It’s 1848, and amid the towering firs and scorched stumps of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a revolution in American agriculture quietly takes root. In this third installment of our epic Lewelling saga, John and Patrick trace the extraordinary efforts of Henderson Lewelling as he establishes one of the Pacific Northwest’s first grafted fruit orchards - alongside his ambitious partner William Meek. As they plant the seeds of what would become a booming nursery industry, the nurserymen face a harsh frontier, personal loss, and complex moral questions - navigating everything from spiritual awakenings to land disputes with the U.S. government. Along the way, they’re joined by Henderson’s brothers, John and Seth, fresh from the gold fields of California and ready to graft their own legacy into Oregon soil. Join John and Patrick as they explore scorched forests, fruit grafting experiments, metaphysical revelations, and the bittersweet human stories at the heart of America’s horticultural westward expansion. This is not just the tale of an orchard - it’s the story of how ambition, adversity, and apples helped shape the American West. ---------- In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business ----------- Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Support us! Share this episode with your friends Give a 5-star rating Write a review ----------- Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more. ----------- Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style. ----------- Instagram, TikTok, Threads: @historyoffreshproduce Email:
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