Saturday, September 25, 2021

picker beauty

 


I just happened to have more photos from my Frenzy of Snapping.
I was Raised in the south, we always had one and most people we visited had one or two.

When we first got married, bob had one in his Garage, a long wooden handle and a metal claw.
He has no idea where he got it or when.
We brought it with us to this house but the wire rusted and fell off, 
He repaired but it many times before it went to the curb for trash.

Our front yard had a ginormous Pink Grapefruit tree. Full of ruby red sweet grapefruit 3 months of the year. 
Bob grew it from a seed.
this photo is  a few years ago, minus the grapefruit.

the tree to your right, is the tree. When it was loaded the limbs were so heavy with fruit, we told the neighbors to take what they wanted when they wanted.
Several neighbors picked a few each day.

A family from Haiti rented the house across the street and their 12 year old son translated to the parents and we told them to help themselves.
The several years they lived there, this picker lived under our tree for all to use.
The first time they came the child told us they would leave it there, because they had no trees.
It became the neighborhood picker.

Now it is  Art Piece  because the tree died, fell over in a storm and is gone.
we used it to reach the avocados but the tree is way to tall to reach the fruit and with drought and Covid we have had no fruit for 2 years.


Amazon has dozens of different types. 
Hootin Annie sent this link in her comment.
It is a fun read of a blog with a history lesson on pickers.


There are dozens of them on Amazon like this one below.
just search fruit picker




18 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Wow, what a story. Full of generosity and sadness.

Tigger's Mum said...

We are sad your grapefruit tree died. We thought trees outlived humans, but clearly not. Shared pink grapefruit sounds much more attractive than shated lemons (like round here). Xxx Mr T

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

What a nice story. Your picker had a great history. Sorry the tree died.
Have a happy day!

Mevely317 said...

I never heard of those pickers! Neat how yours became a 'neighborhood' tool, and no-one tried taking more than their fair share. I seem to recall my mom had one but it more closely resembled a bush, not a tree.

Ann said...

Too bad the tree didn't survive. How nice that it supplied your neighbors with free fruit.

Hootin Anni said...

I enjoyed reading about them and their history.
Most of all, the history of your pickers!!!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Fun link - but your neighbourly story wins today! YAM xx

My Mind's Eye said...

On my morning walk I saw the pomegranate tree again. It too is loaded with fruit and the owner has it propped up on several sides.
Hugs Cecilia

Inger said...

I've neer seen this tool before. A northern city girl, I've never been to the South, but then I think it may work well for apples and pears and fruits I'm more used to. A great tool, for sure.

Linda said...

Your picker had a long and useful life! Loved hearing about it! We have a pecan picker so you don't have to bend down to pick them up. I'm hoping some of the pecans will be ripe when we get home next week.

Chatty Crone said...

Wonderful how you shared - that was so sweet. We need more people like you!

Forsythia said...

Never heard of, never saw a picker before I read your story and saw your photo. I loved your story.

Ruth Hiebert said...

If my apple tree survives the drought, I may have to look into getting a picker.

Breathtaking said...

I'm always impressed when someone grows trees from a pip. Well done to Bob for his green fingers, and I'm almost certain I have read, that this is not the first time Bob has grown trees from pips.!! The grapefruit enjoyed by you and all your neighbours is making my mouth water, as I love this fruit, and it is a pity your tree died. I like how you left your fruit picker next to the tree, to be used by everyone in your street. It's broken now but it had a long life, and still came in useful in your photos.:=)) I enjoyed reading all about it.

DawnTreader said...

Clever invention. Come to think of it, I think my parents had something similar once upon a time - used for apples.

CheerfulMonk said...

What a sweet story.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Sound like a great grapefruit tree that you had. So nice of you to share them. So that's where the picker come from.

DeniseinVA said...

I have never seen one of these before. What a great device and a neat piece of art now. Your neighbors must have loved you for your generosity.