No, thats not a self portrait, thats John Chapman. Better known to the world as Johnny Appleseed. And a major folk hero to anyone growing up in Rural Ohio in the last century or so. Every old Apple tree across Northern Ohio has been attributed to Johnny at one point or another. One reportedly still survives not too far from here in Nova, OH.

Most folks believe that Johnny planted millions of Apple trees in his nurserys across the midwest, from PA to Illinois, moving ahead of the Pioneer farm families to establish nursery stock. It a uniquely American story, and though an easterner by birth, a uniquely Midwestern story. Chapman is a midwestern hero, preacher, adventurer, businessman, philanthropist, and frankly, something of a nut.

I hope one day the farm becomes the sort of place Johnny would have picked to stop awhile, talk, and take a rest in the orchard.