RAPOZiNHO

I'm starting the "banana world," I hope to count on your help ...

Thanks

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Excuse for my english!

Caloosamusa

Ol'a and Welcome to Bananas dot Org!

May your efforts be productive, the weather warm, and good growing to you!

harveyc

Hello RAPOZiNHO,

What part of Portugal are you from? I visited various parts of continental Portugal as well as Madeira in 2004. My father's parents immigrated to California from Madeira about 100 years ago (my grandfather brought my grandmother here on his third trip between the countries so a precise date doesn't exist). I saw lots of bananas growing around the area where my grandparents once lived and that's what help me start this crazy hobby.

Don't worry about your English, it seems plenty fine. It's significantly better than my Portuguese!

Obrigado,

Harvey

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RAPOZiNHO

I was born in Oporto, my parents live near there, but for reasons of work, I live in the inner north, the city Viseu!
Growing melons, tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, etc.;

I'll try to grow several species sub-tropical, but I have yet to begin ...

A neighbor of my parents have bananas, but do not know what kind; (Banana trees are common here, but just for ornamental reasons, because I have never seen with ripe fruit.) They reach 3 or 4 meters tall, and are located in the shade of pines and oaks along the water. Never has protection from the cold and have already given flower, but perhaps due to lack of fertilization and \ or lack of sunshine, never ripened fruit ... but also do not die with the frost of winter... and often have sprouts!

I wanted to start my crop of bananas with cold-resistant species (orinoco, CGold, DBrazillian, 1000fingers etc) but it is difficult to get buy. I'll keep looking, and yet I will try to help from neighboring bananas with the knowledge of this forum ...

A toast with port wine, to your ancestors!

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Excuse for my english!

barnetmill

What does you posted picture depict. I see a man swinning what looks a a large hooked knife. I assume that he is haresting something. Is there a story that goes with it?

harveyc

We had a wonderful visit at the Cockbourn cellars in Oporto in October 2004. Cheers!



I'm not familiar with the town of Viseu but had attended a castanha (chestnut) convention in Chaves so may have driven through the area.

Namwah is another variety you may want to search for. Perhaps other members from our European section of the forum may be able to help you develop a collection.

Best wishes for success!

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oakshadows

Welcome from Florida, good luck with your quests. We started with tissue culture plants and they grew well. A little slow a first but now are growing great. Look for many answers from the Wiki, it contains much information on many plants.

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"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

RAPOZiNHO

Hi!

The man in the photo is me!

In the winter I usually help a friend clean up their lands to prevent fires. He has several streams and forests with oaks, where vegetation is very dense. We usually cut the grass and let the oak, chestnut and other trees, preferably deciduous ... We usually clear in winter in order to burn the waste safely!
The objective that day was to reach the summit of the mountain where I took the photo, as it was not possible, at the end of the day, I stuck by the bushes with my hat "Indiana Jones" and could get there just in time to see the sunset ... I almost lost down in the dark!
The photo was taken with my phone sitting on a rock ...

The tool is typical of some regions of Portugal and is called "podão" It's like a scythe more robust, the blade is like a curved machete at the end. It has the same utility of a machete, serves to pave the way and cut small branches!

It was not Everest, but it was the picture of victory! I was exausted...

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Excuse for my english!

barnetmill

I will have to look up o podão. I often have to cut a lot bush where I live. We get about 60 inches of rain a year in Northwestern Florida. I do have a machete and the typical american bush ax, but prefer the chain saw for the heavy stuff and my large husky weedeater with a large sawblade mounted for smaller brush; unfortunately it is in shop awaiting repairs. I pile the cut brush and let it rot. Too easy get a fire going.
When I first read your user name I thought it meant little lad until I remembered that word is probably 'rapazinho' and not RAPOZiNHO. Many, many years ago I once had to learn some Portuguese which I have mainly forgotten. When I get some time I need to learn Spanish and maybe to learn to understand the way Brazilians speak. Could begin by going to a new Brazilian steak house that just opened in Pensacola.

harveyc

RAPOZiNHO, your story reminds me of when I met a distant cousin of mine who lives about 45 minutes away from me. He immigrated from Canhas, Madeira, the same village as the rest of my family came from. He had a "podão" or a similar knife on display at his home and I asked him about it. He explained that everyone from Canhas carried one on their shoulder wherever they walked and that folks from other towns did not mess around with the tough guys from Canhas. He said they never work shoots and walked pretty large distances to cut grass and then to haul it back to their home to feed their cows. He explained that the callus on their feet was very thick and that even the spines of the chestnuts could not penetrate their the soles of their bare feet. Are you a similarly tough guy yourself?

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RAPOZiNHO

The podão is also very helpful to clear the branches from the trunks thicker than keep to the fireplace. The blade is shaped by some of the last blacksmiths, using a steel blade damper of a truck.

In this type of work we have always at hand a chainsaw, and usually are two guys in front to destroy the weeds and sticks with two motor trimmers.

You're right, "rapazinho" means little boy, "rapOzinho" means little fox.

Rapozinho, was the name of one of the characters from the cartoon series "The Fables of Green Forest" I liked to watch when I was a kid ...

You can see by the photo that I am no longer a little boy!

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Excuse for my english!

RAPOZiNHO

Hello sir Correia!

(My father also has the surname "correia")

I consider myself a tough guy, but I use boots to work!

In youth my parents were still people walking barefoot and no thorn that penetrated the feet .. or at least those pierced did not reach the flesh!
They were hard times!!!
Fortunately times have changed, everything is more peaceful, and there are mechanical tools for working ... and shoes!!

The work still does not cease to be tiring, but when we enjoy what we do, it's easier ...

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Excuse for my english!

barnetmill

Thanks for the informative reply. My commens in blue and underlined

luisport

It's good to know portuguese people here!

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Musa Rajapuri, D. Brazilian, D. Orinoco, Pisang Ceylon, Da Jiao (Himalayan Fruit), x Fruit, Himalayan Mountain, Helen's Hybrid, Patupi, Lacatan, Hajaray

Paw Paw Sunflower, Prima 1216, Potomac, KSU Atwood, Jerry's Big Girl, Al Horns, KSU Chapell

https://growingfruit.org/t/my-small-...-orchard/19936

https://growingfruit.org/t/my-pear-collection/55683

https://growingfruit.org/t/my-apple-collection/53104