Golden Apples

Please support the good work of the
Holistic Orchard Network!

Those of us who enjoy Public Radio know that our mutual listening pleasure is funded primarily through voluntary pledge drives. Truth is the good work of any community effort needs financial support.

Let me tell you about Hercules and the Golden Apples.

Ol' Herc was facing the next to last of his epic Twelve Labors. Finding a mythical apple tree far to the North whose fruit granted immortal health seemed doable enough. This tree was said to grow in the garden of the Hesperides, three beautiful nymphs, who just happened to be close friends with the mighty Atlas. Hercules struck a deal with the Titan: "I'll hold up the Heavens, mate, while you take a break and see your friends. All I want in return is for you to fetch me a few apples for King Eurystheus." Atlas could not believe his luck. It was such a weight off his shoulders. What a relief! Atlas hobnobbed with the lovely sisters for what seemed forever to Hercules. Finally he sauntered back with three Golden Apples and a big grin. Atlas was in no hurry to resume his supporting role.

All of us are working hard to grow "Golden Apples" that impart health to our families and friends in the communities where we live. Having a grower's network where we can exchange ideas, propose solutions, and basically accelerate our mutual learning curve is a good way of tapping into holistic knowledge. Apple lovers -- our dear customers -- should certainly consider financially supporting these efforts as well. Everyone benefits from making community orcharding a viable proposition.

You've been enjoying these web pages.

Now it's time to consider lending your financial support to this mutual work. $5, $10, $25, $40. You decide a pledge amount that works for you. The time and direct costs that go into setting up each and every orchardist web page found here amounts to $200 per page. Frankly, we need your help defraying these expenses if we are to keep putting this information up and making it freely accessible. If enough growers deem Michael's work worth supporting, well then, ladies and gents, there's plenty more we can plan on doing. From a European research tour to enabling grants that make soil food web testing possible in coordinated orchard trials. Full-fledged membership in the Holistic Orchardist Network unleashes all sorts of potential!

Click the button and you can instantly "do your share" by credit card (through PayPal) to support the outreach and good hopes of this grower's network. The amount of your networking donation is chosen on this direct payment link by multiples of $5. Or, if you prefer, we invite you to send a check made out to Michael Phillips to:

Holistic Orchard Network
c/o Michael Phillips
859 Lost Nation Road
Groveton, NH 03582

Should you know someone who wants to help an apple grower-initiated cause in a more substantial way, please have them contact Michael directly about the visionary ideas and real world needs of community orchardists everywhere.

While we can't offer you a tax break, we can certainly give heartfelt thanks for helping small-scale growers figure out how to walk gently in the sustainable orchard!

Now you're probably wondering what finally came of Hercules and his particular quest for those Golden Apples.

And while this apple grower may not have an especially apt moral tie-in to our current quest, it's kind of nice to realize that which goes around comes back to benefit us all, no?