MARCH 11

This date in the United States is known as Johnny Appleseed Day.  September 26, his birthday in 1774, is also known as Johnny Appleseed  day.  Why he gets two days, I'll never know - but I have an idea.

Johnny, whose real name was John Chapman, was a nurseryman who is credited with planting an extraordinary number of apple trees in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Indiana, Illinois and West Virginia.  He planted whole groves of trees and left them in the care of local people.  He would return every year or two to check on them. 

John did not believe in grafted trees, like we have now.  The apples his trees produced were hard and only really good for animal feed and making apple cider. This is why Johnny was so important.

You see, at that time in our nation's history, reliable water supplies were hard to come by - especially for traveling pioneers.  It was much safer to drink apple cider than water from a pond or creek . . . not to mention, it kept everyone happier and regular!  Now you should understand why I say that Johnny was instrumental in the settling of the western half of the country.  Apple cider!

Thank you, John. 
🍎🍏