Greenmantle nursery has several red fleshed crabapples, called the Sweetmeat crab hybrids. The website is a delight to read, with interesting information on EtterÂs hybridization of apple trees. I asked the owner to recommend a red fleshed apple that was the sweetest (some can be very sour). He suggested the Rubaiyat as being one of the best reds, and the Muscat de Venus as being one of the best crabapples, although it doesnÂt have red flesh. They were only available as bench grafts. He doesnÂt wrap his scions of the graft in parafilm tape, so they die more easily than other nurseries. IÂm on my third Rubaiyat, with no buds yet, trying to get one to live. The Muscat de Venus has leafed out, and looks like itÂs going to make it. Kuffelcreek Nursery offers the Etter 16-32 Crab as a bench graft, as well as several other crabapples, but are sold out for 2008. All the bench grafts IÂve ordered from there live, and grow big the first year. The Dorset Golden I bought from there is fruiting its second year from a benchgraft. Trees of Antiquity offers two red fleshed crabapples, which sound like the sour kind ("makes good pickles"). TheyÂre sold out also.

The first thing you need to do is check local ordinances etc about selling. It may not be allowed in a residential area. I buy heirloom tomato and pepper plants from a backyard grower. I have to order the plants ahead and pick up on a specific weekend. Here in NH, it's usually around Mother's Day. Her neighbors do not like the extra traffic and don't want people turning around in their driveway. She also sells plants at a farmers market but has grown a good mailing list of people who want to order. She emails her list a few weeks ahead and only puts one ad in the weekly farmers bulletin. I know that's not what you asked but I wanted to make sure you checked into it. I think having hardened off plants would be great but June 1 would be late in our area. Memorial Day is the traditional planting time but IMO too late for many things like lettuce and cabbages. I have seen requests lately for where to buy cabbage and broccoli plants in August when people would like to get in a fall crop. Don't know if there's a decent market for it. Others are already thinking mums. I think it's great if you can get the kids involved. They can have specific chores and get paid a specified amount. We expected our son to bank half his earnings to save for college. Have you checked with local adult ed classes and your county extensions for any classes on market gardening and greenhouse growing? Eliot Coleman's book Winter Harvest gives some good growing advice plus some tips on what's worth it and what isn't (he grows veggies for restaurants). You might get some insight into popular vegetable plants to grow for sale as plants.

OMgosh! Its so good to hear from you and hear what's happening with your wonderful family. The kids have sure grown, I remember when you were pregnant with Grant!! And I can't wait to hear how the kids respond to the new puppy. Bless you and the family and thanks so much for stopping by. Susan

Yes time does fly and neighborhoods change some for the better and some for the worst. We built what we though was going to be our forever home in an older but lovely neighborhood when our children were 3 and 9. The neighborhood was well keep with pristine lawns. The original homes were the homes of the bankers, under takers and business owners of the town down the hill from us. The nice town over the hill was older people in older homes but owned their homes. To make a long story short the older people in the town died off and slumlords bought the homes and the scum started moving in and started spreading to close for comfort. So we sold the house while we could get the value for our home and moved. It was hard for us. We lived in that home for 24 years, built it ourselves, and had many wonderful years there raising our son and daughter. Sometime it just seemed like yesterday I was picking up my kids toys, now I am picking up my grandchildren toys when they visit. Sigh, where did the time go? But time stands still for no one.