About Richard
 

I am a median baby boomer. My father's side of the family went up the Hudson River in 1605 and established a family farm there. Subsequent generations expanded to Wisconsin, Iowa, and then by horse and handcart to what is now Redlands CA. My mother's side of the family were Hungarian immigrants to Chicago and Los Angeles in the last half of the 1800's. They were craftsmen and artisans. Growing up in Redlands CA on a 1/2 acre we always had vegetables and fruits growing and bought little more than meat, rice, and flour in the summer.

From this, I entered college as a music major and exited in graduate school in applied physics/mathematics. I too always had gardens growing. After 9/11 research jobs tanked throughout the country. I polished off my resume and finished a few certificate programs in teaching and horticulture. Eventually I started a new career selling edible plants at a local farmers market and fertilizer products online, plus designing new fertilizer formulas for crops.

After a year-long battle with cancer my wife passed away at the end of 2012. I closed my plant sale business and moved to a smaller house on a 1/4 acre lot in Vista CA. I'm growing approximately 60 different species and cultivars of fruiting plants plus another 100 or so annual and perennial vegetables and herbs. I plan to fully retire by the end of 2016.

Re: About Richard
 

Well, nice to know you Richard. That is a proper intro and we should all do it.
I'm very sorry about your wife.
I'm retired and I know that you'll love it too.
I hope you will continue sharing your knowledge with us all.

Re: About Richard
 

Richard,


Thank you sir for sharing the story of your life with us!


I am very sorry to hear the loss of your wife!...As you, I also loss my first wife battilng with cancer.....Just in the beginning of my military career at 18 years old and two kids to grow!....Now years of happily married again growing six kids in total (2 previous marriage and 4 current marriage) retired from the military after 22 years of service and three conflicts/wars under my belt and still working for the US Government!...


Good luck with your retirement and please keep sharing your suggestions, advices and knowledge with us!

Re: About Richard
 

Richard, it sounds like a well deserved retirement with lots of enjoyment of your great new garden is in your near future.
Hope you are not giving up selling the awesome "Fruit Fuel". BTW, need to get my 2016 FF pretty soon....

Re: About Richard
 

Someone else will need to carry the torch. The Grow More factory of course would be thrilled if someone did.

:birthdaynana:

Re: About Richard
 

An aerial photo from last year, updated with annotations of present and planned structures for this summer.

Re: About Richard
 

I have nearly everything in the ground now :). What remains are the Blueberries and the planter beds to the right of them, the Mulberry bush (waiting on patio installation), the Dragon Fruit, and the evergreen fruit marked "??". The latter will be a replacement for a tree that died this spring. I'm not certain yet what I'll choose. It needs to be evergreen and work in my western zone 10b climate.

Re: About Richard
 

So have you yet harvested any cherries from your Royals? Living here with no chill hours, I truly miss real cherries.

Re: About Richard
 

Yes, a few dozen this year.

Re: About Richard
 

Your yard seems so packed! I just don't know how everything is doing so well. I thought the roots need a lot of room or the stronger plant will overtake another.

Re: About Richard
 

They are in 8-foot diameter basins and spaced at least 10-foot on center. Here's the Green Sapote I planted yesterday:

Re: About Richard
 

Taste report would be appreciated. :)

Re: About Richard
 

Outstanding. They are a Rainier type.

Re: About Richard
 

Hi Richard. I haven't been on in ages; just stopped by and saw your thread. Sorry to hear about your wife; you may have heard my mom (who I was nursing for 13 years), passed away in 14. I now am in Leisure World, and my gardens are restricted to an enclosed balcony as I live in a co-op I bought on the 3rd floor. Glad to see you're still as active, just in a different place. Take a look at a pic I put in my gallery.

Re: About Richard
 

Richard, I have a 1/4 acre lot. Would you help me with consulting on a new planting lay out for my zone?

Re: About Richard
 

It's true!

I'm getting married in the morning ...

Re: About Richard
 

Congratulations and best wishes! Lucky girl.

Re: About Richard
 

Congrats!

Re: About Richard
 

Congratulations! I wish the best and happy marriage all your life!

Re: About Richard
 

Congratulations to you and Janet.
So happy for you both.