When I received the email from Rick & Melanie, I knew my life was about to change. They have a beautiful backyard filled with fruit trees but wanted to clear out a couple. If I came to dig it up, I could have a fantastic, abundantly-producing, exotic apple tree with the world’s best fruit for… FREE. Okay, they didn’t exactly promise all that but the tree was free for the taking if I came to get it.
Something happens to me when I hear the word “free.” I can’t quite explain it but I am suddenly convinced that no matter what it is, I must have it. In my mind, it somehow increases in value because it doesn’t cost anything. I’m not such a sucker that I’ll buy a box of cereal just for a prize at the bottom or succumb to infomercial “but wait, there’s more” pressure, but my desire for an object intensifies if I know something won’t cost me anything.
Before receiving Rick & Melanie’s email, I had never particularly wanted an apple tree. It isn’t that I didn’t want one, it just had never occurred to me. Once the thought of juicy delicious apples, bushels to give to neighbors, and tasty fall desserts from our own backyard came to my mind, however, there was no stopping me.
I rounded up a truck (which was graciously lent to me by our friend Brian), found shovels, and conned Tim into coming with me. He had read a bit about transplanting trees and didn’t exactly share my enthusiasm. I, however, couldn’t suppress my excitement. I wasn’t even deterred when he mentioned that I might be underestimating how much time the whole process would take.
I can’t remember at what point I started to think our free tree wasn’t quite worth it. Four hours and a 5′x5′x3′ hole later, we drove our mud-covered exhausted bodies home to unload. It was quite dark and had started to rain by the time we got our precious fruit bearer and its gigantic root ball in the backyard. And we still didn’t have a hole to put it in.
The next day, with Tim at work, it was up to me to create a home for our new producer. As I did, I sort of felt like I was digging my own grave. Still stiff and sore from extracting the tree, I definitely doubted my faulty it-must-be-goodgreat-if-it-is-free logic.
In the end, our free apple tree has been a bit more expensive than I originally anticipated. While the tree itself didn’t cost a dime, we did end up having to buy compost to plant it in and we’ve still got to get another tree. Apparently apple trees must be cross-pollenated with a different variety in order to actually produce fruit. I don’t think I really factored that in when drooling over my dreams of homemade homegrown apple pie.
Now that it is in the ground, I’m not completely confident that this tree will even live. If it doesn’t make it, Tim says it can still be a win-win. We’ll have free applewood to use the next time we smoke our own bacon.
I wonder where I might be able to come across some free pork bellies.
Tags: Apples, Free, Fruit Trees, Growing, Transplanting, Trees
Alli,
This is Becky (Katie Ward’s friend). I just found your blog through Sarah Elwer and am really enjoying it — esp. this latest entry. My mom (who has the greenest thumb I know) used to tell me one must talk to plants and trees when they are being transplanted. Apparently it helps them understand why they’re being uprooted, where they’re going and why it’s going to be a wonderful new home. I thought she was crazy when I was younger, but the first plant I stuck in the ground (just some lettuce out of a six-pack) I found myself talking to it. Not sure if it was just a genetic response, but it worked. The lettuce was amazing.
Anyhow, just wanted to say hi and good luck with the tree!
That cute little apple in the first photo is still lying on the ground next to the HOLE, which we have yet to fill in. (do you know how HEAVY our wet adobe dirt is???) I think you NEED that apple to keep your hope alive!
[...] I am quite a fan of free stuff, I am not a moocher. I’m a lot more interested in give-and-take than just take, take. take. [...]
[...] I don’t know about you but in a lot of cases, I’d rather borrow than buy. I’ve been borrowing everything I can get my hands on lately. Movies from my sister, a cool vintage wine jug from Jeni Maus for Maundy Thursday, and power tools from our generous friend Travis are among the treasures I’ve snapped up lately. I’m not rolling in dough over here, and although I just started working in a retail store, I’m a big advocate for borrowing rather than just consuming and accumulating. I’ve even looked into joining a bartering co-op just to feel like I’m sharing value, not just exchanging currency. I’d like to think this philosophy is based on a well-thought-out-worldview but I’ll admit that it stems mostly from the fact that I’m kind of cheap (to read more about how cheap I am, don’t miss the story of my adventure with a “free” apple tree). [...]