Hi again Dogonit. Beeone tells it like it is- you'll be eating your own corn, tomatoes, even eggplant and sometimes canteloupe. I don't know what the laws are regarding transplanting from the wild, but my own thought is that if done with an eye to conservation it's harmless. Many populations tolerate a little thinning. We've moved a few things -ferns, larkspur, violas (Johnny jump-ups) that have done well, but we were disappointed when a ladyslipper orchid (cypripedium montanum) died out after a couple or three years. We would not have lifted that one except that it was in the way of road construction. Rocky Mountain Wildflowers is a good choice, in my mind. There are others, but the Craigheads know their stuff from long experience. Local nurseries should be good. I lean towards older, funkier outfits. My wife worked for one just west of Helena in the 60's, but the name escapes me. As to the weather, remember there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Lay in a supply of polypro long johns, fleece jackets and vests, Woolrich and Pendleton shirts, gloves and mitten liners, and a few nice wool sweaters, and, of course, Malone pants (with suspenders, I hope!) for real comfort. Dress in layers so you can customize yourself to the (ever-changing) conditions. Insulated coveralls can make a world of difference when you're ice-fishing on Canyon Ferry or Georgetown Lake in the middle of the night in December. Montana people aren't like those back east because they're rarer. In the east there are so many people they get in the way, and people need to shout to be noticed. In the West there's so few, outside of our little cities, that you tend to be glad to see them when you can, and a whisper can be a shout. At the same time, we tend to value our privacy, and the opportunity to be alone in the hills or on a lake or river somewhere. Sometimes the measure of a good friend is somebody you can be alone with without much talk- so you may run into a peculiar kind of taciturnity. Plus, there's some jerks, too, but that's another story ... Best, M

Looks like I haven't answered some of the questions... >>May I ask where you get those food grade containers - I so could use some rather then buying an extra crock for my cabbage - or should I take up wine making.<< Got it from wine store. Done the juice extracting today..about 65 Liters, filled a 50 L. keg without any sugar added this time, the rest in 2L. pop bottles not filled all the way, can open better under pressure, [sparkling wine]. Brix/sugar content is a little over 12%, not bad for a wet year I think. From a leftover stainless steel piece after milling I made a better mixer, [welded/added in the center piece] to rip the cherries apart after thawing out in that container.

Thank you intotheark for letting us know on this Lutowka cherry. I'd be interested to test it for myself. As the Evans, [my bench mark standard]..can you please tell us the size difference, do you have picture side by side? Also production overall in %. As you and me said, Evans cant be beat in it's vigor and production, another nice darker flesh cherry, reliable, is nice to have around. Got this from a friend, ..after all, this cherry didn't originate out of Poland, ..link translated from Polish.... It is very old of unknown origin, possibly French or Dutch Here is a link that might be useful: Åutówka

It came as a bonus pack in a national round robin trade several years before I grew it, and it was only labeled "Baby Beefsteak". At the time there was no info available; I grew it out and lo and behold, it looked just like a baby beefsteak. Whomever labeled that pack of seeds once upon a time called it as they saw it. Very practical. It's a wonderful tomato, I've described it well on the package, it looks just like a baby beefsteak but is more juicy and tangy. I liked them so much I've grown them a few times and have shared their seeds with the name they came with. I'm very serious about tomato variety names. I don't change the docmentation that comes with a home-saved OP; I think that's hugely unethical. This year I'm doing another growout of a variety that came to me a few years back only labeled "Purple Heirloom". This is a yum YUM tomato. I'm also doing one again that I named "Big Pink Volunteer" which volunteered from a bag of compost I bought at HD. It makes awesomely good big pink maters, hence the name. The history will be on the label. Should the season go well I'll have seeds of Purple Heirloom, Big Pink Volunteer, the ten USDA/GRIN tomatoes I'm growing and several others available on the site by late Autumn. It's a fabulous set of tomatoes in the garden this year. I'm definitely going to have to buy at least one more set of pidgeon holes ;-) Hope this helps, T