but that's what
though, that's interesting, isthat some people actually
man who it's not really known,by the way if he abstained from
(32:48):
for the most part, his appletrees weren't grafted, they were
he had available. So they weremore of the sort of, you know,
kind of variety might feed thelivestock or it just might not
to make cider. And it's kind ofsaid that, that was one of the
(33:12):
was the fermentation of alcoholbecause they could make they can
these apples. And he didn'tdrink that, though. It's not
mentioned. But but interesting,you know, especially if he was a
been responsible for bringing somuch alcohol now. I've got a few
(33:38):
you might find interesting. Youwant to hear.
Alex (33:41):
And by the way, I grew up on non alcoholic cider. That is
a cider mill, where near where Igrew up, and you'd go there in
and then they'd have these thesedoughnuts, these like cinnamon
or cold cider. It's good stuff.
So
Kelly (34:05):
we always have to bring it back to the Simpsons, right?
remember this, but Ned Flandershad a handy rhyme for telling
juice. Apple juice on applecider. What's that? If it's
(34:26):
juice there fella. If it's tangyand brown urine cider town.
Alex (34:32):
That's a good rule of thumb.
Kelly (34:34):
Yes, thank you dead Flanders.
Alex (34:37):
I like cider a lot more than juice. But that's good
Kelly (34:41):
well, it's if it's clear and brown. Or if it's
Alex (34:46):
the alcohol version of cider. Yeah. It's great.
Kelly (34:49):
Shout out to Austin EastSiders. Maybe they want to
Alex (34:53):
that's good stuff. They
Kelly (34:54):
make a good apple. As a matter of fact, you can make you
Day. Of course. This is airingmuch later than that, but you
crown float or black, blackvelveteen depending on what you
half Guinness good stuff. Yeah,let's do it. So apples make up
(35:18):
fruit tree population. Did youknow that?
Alex (35:22):
Deciduous meaning in like indigenous but fruit no
Kelly (35:27):
deciduous means that they shed their leaves. Deciduous
leaves or shed their fruit. Likebasically they go bare. They're
to deciduous fruit, apples orhalf of it, take a guess at how
grown in the US,
Alex (35:46):
man? Well, I'd never heard of Rambo. And then I would say
Higher hundreds. Hire 1000s 2500
Kelly (36:00):
varieties of apples are grown in the US. Wow.
Alex (36:04):
25 I wonder why we need that many.
Kelly (36:08):
Why do we need so many apples?
Alex (36:11):
What's the best one?
What's what's your favorite?
Kelly (36:13):
Ah, I am a big fan of the Granny Smith. And Gala. Yeah,
Alex (36:24):
What is the one? The crisp? was the one well,
Kelly (36:28):
there's honey crisp.
Yeah, I think that when Pink
Alex (36:34):
There is we? Yeah, if you listen to our variety show
and Jeff. D. Do I like a goodtart? Green apple. That's
Kelly (36:46):
Granny Smith, Granny Smith, tart green apple. That's
Alex (36:50):
then I also like, I like the crisp one. With like with
slice of cheese. Okay, prettygood, too. Yeah, but you
one. I mean, so there'sdifferent, different and I love
Well, so
Kelly (37:08):
here's something that's gonna blow your mind. Apple pie,
as apple pie. It's actually aEuropean dessert.
Alex (37:16):
Like strudel. Remember,
Kelly (37:18):
it came from England.
Yeah, Germany. I mean, it wasknow, while we might claim it
just like french fries, beingAmerican. We perfected it. Okay.
Yeah,
Alex (37:34):
maybe we were the first ones. Ice cream with it.
Kelly (37:39):
I doubt it. But okay.
Well, we'll go with that.
Alex (37:41):
Because you know, the term ala mode is,
Kelly (37:44):
yeah, the French French term. So, Apples contain a
that's actually a verybeneficial thing. And that's
make apple so healthy. Is thatMolok acid? Now it's good for
(38:10):
vibro? Malaysia? Isn't thatwhat? My my alza Fibromyalgia
Smith's wife has that. Jadealopecia? Oh, that I'm getting
fibromyalgia?
Alex (38:28):
Yeah, that's a that's a nerve disorder, I think Oh,
Kelly (38:31):
I thought it was hair loss. Nevermind, anyway. malic
fiber. As a matter of fact, theysay that an Apple has one apple
fiber as you need for one day.
So eating an apple a day reallythat case. And you want to just
(38:52):
take a guess how much a bushel
Alex (38:59):
Well, how much is a bushel? Like how many apples is
100? You know, 1000 apples?
Kelly (39:07):
Dummy dummy here didn't really I don't think it's done
it's done by volume. So it kindof depends on the size. I'll
Alex (39:16):
the answer is whatever the answer. I mean, yes. Or how much
bushel is. Yeah, yeah.
Kelly (39:24):
It's the universal answer to everything. A lot. 42 pounds.
bushel with that you can make 21pies. three gallons of cider, or
Alex (39:43):
I love applesauce.
Kelly (39:44):
I do a little cinnamon in there. You don't criss cross
like apples.
Alex (39:49):
Oh really? No.
Kelly (39:51):
Here's the thing though.
You're kind of getting rippedbushel of apples. You know why?
25% of apples is made of air.
Alex (40:01):
While I was I thought you're gonna say the core.
Kelly (40:04):
No, although I will say that I've actually taken to
not bad. Come on, man,everything but the stem.
Alex (40:12):
But then you get those seeds the Johnny used to get
Kelly (40:17):
Right they'll sprout out and you'll have apples grown out
worry about that. I don't Idon't I actually when I was a
fear of that, but I've overcomeit. I do not eat the apple core.
hardcore.
Alex (40:33):
So it's it's mostly air and water probably.
Kelly (40:36):
Yeah, a lot. A lot of water. But that's the reason
can use apples in bobbing forapples because they have a lot
Oh,
Alex (40:45):
yeah. Did you ever bob for apples?
Kelly (40:47):
I've done that. It's very difficult. Overrated? Yeah,
those. One of those things thatprobably should be a dead end.
Alex (40:57):
line between bobbing for apples and being waterboarded.
Kelly (41:04):
That's that's how they finally got Johnny Appleseed.
the truth. Turned out he was aCanadian spy.
Alex (41:12):
Yeah, I like the caramel apples also. Yeah, those
Kelly (41:15):
are good. Those can be dangerous if you have a loose
Alex (41:19):
Not a fan of candy apples.
Kelly (41:21):
Me neither. Me neither.
I'm not a fan of that kind ofapples. I mean, I like caramel.
And they and that goes well with
Alex (41:30):
make a sheet. You buy them in like a sheet. And then you
in there. Oh, man. Yeah, that'sgood stuff have
Kelly (41:37):
to do that. I feel like because I feel like if that gets
probably a net health benefit.
Alex (41:45):
The the caramel apples.
Yeah,
Kelly (41:47):
that's good stuff.
Offset. Yeah. So back in the dayJohnny would carry called seed
balls. Now have you heard ofdango. In Japan? No. So these
are actually rather than justwith clay, and other organic
(42:07):
matter, maybe some dirt, someassist in the germination. It's
a clump of seeds that you putdone back in like the feudal
days of Japan. And also inthey were planting along the
(42:27):
Nile because it flooded, it wasand keeping them from washing
away.
Alex (42:34):
So you just you just roll them in Clay,
Kelly (42:38):
Clay and dirt. You know, I guess there's other hummus or
all these kinds of things. Andthey become a little more
And they also germinate moreeasily. But there's a thing
make the seed balls, and thenyou actually can just kind of
(43:05):
they're sort of self contained,as long as it's not just like
piece of concrete, they'llactually germinate and grow just
these things. They also, theyalso deter like predators from
them, because they're in thisball. And by the time they get
want to eat it anymore. And
Alex (43:24):
I never heard of that.
That makes sense, though. Well,
Kelly (43:26):
this led to a thing in the 70s called guerilla
that? No,
Alex (43:35):
I'm not much of a gardener. Well, as
Kelly (43:37):
wasn't gardening done by gorillas, it was gorilla, not
Alex (43:42):
It sounds like kind of like the Wildflower experiment
Kelly (43:47):
yeah, they would well, this is where they would take in
that. They would actually tossedthese seeds, the seed balls into
was really ugly, where there wasdirt, and they would toss them
Sometimes they would have liketomato seeds in them, sometimes
(44:11):
they would basically beautifythings by tossing these seed
Alex (44:16):
Yeah, that's what they did with wildflowers in the Texas
Kelly (44:21):
Yeah. And now look at it.
I mean, actually, we're kind ofright now. But I'm sure they're
all dead by the time people arewant to kind of get a vibe about
Johnny Appleseed, you canout this the Johnny Appleseed
the legend of Johnny Appleseedthen you can also go drink some
(44:47):
cider and some apple juice yousiders, Austin East siders,
yeah, we gotta get them to helpquotes. To wrap up with though
from Johnny Appleseed, but justhighlights of things you've
learned about Johnny Appleseed
Alex (45:07):
he it was less about the apples and more about the
was a nomad. Yeah, never reallysettled just kind of wandered
today he would have gottenbeaten up.
Kelly (45:28):
Well, you know, and here's the thing is he probably
because he had a quote thatsaid, do not worry about being
peacefully. There's your there'sa little bit as n for the day.
Appleseed. American legend. Inthe truest sense of the word. I
(45:52):
of those Johnny Appleseedmuseums or festivals. Maybe he
you where you have to live likethey did back then we'll bring
Seed balls and we will wear apot on our head and we'll eat
(46:12):
good time.
Alex (46:13):
For the people watching alone. I think it'd be worth it.
bands at that festival likepicture and like some bluegrass
religious like is that part ofthe festival is sponsored by the
Kelly (46:29):
I would say very much in line with the way Christmas has
Johnny Appleseed had a religiousconnotation back in the day I
celebrate today. I think todaythey celebrate him being one of
and somebody who really seemedto have a kind heart and care
(46:51):
he did it through his love ofGod and His religion, but he
who didn't get out and just tryto exploit everything you tried
Alex (47:03):
what happened to the new church. Are they still around
Kelly (47:05):
still around still around it's I don't think it's called
long I think
Alex (47:12):
it just called church Yeah, it's I'm familiar with it.
Kelly (47:14):
I think it's called the Swedenborg in church Swedenborg
looked into better name, yeah.
Up to this guy Swedenborg Well,Apocalypse explained and try to
read that and next time I comeYeah, when
Alex (47:31):
you said Heaven and Hell and Apocalypse explained. I
AC DC record.
Kelly (47:37):
True true or 60s war movies?
Alex (47:40):
Yeah, exactly. Alright, man.
Kelly (47:42):
Well, that's Johnny Appleseed. Thanks everybody and
yellow, you got juice therefella. If it's tangy and brown
Alex (47:49):
your insider tone
Kelly (47:55):
Yeah, that's it
Alex (48:01):
my past I was so
Kelly (48:12):
locked in a pack?
Alex (48:24):
Getting the money
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